Ontario Expanding Before- And After-School Care for Families

Ministry of Education

More Children up to Age 12 Will Have Access to Licensed Care

Toronto, ON – September 21, 2017

As the new school year gets underway, Ontario is making it easier for children and families to access quality before- and after-school care.

Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care, was at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Toronto today to announce that more than 80 per cent of schools across Ontario are now offering before- and after-school programs for 4-12 year olds.

As of September 1, 2017, Ontario now requires school boards to provide before- and after-school programs for children up to age 12, in all publicly funded elementary schools serving students up to Grade 6, where there is sufficient demand. These programs provide additional opportunities for play-based programming, and are a critical support for parents who rely on before- and after-school care to accommodate their work schedules.

Making licensed child care more affordable and more accessible for families is part of Ontario’s plan to create jobs, grow the economy and help people in their everyday lives.