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

Lanark County helps make child care more affordable for families by offering Child Care Fee Subsidy.

  • Based on family net income, families may be eligible for full or partial subsidy.
  • Fee Subsidy is available for children under the age of 13.
  • Fee subsidy is available to support the cost of full-day care for infants, toddlers and preschool-age children.
  • Fee subsidy is available to families with school-age children to support the cost of before and/or after-school care on instructional days and full-day care during PA days and school breaks, where children are enrolled year-round.
Eligibility
Basic Eligibility:

  1. Resident of Lanark County or Town of Smiths Falls.
  2. Have a confirmed spot for your child(ren) at a licensed child care in Lanark County with a fee subsidy contract. Lanark County CWELCC Child Care Providers

Cross jurisdiction arrangements may be possible, please contact Children’s Services department to discuss.

In addition, eligibility for fee subsidy is based on your reason for child care and financial eligibility.

Reason for child care:

To be eligible for fee subsidy, you must be one of the following:

  • Working (full-time, part-time, self-employed)
  • Going to school or a training program
  • Looking for work (up to 8 weeks)
  • Receiving Ontario Works benefits
  • Receiving Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits
  • Have a social/special need (parent/caregiver or child)

Financial eligibility:

Financial eligibility is based on your family net income.

The amount is calculated based on line 236 of the current year’s Notice of Assessment (NOA). If you have not lived in Canada for more than one year and have not filed a tax return, you may still qualify for fee subsidy.

 

Please note: The information on this website is only a guideline and is subject to change. It does not reflect all policies and procedures of the Children’s Services Department. Eligibility cannot be confirmed until complete application assessed.

If you require further clarification on any of the information presented here, please contact us at (613) 267-4200 or cs@lanarkcounty.ca .

How To Apply
To request an application package, please contact our office at (613)-267-4200 ext. 2302 or cs@lanarkcounty.ca and one of our Fee Subsidy Caseworkers will assist you.
What You Need To Apply
Once you have received an application package from Children’s Services Department, you will need to submit documents confirming the following:

  1. Identity and status in Canada
  2. Current address
  3. Child custody arrangement
  4. Income
  5. Reason for child care

Please refer to the checklist of required documents.

After You Apply
Once complete application with all required supporting documentation has been submitted, your application will be assigned to a Fee Subsidy Caseworker.

When your application has been reviewed and processed, you will receive a letter of decision from a Fee Subsidy Caseworker.

Should your child start child care prior to receiving a fee subsidy decision, you will be responsible for the full cost of child care.

If approved:

Your Caseworker will send you and your child care provider an approval memo that states:

  • Subsidy amount
  • Eligible hours
  • Effective date/review date

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

If ineligible:

Your Caseworker will provide a letter with an explanation of ineligibility.

Maintaining Fee Subsidy

Your responsibilities

To maintain your Child Care Fee Subsidy, you must follow the guidelines in the Parent Rights and Responsibilities Agreement, including:

  • Paying your parent fee to the child care program (if applicable).
  • Reporting changes in circumstance to fee subsidy Caseworker immediately (within 5 business days).

These changes include:

  • Any changes to employment status for you or your spouse/partner (ie. changes to hours/work schedule/layoff/termination/medical/parental leave).
  • Laid off, medical/parental leave, quit, or dismissed from employment or education program.
  • Any changes to custody care schedules, if applicable.
  • Any change to education or training status (ie. changes to enrollment/school schedule).
  • If you are a recipient of Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Program (ODSP) funding, any changes to your eligibility for financial assistance must be reported.

Reporting changes immediately will help to avoid an overpayment where fee subsidy was paid for child care, during a period of time you may not have been eligible.

  • Responding to all requests for information by the deadline including submission of documents related to your annual eligibility review or as requested throughout the year.  You will be notified of your annual eligibility review and the steps required to maintain your eligibility.

File your income tax return on time every year.

Appealing a Fee Subsidy Decision
You have the right to appeal decisions related to your Child Care Fee Subsidy.

Appeals must be submit within 10 business days of receiving a decision.

To submit and appeal request, an email can be forwarded to cs@lanarkcounty.ca or by contacting your Fee Subsidy Caseworker.

You will be informed about the decision after a review of the file.

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