Early Learning and Child Care Space Creation Progress

Island families need access to high-quality, affordable and reliable early learning and child care services. The Province is working strategically and incrementally to increase capacity in this sector.

There are four types of licensed early learning and child care spaces in PEI:

  • Early childhood centre are centres that can welcome infants (0-22 months), preschool children (22 months to five years old) and school-age children (five years old to 12 years old); 
    • In addition, some Early Childhood Centres may apply to become designated Early Years Centres that must meet a strict set of criteria. Becoming a designated centre means children will receive early years education following PEI’s early education curriculum, and operators will have access to additional professional development and financial supports from the Province.
      • Probationary Early Years Centre: Licensed early childhood centres are invited to apply to the Department of Education and Early Years to receive a Probationary Early Years Centre designation at any time. Applicants for an early childhood centre license may also concurrently apply for a Probationary Early Years Centre designation. 
  • Family home centres are centres located in a private residence that can welcome infants (0-22 months), preschool children (22 months to five years old) and school-age children (five years old to 12 years old) 
  • School-age child centre are centres that provide child care service for school-age children on weekdays when they are not in school; and
  • Preschool centre provides early learning and child care services for less than four consecutive hours per day to children between the ages of three to five (3-5).

 

The following table shows the changes in licensed spaces in each of those categories. Updates will be made the first week of each quarter.

Type of early learning and child care centre

Licensed Spaces, October 2024

Q3 2024-25 (Oct-Dec)

Q4 2024-25 (Jan-Mar)

Q1 2025-26 (Apr-Jun)

Q2 2025-26 (Jul-Sep)

Q3 2025-26 (Oct - Dec)

Q4 2025-26 (Jan-Mar)

Early Childhood Centre 282            

Designated Early Years Centre

4210            
Probationary Early Years Centre 185            
Family Home Centre 158            
School-Age Centre 2443            
Preschool Centre 82            

Expansion Project Updates

To help grow the early learning and child care sector capacity, the Province launched two programs, the Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program and the Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant to help increase the number of licensed child care spaces available to residents. 


The below summary provides a summary of current expansion projects. The table will be updated the first of each quarter.

Operator

Community

Spaces to be Created (Range)

Anticipated Opening*

Expansion Stream

MAGIC MOMENTS CHILD CARE CENTRE
 
Tignish
 
11-25 January 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
SHINING STARS CHILD CARE CENTRE INC.
 
Stratford
 
80+ January 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
ABEGWEIT FIRST NATION EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRE
 
Scotchfort
 
11-25 June 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
EASTERN KINGS EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY
 
Souris
 
<10 June 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
LITTLE BEAR DAYCARE
 
Summerside
 
11-25 February 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
LITTLE DUCKLINGS CHILDCARE CENTRE
 
Stratford
 
80+ April 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
SUPER STARS DAYCARE
 
Charlottetown
 
<10 January 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
ANGEL KEEPERS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
 
Summerside
 
30 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
BRIGHT FUTURES CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
 
Charlottetown
 
31 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
CORNWALL MONTESSORI EYC 
 
Cornwall 26-40 September 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
STRATFORD MONTESSORI EYC 
 
Stratford 61-79 September 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
LES PETITS RAYONS DE SOLEIL
 
Rustico
 
6 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
CHANCES SMART START - STRATFORD
 
Stratford
 
30 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
CHANCES SMART START - KENSINGTON
 
Kensington
 
15 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
BRILLIANT ME ACADEMY
 
Three Rivers
 
41-60 February 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
STEPPING STONE CHILD CARE CENTRE
 
Charlottetown
 
3 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Capital Grant
 
JUST FOR YOU CHILDRENS CENTRE
 
Charlottetown
 
26-40 Summer 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
TINY TOT EARLY YEARS CENTRE - POPE AVE
 
Charlottetown
 
26-40 May 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
Project Guppy
 
Cornwall 41-60 July 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
KIDZ CORNER EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY
 
Three Rivers
 
41-60 January 2025 Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
WEST ROYALTY CHILD CARE CENTRE
 
Charlottetown
 
41-60 TBD Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
RAINBOW EARLY YEARS CENTRE
 
Summerside 60 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
TINY TOT - PLAYTIME
 
Charlottetown 78 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 
MILESTONES EARLY CHILDHOOD DEV. CENTRE
 
Stratford 56 Currently Operating Early Years Centre Expansion Low-Interest Loan Pilot Program
 

* Anticipated opening timeframes are subject to change based on typical construction risks and delays

 

Published date: 
October 31, 2024
Education and Early Years

General Inquiries

Department of Education and Early Years
Holman Centre
Suite 101, 250 Water Street
Summerside, PE C1N 1B6

Phone: 902-438-4130
Fax: 902-438-4062

DeptEEY@gov.pe.ca