Early Learning and Child Care

Grey County Children’s Services carefully screens and selects potential providers. Once their home has been approved, our Home Child Care Workers monitor the homes to ensure the provider continues to meet the standards of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 and Grey County’s policies and procedures.

• Grey County Home Child Care Agency Parent Handbook

Grey County Children’s Services home child care program is licensed by the Ministry of Education.  Grey County home child care providers have an advantage of ongoing support of qualified staff to help provide the highest quality child care program and have training opportunities in child care related topics.  Providers are carefully selected and visited regularly to ensure that they meet government standards for quality programs and safety.

Home child care providers are self-employed contracted to Grey County Children’s Services to provide child care in your own home. By agreeing to become a home child care provider for the County of Grey, you will be required to adhere to the policies and procedure approved by Grey County Children’s Services and requirements of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

Learn more about becoming a home child care provider here

Please be advised that your eligibility for child care fee subsidy must be confirmed by the Children's Services Worker prior to your child starting care.  Should you choose to start your child prior to approval for child care fee subsidy being issued, you will be responsible for full fees during that time.

It is your responsibility to immediately advise your Children’s Services Worker if there are any changes in your situation to continue receiving fee subsidy.

Eligibility Criteria:

• You must be a resident of Grey County.
• You and your spouse/partner (if applicable) must file an income tax return every year to continue being eligible for subsidy.  The most current income tax information is required to maintain your subsidy.
• Parent(s) must be working, attending school, training or skill upgrading courses.   If parents are attending school, a course schedule is required to verify the approved days of care.
• Written referrals from Public Health, Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services, Bruce Grey Child and Family Services to support why this service is required.

At least once a year you will be required to meet with a Children’s Services Worker to update your file with current information and signatures.  Your file must be kept up to date to be eligible for subsidy. It is important you respond to all correspondence and other request.

To book an appointment with one of our Children’s Services Workers, please call 376-7324 ext. 1363.

Apply online here.

If you are in receipt of Ontario Works and have children under the age of 12 years, Ontario Works may be able to assist with your child care expenses.  It is very important to discuss with your caseworker the type of care which is best for you and your child, as well as how Ontario Works can assist with this expense to help support you in your plan towards independence.

There are two types of child care:

Formal - is provided by a child care facility or a home child care provider licensed under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. There is no maximum cost which may be provided.

Informal - is provided by a person who is not licensed (ie. a relative, neighbour, etc). The maximum amount of the childcare deduction is the actual amount paid up to $600.00 per month for each dependent child.

Contact your Ontario Works caseworker if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child care needs.

Phone: (519) 376-7324

General e-mail:  socialservices [at] grey.ca (socialservices[at]grey[dot]ca)

Grey County Ontario Works

Keystone - Child, Youth & Family Services

Provides counseling services to children and their families.

Owen Sound: (519) 371-4773 / 1-800-567-2384

Grey Bruce Health Unit

Services provided include information, and/or consultation re: parenting, growth, and development, healthy lifestyles and environments. Healthy Babies/Healthy Children, Early Identification program. 

Durham: (519) 369-3318

Flesherton: (519) 924-2420

Owen Sound: (519) 376-9420

Community Living Owen Sound & District

Provides support, advocacy and planning services for developmentally delayed individuals and their families. Owen Sound - 371-9251

Beaver Valley Outreach

Community based organization that includes information, referrals and support groups.

Clarksburg: (519) 599-2577

Bruce Grey Child & Family Services (formerly Children's Aid Society)

Toll Free: 1-855-322-4453

Local: 1-519-371-4453

Bruce Grey Child & Family Services is a team of child protection workers, child and youth workers, lawyers, support and administrative staff working together and in partnership with the community to help families to keep children safe and well

A career as an Early Childhood Educator in Grey County offers a range of career opportunities and the ability to make a positive, lasting impact in a child’s life.

Working as a registered ECE is more than a job - it's a rewarding career!

Learn more about becoming an ECE in Grey County

The Early Learning Hub is a resource centre hosted by Grey County Child Care & Early Learning Division that is here to support the work of child care and early learning educators within Grey County. The Hub offers a lending library, professional learning opportunities and tools to support the ongoing learning and development of educators within our community. 

Grey County Early Learning Hub Resource Centre

2022 Licensed Child Care Fact Sheet

High-Quality Licensed Child Care Fact Sheet

In 2022 the Government of Ontario Announced their targeted expansion plan for licensed child care. Information can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/canada-ontario-early-years-and-child-care-agreement

A set allocation of spaces was assigned for the County of Grey, and at this time all expansion spaces have been allocated. More information about space allocation can be found here: Grey County Targeted Expansion Plan 

Information about the requirements for operating licensed child care in Ontario can be found here: 

1. Operating a licensed child care program | ontario.ca
2. Child care centre licensing manual | ontario.ca
3. Before and after school program licensing guideline | ontario.ca

Local public health information for licensed child care: Schools, Child Care Centres And Camps (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)

Currently staff are maintaining a list of interested potential operators in pursuing a purchase of service agreement with the County of Grey, in the event that there are changes to the existing plan, or if the Ministry of Education increases the allocation of spaces for Grey County. Please reach out to childcare [at] grey.ca (childcare[at]grey[dot]ca) with any inquiries.