Exceptional Child Care
Centennial College operates two exceptional, quality child-care centres as an integral part of our highly-respected Child Studies program. They are licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and are open to the public and to the children of students, teachers and staff at Centennial College.
Located at our Progress campus, just east of Markham Road and south of Highway 401, and in East York, at 550 Mortimer Avenue, these purpose-built and spacious child-care facilities offer indoor play, activity rooms and outdoor playgrounds that open up a whole new world for children to explore. Digging in the sandbox, reading stories, learning new songs, painting, water play, and dress-up are all part of our dynamic program.
With programs for newborns to four-year-olds, our centres are open year-round.
The Progress Campus Child Care Centre is open weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The East York Child Care Centre is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Both centres have special observation areas where you can watch your child play and learn. Smaller groups of children mean more adults per child and more personalized attention. A hot, nutritious lunch and two healthy snacks are served each day.
Linking Hearts and Minds
Understanding and respecting people from diverse backgrounds, ethnic groups and cultures is a key part of our philosophy. Sharing our individual interests, attitudes and customs help us appreciate the richness of one another. We consider each child's development unique and special, and we welcome your ideas and comments. Your child's development is too precious to be missed. So you can count on regular progress reports. Feel free to join us in group activities, or watch the program from our observation areas.
Getting Involved
We invite you to visit us soon. Come and see our centres and discover for yourself a very special place for your child to develop.
Progress Child Care Centre (newborn to four years) is located at our Progress campus at:
- 941 Progress Avenue in Scarborough, near Markham Road and Highway 401
- Telephone 416-289-5000 ext 52288
East York Child Care Centre (newborn to four years) is located at:
- 550 Mortimer Avenue in East York.
- Telephone: 416-289-5104
To arrange a visit or to place your child on the waitlist, contact Christina Somoza at 416-289-5000, ext. 52288 or email Csomoza@centennialcollege.ca.
Applying for Childcare, Fees and Subsidies
Availability
Space in Centennial's child care centres is limited. Anyone requiring child care must contact the centre as soon as possible to add their child to the waitlist. There is no guarantee that the children of students or staff will get a spot in Centennial’s Early Learning Centres.
Children enter the school system for Kindergarten the year they turn 4 years old. If you have a child under the age of 4 years old, you may need to find child care.
Applying for Child Care
Each child care centre in Canada holds waiting lists. It is important to place your child on at least 10 waiting lists close to where you will live or go to school. Waiting lists can be very long so the sooner you place your name on the list, the better. You can place your name on waiting lists before your child is born if you are expecting a baby. International students can place their names on the waitlist even before you arrive in Canada. This can be done over the phone or by email. There is no cost to placing your child on a waiting list.
Families seeking child care are encouraged to use the City of Toronto Child Care Locator which has a great deal of information for families seeking child care. The online child care locator allows you to type in your address where you will be living in Toronto and it will show all the child care centres in that area as well as contact information. It is beneficial to also type the address of where you will be going to school as you may be able to enroll your child in a centre close to where you will be studying. If you do not reside in Toronto, you can search your municipality for child care information.
To place your child on the waitlist for Centennial College’s Early Learning Centre at Progress Campus or East York, contact Christina Somoza at 416-289-5000, ext. 52288 or email Csomoza@centennialcollege.ca.
Applying For Subsidy
Subsidies are available through the City of Toronto or the municipality where you live and are based on your previous year’s income tax assessment. Unless at least one parent of the child pays taxes to the City of Toronto or to the Ontario Government, you would not be eligible for financial assistance.
Not all child care centres accept fee subsidies, meaning that some only accept full fee payments.
The City of Toronto child care website has a great deal of information for families seeking child care, including a fee calculator that you can use to determine whether or not you qualify for a subsidy. Here you will also find all the instructions and information required to apply for a subsidy.
Finding a School for School-Aged Children
Children in Ontario enter the school system for Kindergarten the year they turn 4 years old.
The Ontario Ministry of Education website offers resources for parents to find a school in their area. You can use their School Information Finder to search for publicly funded schools in Ontario and learn more about them. Search by town/city, school board, postal code or school name.
Access the Ontario School Information Finder.
The following documents are required when registering a child to attend a school in the Toronto District School Board:
- Proof of age (birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship card or certificate or baptismal record).
- Proof of address, including any two of the following current documents: lease or deed, car registration, utility bill, residential telephone bill, moving bill, property tax bill, health card, bank statement, credit card statement, or correspondence from a government agency.
- Proof of immunization (the card that shows a list of needles your child has received):
- Report your immunization information online at the City of Toronto.
- If unable to report online, parents can provide immunization information to the school and the school will mail a copy to Toronto Public Health. Toronto Public Health accepts and translates foreign immunization records.
- If requesting an exemption, call 416-392-1250.
- Verification of date of arrival, if your child was not born in Canada. Families who are permanent residents and refugee claimants may register directly at the school. Children without immigration status are welcome in our schools and information about them or their families will not be shared with immigration authorities. To register, please visit the International Programs and Admissions Office at 5050 Yonge Street, on the main floor, for a TDSB school admission letter.
Program Statement
At the Centennial College Early Learning Centres we believe our program shall:
- Reflect a view of children as being competent, capable, curious and rich in potential.
- Promote the health, safety, nutrition and well-being of the children.
- Encourage children to interact and communicate in a positive way, and support their ability to self-regulate.
- Foster the children’s exploration, play and inquiry.
- Provide child-initiated and adult supported experiences.
- Plan for and create positive learning environments and experiences in which each child’s learning and development will be supported.
- Incorporate indoor and outdoor play, active play, rest and quiet time, into the day, and give consideration to the individual needs of the children receiving child care.
- Support the continuous professional learning of our staff, home child care providers or others who interact with the children.
- Foster the engagement and ongoing communication with parents about the program and their children.
- Document and review the impact of the strategies set out in the program statement on the children and their families.
- Involve local community partners and allow those partners to support the children, their families and staff.
- Support positive and responsive interactions among the children, parents, child care providers and staff.
- Plan for and create positive learning experiences for Centennial College Students.
- Program Statement in Action for Infants
- Program Statement in Action for Toddlers
- Program Statement in Action for Preschool