Opening A Daycare: New Brunswick Guide

If you're thinking of opening a daycare in New Brunswick, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, it's important to understand the regulations and licensing requirements specific to the province. These requirements are not overly complex and often align with common sense and good safety practices. For instance, your daycare must have a form of communication to reach assistance in case of an emergency, and there are rules regarding child-to-teacher ratios and group sizes. You'll also need to consider things like staff training, meal planning, and outdoor space. It's worth noting that there are additional requirements and processes for designated centres, which are the majority of licensed childcare centres in New Brunswick.

Licensing requirements

To open a daycare in New Brunswick, you must comply with the licensing requirements and regulations in your area. These requirements and regulations differ depending on your province or state. The Early Learning and Development Branch of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is responsible for licensing and monitoring early learning and child care facilities, and the programs that support them.

Child care centres, nursery schools, school-age child care centres, and approved community day care homes are licensed under the Early Childhood Services Act (Chapter E-0.5) and must operate in accordance with the Licensing Regulations.

• Communication: You must have a form of communication, such as a phone, to reach assistance in case of an emergency.
• Child-to-teacher ratios: The younger the child, the more time and attention they require. Requirements limit the number of babies a daycare can enrol, ensuring adequate care for each child.
• Emergency procedures: You will need to draw up a standard fire drill plan and create a fire escape plan.
• Staff qualifications and training: In child care centres, the director or designate and 50% of staff are required to hold a one-year ECE certificate or equivalent training. All staff must be at least 16 years of age and must be supervised by one primary staff member who is at least 19 years of age. Staff who do not hold early childhood education certificates must complete specific courses, such as the Introduction to Early Learning and Child Care 30-hour curriculum course and the Orientation to Early Childhood Education 60-hour course.
• First aid and safety: All staff counted in the staff-to-child ratio must have first aid training, a CPR certificate, and a criminal record check/vulnerable sector check. Service providers are required to ensure basic health and safety precautions, such as locking away medication, adhering to diaper-changing procedures, and developing an evacuation plan.
• Nutrition and meals: Regulated centres and homes must serve a snack at least every three hours, provide a meal at each recognised meal period, and ensure access to water throughout the day. Meals must be planned according to Canada's Food Guide, and menus with notes regarding substitutions must be provided to parents in advance.
• Outdoor space and time: The outdoor play area must be within a certain distance of the indoor play area, depending on whether the centre is full-time or part-time. The play area must be large enough for at least half of the centre's licensed capacity to be outside at the same time, have a fence of at least 1.22 metres, and include a shaded area that is at least 10% of the total area. The daily routine must include at least one hour of outdoor play in every four-hour block, except in extreme weather or unsafe conditions.
• Behaviour management: Facility operators must ensure that staff use positive behaviour guidance strategies that encourage and recognise children's efforts and accomplishments. Physical punishment, deprivation of physical necessities, and verbal or emotional abuse are strictly prohibited.
• Parent involvement: If a child care centre is a non-profit organisation, its board of directors must include at least five elected members, with at least one parent or guardian of a currently enrolled child.

Child-to-teacher ratios

Staff-to-child ratios are an important aspect of daycare operations, as they ensure that children receive adequate supervision, care, and individual attention. These ratios vary depending on the age of the children and the type of daycare setting.

In New Brunswick, the Early Learning and Development Branch of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is responsible for setting and enforcing regulations for child care facilities. While specific staff-to-child ratios for the province are not publicly available, there are general recommendations and standards provided by early childhood experts and federal laws.

For infants younger than 12 months old, it is recommended that one adult care for no more than three infants, with a maximum group size of six infants. As children grow into the toddler stage (13–35 months old), the recommended ratio becomes 1:4, with a maximum group size of eight.

For preschoolers, the recommended staff-to-child ratios vary slightly depending on their age. For 3-year-olds, the suggested ratio is 1:7, while for 4- and 5-year-olds, the ratio is 1:8. In all these cases, the maximum group size is recommended to be 14 children for 3-year-olds and 16 for 4- and 5-year-olds.

For school-age children, the recommended ratios are slightly higher. For 6–8-year-olds, it is suggested to have a ratio of 1:10, while for 9–12-year-olds, the ratio is recommended to be 1:12. The maximum group sizes for these age groups are 20 for the younger cohort and 25 for the older one.

These ratios are designed to ensure that children receive adequate supervision and attention, promoting their social-emotional development, physical well-being, and overall learning.

