Clueless Daycare Newbie!

[sunnydays]

I am not sure what you mean by applying for a license with your city ? I see that you are in Ontario and if so, then you don't need any kind of license. You have a choice of going private or going through a licensed agency. If you go through an agency, they will help you find clients and help provide equipment, but they will also take a portion of your pay. I don't know where in Ontario you are, but here in Ottawa, we have the CCPRN, which is a really great source of information, training, resources, etc. You can look on their website for more information as well. I highly recommend talking to some daycare providers in your area as you will get a ton of info. I did this before starting and the ladies I talked to were amazing and helped me so much. It was in their interest as well to make sure I knew what the average rate was and that most of them charge for vacation time, etc. Established providers don't want newbies to come in and undercut them on rates etc.

[mommylisa]

I am not sure what you mean by applying for a license with your city ? I see that you are in Ontario and if so, then you don't need any kind of license. You have a choice of going private or going through a licensed agency. If you go through an agency, they will help you find clients and help provide equipment, but they will also take a portion of your pay. I don't know where in Ontario you are, but here in Ottawa, we have the CCPRN, which is a really great source of information, training, resources, etc. You can look on their website for more information as well. I highly recommend talking to some daycare providers in your area as you will get a ton of info. I did this before starting and the ladies I talked to were amazing and helped me so much. It was in their interest as well to make sure I knew what the average rate was and that most of them charge for vacation time, etc. Established providers don't want newbies to come in and undercut them on rates etc.

Basically I am registering with the city so I guess that would be going through a licensed agency. They told me my other option was registering with the ministry. Or just not registering at all.

I am just a little bit out of Ottawa. I guess I am just shy to ask daycare providers all the details. Since the only ones I really know is where my son has gone to daycare while I worked! and I haven't really told anyone yet that this is what I am trying to do.

I know that there are some local workshops offered and I am sure if I call back to the child services in my city they would tell me more but she was kind of like "we'll worry about that when we get closer to the date" but like I said before I like to be organized and not surprised

I looked up the CCPRN they have a lot of great resources! thank you for sharing. Wish I was a little closer to utilize them!!