Starting and Operating a Licensed Child Care Program

Information about licensing, funding, and operating requirements for child care programs.

Starting a program

Information on the requirements and steps to open a licensed early learning and child care facility in the Northwest Territories.

Starting and operating a licensed family day home

Requirements and steps for opening and running a licensed family day home.

Starting and operating a licensed centre-based program

Information on establishing and managing a licensed child care centre.

Starting a licensed family day home in public housing

Requirements for operating a licensed family day home in public housing.

Environmental Health Inspection of Child day care facilities

Standards and requirements for licensed child care facilities.

Resources for Early Childhood Educators and Program Operators

Access resources and tools to support inclusive learning, self-regulation, and emergency preparedness in early learning and child care programs.

Wage grid for centre-based employees

Information about wage standards and pay increases for employees in licensed centre-based early learning and child care programs.

Operating a program

Information for licensed operators on program administration, reporting requirements, and ongoing program management.

Payment and reporting

Information about reporting requirements and payment processes for licensed programs.

Northern Experience Bonus for centre-based employees

Learn about bonus funding available for employees with Northern experience.

Indigenous Educators Bonus for centre-based employees

Information about bonus funding for Indigenous educators working in licensed centre-based child care programs in the NWT.

Funding to operate a program

Funding programs that support the day-to-day operation, staffing, and safety of licensed early learning and child care programs.

Flexible Operating Funding

Operational funding to help licensed programs manage ongoing expenses.

Home-based Operating Funding

Information on funding support for licensed family day home operators.

Dedicated Wage Funding

Funding provided to support staff wages in licensed child care programs.

Five-Year Retention Funding

Funding that supports long-term stability and retention of child care programs.

Health and Safety Funding for Family Day Homes

Funding to improve health and safety conditions in family day homes.

Health and Safety Funding for Centre-based Programs

Funding to improve health and safety conditions in licensed centres.

Child Care Fee Reduction

Learn about the Child Care Fee Reduction subsidy that provides funding to licensed family day homes to reduce child care fees.

Funding to create or improve child care spaces

Information on funding to build, expand, or improve licensed child care facilities and create new child care spaces in the Northwest Territories.

Early Childhood Infrastructure Fund

Funding to build, renovate, or improve child care facilities.

New Child Care Spaces Fund for Family Day Homes

Funding to create new licensed spaces in family day homes.

Funding Changes for Early Learning and Child Care Programs

Overview of updates affecting child care funding programs.

Supporting Child Inclusion and Participation

Learn about funding available to enhance inclusive and accessible early learning and child care programs across the NWT.

Supporting Child Inclusion and Participation - Inclusion Funding

Funding that supports the inclusion of children needing additional supports in child care programs.

Supporting Child Inclusion and Participation - Early Years Community Program funding

Funding to promote access to early learning opportunities.

Developmental (Needs Assessment) Fund

Learn about funding available to help communities assess local child care needs and plan future early learning and child care spaces.

Major Projects Fund

Learn about funding for projects that create new licensed child care spaces or expand existing early learning and child care facilities in the NWT.

Minor Projects Fund

Learn about funding for renovations, accessibility upgrades, and small infrastructure projects that improve or create licensed child care spaces.

New Child Care Spaces Fund for Centre-based Programs

Learn more about funding to support the creation of new licensed child care programs and additional child care spaces in the NWT.
Updated: May 07, 2026