Childcare Services in Charlottetown: Choosing Care

Build a shortlist around your required hours

Write down your child’s age, preferred start date, attendance days and earliest drop-off and latest pickup times. Include your journey between home, care and work. For school-age care, name the school and clarify who will handle transportation. Use this same brief when speaking with each provider.

PEI requires families seeking early learning and child care with a licensed centre, including pre-kindergarten, to join the provincial registry. Select the centres that suit your family after registering. You can choose as many centres as you wish; each selection adds your child to that centre’s waitlist. [1]

Keep the primary and secondary contact details current. A centre contacts both when a place becomes available. If neither responds, the centre offers the place to the next child. Agree with your second contact on how you will respond to an offer. [1]

Confirm licensing and the fee for the offered place

PEI’s licensed programs include Early Childhood Centres, Family Home Centres, Preschool Centres and School-Age Centres. The provincial Early Learning and Child Care Board regulates and monitors them. Licensed centres must meet requirements for staffing, training, food, age-specific programming and health and safety, including annual provincial inspections. [1]

Early Years Centres are Early Childhood Centres that follow the provincial early learning framework. They charge regulated parent fees of $10 per day for children from birth to school entry age. Family Home Centres provide licensed care in private residences and may have those regulated fees. Confirm whether the fee applies to your child’s offered place. [1]

Get the fee policy before comparing offers. Check payment dates, absence charges, deposits, closure days and the notice required to leave. Have each provider explain any charges beyond the stated daily fee. Compare the same attendance schedule and keep a copy of the terms you accept.

Plan pre-kindergarten and school-age coverage

PEI’s optional universal pre-kindergarten program provides 15 hours per week. Children must turn four on or before December 31 of the year they begin. Families whose eligible child does not attend a licensed centre must complete registration and contact centres about the free program. [1]

Children attending a licensed early childhood centre move into pre-kindergarten in September of the year before kindergarten. Parents pay a portion of their regular daily rate. Get the session times and payment schedule before arranging your workday, including the cost of any care surrounding the sessions. [1]

School-age centres serve children from school entry age to 12 on weekdays outside school hours, including before and after school and during school hours when schools close for the day. They do not have regulated parent fees. Confirm the individual program’s closure-day coverage, booking requirements and transportation arrangements. [1]

Screen the caregiver and prepare the handover

Unlicensed caregivers do not have the same obligations as licensed providers. PEI permits five children with no more than two infants; six preschool children or a preschool and school-age combination; or seven school-age children. These totals include the caregiver’s own children and do not increase when another caregiver is present. [1]

Discuss who will supervise your child and who will substitute during absences. Check references and first-aid training. Walk through emergency procedures, allergies, medication, sleep arrangements, authorized pickups and communication after an incident. During a visit, have the caregiver describe an ordinary day and explain how they would handle your child’s needs.

PEI’s parent guidance recommends visiting with your child before the first day, sharing information with the educator or caregiver and starting with shorter days if possible. It also recommends labelling belongings and building a relationship with the caregiver. Prepare emergency contacts and discuss your child’s routines before care begins. [1]

PEI unlicensed child care limits by age combination

Match the program to your care needs

Your hiring checklist

1. Write down attendance days, required hours, start date and transportation needs.
2. Confirm the provider’s licence status and program designation.
3. Get the fee policy and an explanation of additional charges.
4. Review illness, closure, late-pickup and withdrawal arrangements.
5. Discuss references, supervision, emergency procedures and substitute caregivers.
6. Share allergies, medication instructions, routines and authorized pickup contacts.
7. Arrange a visit with your child before the first full day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every licensed provider charge $10 a day?

No. PEI specifies regulated $10 daily parent fees at Early Years Centres from birth to school entry age. Family Home Centres may have regulated fees. School-age centres do not have regulated parent fees. Confirm the designation and charge for the place offered. [1]

Can I join several centre waitlists?

Yes. The provincial registry lets you select as many centres as you wish. Log in at least once every 90 days to keep your account active and remain on centre waitlists. [1]

Can an unlicensed caregiver take more children with another adult present?

No. PEI says the permitted total does not increase with multiple caregivers. The caregiver’s own children also count toward the limit. [1]

Will free pre-kindergarten cover a full working day?

The provincial program provides 15 hours per week. Get the centre’s session schedule and an explanation of surrounding care and charges before planning your workday. [1]