Food and nutrition

Regulatory Requirements

According to the Family Services Act and Daycare Regulations of 1980, all daycare facilities in New Brunswick must adhere to Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. This includes respecting the four basic food groups and recommended serving sizes for the relevant age groups. Milk served should be undiluted, and juice should be 100% pure fruit juice. Water is also permitted and should be available to children at all times, either through independent access or by requesting it from staff.

Menu Planning and Posting

Daycare centres are required to plan their menus in advance, taking into account any special nutritional requirements of the children in their care. The menus should be prepared four weeks in advance and posted at the beginning of each week in a location visible to both staff and parents. Any amendments or substitutions made to the menu should be noted and communicated to parents. It is also important to ensure that no additives or fillers are added to stretch or colour the food.

Food from Home

Food brought from home by parents or guardians can be served to the children as long as it is labelled with the child's name. If the food provided does not meet nutritional or safety requirements, daycare staff should discuss this concern with the parent.

Snack and Meal Timing

Regulated daycare centres and homes in New Brunswick must serve a snack at least every three hours and a meal during each recognised meal period. For children attending the facility for less than three hours, at least one snack must be provided, including one serving each from two or more of the basic four food groups. For longer stays, the number of snacks and meals increases, ensuring that all four food groups are represented.

Infant Feeding

Infants under 12 months of age must be fed on demand, following written instructions from their parents regarding amount, type, and scheduling. During bottle-feeding, infants should be held, and propping bottles in cribs or allowing young children to carry bottles is prohibited. All bottles must be labelled with the child's name and stored with covers.

Health and safety

Medication Management:

Service providers must ensure that medication is securely locked away at all times. When families provide prescription medication, it should be in the original container with a clear label indicating the child's name and dosage. Providers must also obtain consent from the families before administering any medication.

Illness and Absence Policies:

Daycare centres are required to develop and implement comprehensive illness and exclusion policies. Families must notify the centre of any absences, promoting a proactive approach to managing illnesses.

Emergency Preparedness:

Developing an evacuation plan is crucial for the safety of the children and staff. Regular fire drills, conducted at least once a month, help ensure that everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire emergency.

Diaper Changing Procedures:

Maintaining proper diaper changing procedures is essential for hygiene and the well-being of infants and toddlers. This includes frequent diaper changes, using appropriate cleaning products, and practising proper hand hygiene.

Smoking Restrictions:

Daycare centres must enforce a strict no-smoking policy on their premises. For family child care homes, if someone in the household smokes outside of operating hours, the provider must inform the parent or guardian of each child.

First Aid and CPR Training:

All staff members who are counted in the staff-to-child ratio must possess first aid training and a CPR certificate. This ensures that they are equipped to handle any medical emergencies that may arise.

These health and safety guidelines provide a foundation for safe and secure daycare operations in New Brunswick. By adhering to these regulations, daycare providers can create a nurturing and protective environment for the children in their care.

Curriculum framework

The curriculum framework for a daycare in New Brunswick is based on the province's Early Learning and Child Care Curriculum. This curriculum is designed to support parents and caregivers in creating stimulating and nurturing learning environments for young children. It is informed by up-to-date research on maximising children's learning so that they can grow to their fullest potential with dignity, a sense of self-worth, and a zest for living.

The curriculum includes the framework, the decisions, intentions, and skills of educators, the learning environment, relationships and instructional methods, and the interests, motivations, and contributions of learners. It employs a social pedagogical approach that recognises the context of children's learning and the importance of attending to the "todayness" of their lives and their diverse personal, social, and cultural experiences. This approach simultaneously promotes well-being and capacity for learning.

The curriculum framework aims to nurture individual interests and engagement while connecting background knowledge with new experiences. It recognises that learners in Kindergarten through Grade 2 develop many ideas before they enter the Primary Block. They are curious and have individual interests, abilities, and needs, as well as varying histories, funds of knowledge, life experiences, and cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

In Grades 3, 4, and 5, school routines, learning experiences, content, and extended learning at home and in their communities help develop and strengthen learning habits. The classrooms, playgrounds, learning areas, and approaches to learning all contribute to the learning environment.

The curriculum also addresses health and safety, nutrition and meals, outdoor space and time, behaviour management, and parent involvement. It provides guidelines for medication management, illness and exclusion policies, evacuation plans, diaper-changing procedures, and smoking restrictions. Additionally, it sets standards for staff qualifications, staff-to-child ratios, and group sizes.

Frequently asked questions