Parents/Guardians

EarlyON

EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer several free services for parents or caregivers with a child under 6 years old:

  • Drop-in for parents and caregivers with young children
  • Intergenerational programming
  • Facilitated playgroups
  • Parent and caregiver education
  • Information and referral services
  • Mobile outreach programs for rural communities

 

EarlyON offers playgroups and parental education sessions across Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls in:

  • Bilingual, English and French languages
  • Smaller communities and larger towns

You can find the schedule on CROW’s EarlyON website.

Inclusion Support Services

Every child deserves to thrive.

Inclusion Support Services works in partnership with families and child care providers to ensure children of all abilities can participate meaningfully in early learning environments.

Lanark County’s Inclusion Support Service’s Vision is committed to creating a high-quality, licensed child care system that provides inclusive and responsive programs. We recognize and celebrate the competence and capability of all children. Our vision is to build a community where every individual is respected and supported, enabling them to lead empowered and fulfilling lives.

In our unified community, we cherish each person’s unique story, fostering strength through compassion, collaboration, and shared energy. By working together, we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to the collective well-being.

For additional information, visit Lanark County’s Inclusion Support Services provider ConnectWell.

Child Care Fee Subsidy

Need help reducing your child care costs?

Families who live in Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls can apply for Child Care fee subsidy. Fee subsidy helps with the cost of licensed child care for children under 13 years old.  Depending on net income, families may qualify for a full or partial subsidy.

Fee Subsidy Calculator

This tool will give you an estimate of the parental portion not covered by fee subsidy. Your fee subsidy caseworker calculates your exact portion based on your full application. Important: This calculator is for reference purposes only. The exact parental contribution will be determined at your application or reapplication appointment.

Please Note: the calculator tool will not read special characters such as ($ or ,). Please enter numerical values only.

Enter line 236 from the Income Tax Notice of Assessment for yourself and your spouse.

Based on the information you have provided, your monthly parental contribution towards the cost of a licensed child care will be:

Eligibility

Basic Eligibility

To qualify for a fee subsidy, you need to answer YES to ALL of the following three statements:

  • I live in Lanark County or the Town of Smiths Falls
  • I have a financial need and need access to affordable child care
  • I have a confirmed spot for my child(ren) at a licensed child care in Lanark County

You need to say YES to at least one of these statements:

  • All adults in my house are working or attending school
  • A child or adult in my house has been identified by a professional as having a special need

Proving Financial Need

You must file an income tax return for last year in order for us to be able to calculate your parental portion of child care fees.

See the above fee calculator for further information.

If your financial situation has changed since the previous tax year, you may qualify for a fee reduction. You must provide verification that your adjusted gross income for this calendar year will be at least 20% less than the most recent tax year.

Subsidy Uses
Fee subsidy is in place to make licensed home and centre based child care more affordable.

It can fund:

  • Full or half day care for children that are not in school yet
  • Before and after care for school aged children
  • Full day care for summer and PA days for school aged children

Application Process
Step 1

  • Secure a child care space for your child. This space must be through a licensed provider enrolled in CWELCC listed in our Licensed Child Care Providers section.

Step 2

  • Gather your documentation
    • Proof of income
      • Notice of Assessment from the most current year
      • If self employed:
        • T1 General – Income Tax and Benefit Return
        • Your business registration
    • Proof of Residency
    • Current work or school schedule
    • Letter from employer or school to verify employment or enrollment
    • Custody agreements

Step 3

  • Contact our office to speak to a fee subsidy caseworker and receive an application

Step 4

  • Complete the application and submit it with supporting documents

Step 5

  • Your caseworker will review your application and let you know the outcome

If Approved…

Your caseworker will send you and your child care provider an approval letter that states:

  • subsidy amount
  • eligible hours
  • effective date

Your caseworker will be in contact as needed to keep your file up to date.

How to continue receiving your fee subsidy:

To keep receiving subsidy you must:

  • Pay your monthly parental contribution directly to the child care provider.
  • Provide updated documentation for your annual file review or as requested throughout the year.
  • Report any changes in your personal and financial situation to your caseworker. Make sure to report changes in:
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • E-mail address
    • Marital status
    • Need/reason for child care
    • Birth of new children/parental leave
    • Employment
    • Income
    • Child custody and access
    • Ontario Works (OW)/Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) status

Reporting changes quickly will help to avoid an overpayment that you would have to pay back to Lanark County. If you don’t report changes you also risk your file being closed.

Waitlist
Current Status: No Waitlist

Definitions:

  • “No Waitlist”: If approved, you can start receiving fee subsidy assistance right away
  • “Waitlist”: Eligible families receive fee subsidy as funding becomes available based on their application date.

Licensed Child Care Locations

Licensed child care is available throughout Lanark County and the Town of Smiths Falls, including both centre-based and home-based options. Please note that only licensed child care centres or home agencies enrolled in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system are eligible. If you require financial assistance, refer to the Fee Subsidy tab for more information.

Licensed Home Child Care Agencies

Children’s Resources On Wheels (CROW)

Licensed Child Care Centres and Before and After School Programs

Beckwith

Apple Seeds Preschool

Beckwith Child Care Centre

  • Address: 1523 9th Line, Beckwith
  • Phone: 613-257-4251
  • Email Beckwith Child Care Centre
  • Toddler and preschooler programs
  • Before/after school care
  • School age summer programming

Carleton Place

Carleton Place Child Care Services

  • Address: Carleton Place Child Care Services location at 3 Francis St, Carleton Place and Carambeck location at 351 Bridge St, Carleton Place
  • Carleton Place Childcare Website
  • Phone: 613-253-0597
  • Email Carleton Place Child Care Services 
  • Infant, toddler and preschooler programs
  • Before/after school care: Carambeck location
  • School age summer programming: Carambeck location

La Coccinelle- J.L. Couroux

Perth

Perth Children’s House Montessori School

TayCare Children’s Centres

  • Address: TayCare Wilson location s at 100 Wilson St E, Perth and TayCare Junior location at 2066 Scotch Line Rd, Perth
  • TayCare Children Centres’ Website
  • Phone: TayCare Wilson 613-201-6542 and TayCare Junior 613-267-6542
  • Email TayCare Children’s Centres
  • Toddler and preschooler programs
  • Before and after school care: Queen Elizabeth, Stewart and St. John’s Elementary schools
  • School age summer programming

Smiths Falls

The Nursery Rhyme

  • Address: 11 Elmsley St. N, Smiths Falls
  • Phone: 613-284-0769
  • Email The Nursery Rhyme
  • Infant, toddler and preschooler programs

Rideau Child Care

  • Address: 2 Gould St, Smiths Falls
  • Phone: 613-283-3400
  • Email Rideau Child Care
  • Infant, toddler and preschooler programs
  • Before and after school care
  • School age summer programming

Smiths Falls Child Development Centre

Mississippi Mills

Almonte Co-op Nursery School

Mississippi Mills Childcare Services

Pakenham Community Early Learning Centre