The only time a daycare license is necessary is when six or more unrelated children are under the care of a single individual or group of individuals. All those who are employed at a daycare centre must be certified and licensed in order to operate within Ontario Law. This includes home-based operations in addition to centre-based childcare. In addition, all programs running within such a facility must have the approval of the Ministry of Education and meet the standards of safety, health, and development. As part of operating a daycare, there are annual inspections to ensure all guidelines are followed.
These inspections cover the following:
- Provincial standards are being met
- Issue and renew licenses
- Investigate the validity of complaints
- Monitor operators who are having difficulty meeting licensing standards.