Waterloo Region's Early Years and Child Care System Plan
The Region of Waterloo is developing its Early Years and Child Care System Plan (2027-2031). This system plan will be a guide for the next five years. It will also help to shape licensed early learning and child care services across Waterloo Region.
Region of Waterloo Children’s Services is leading this work as part of its commitment to building a child care system that is accessible, equitable, and high quality.
An Early Years and Child Care System Plan sets clear direction for how the early years and child care sector should grow, improve, and respond to community needs across the region. As the local service system manager, the Region has a responsibility to plan, coordinate, and support the local early years and child care system.
Take the Early Years and Child Care parent survey!
Participate in a survey about the early years and child care services in Waterloo Region. Your feedback will help to identify what is important for families. We appreciate your time in sharing your experiences and thoughts. All of your answers will be confidential, meaning your name an identity will not be connected to your answers. See the survey for more details about the questions and confidentiality.
If you have any questions about the survey or require an alternative format, please contact Amber Robertson at arobertson@regionofwaterloo.ca or 519-577-9613.
How your feedback will be used
Your feedback will help Children’s Services to better understand local needs, priorities, and identify where changes or improvements may be needed. Feedback will be incorporated in the System Plan, which will be launched in 2027.
About the system plan
The system plan will explain the current early years and child care system in Waterloo Region, identify gaps, and set priorities for improvement.
To develop the system plan, Children’s Services is engaging the community to gather feedback. The following groups will be asked to participate:
- Families
- Child care operators, service providers, and educators
- Researchers
- Community partners
- School boards
- Businesses and employers
- Municipalities
Why this work is important
Early years and child care services support children’s development, growth, and well-being. They also help families and strengthen the community. The System Plan will help to guide future decisions and actions. It will support the Region’s work toward a system that responds to the needs of families, reflects the diversity of the community, and create opportunities for all.
What is happening now
By working closely with community partners and taking a thoughtful, long-term approach, the Region is improving the well-being of children and families, ensuring our youngest citizens have access to high-quality child care programs, and a stronger support system. Together, we are working toward a future where all children in Waterloo Region have opportunities to thrive.
Engagement with families, child care providers, early years and child care operators and partners
Community engagement is being held with families, child care providers, licensed early years and child care operators, and partners for the next few months (April to August). This is being done by surveys, in-person, and online meetings. Feedback will help us draft priorities and actions for the System Plan.
Engagement with Special Needs Resourcing and EarlyON Programs
Interviews and focus groups are planned to take place over the summer with Special Needs Resourcing partners, EarlyON lead agency and the Indigenous led EarlyON Family Centre. This will help to understand the challenges facing our partner agencies.
Engagement with school boards
Engagement with the local school boards will take place over the summer. This will help to understand strengths, challenges, barriers, and issues of equity primarily related to before and after school programs, as well as child care and EarlyON programs within schools.
Internal regional staff consultations
In the coming months, engagement sessions are planned for Children’s Services staff. These are staff who work directly with child care subsidy, quality initiatives, business administration, and management. They will be able to provide insight into barriers in the system.
