General News

Renewed strategy for Early Learning and Child Care released by Simcoe County

August 1, 2025   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The County of Simcoe has released a revitalized strategy that will deliver over 4,900 new affordable licensed child care spaces between 2022 and 2026, including a strengthened workforce, and the promotion of equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive programming.

This follows County Council approval of the 2025-29 Early Learning and Child Care Service System Plan on June 24.

“The County’s Early Learning and Child Care Service System Plan will enrich the diverse landscape of all early learning services,” said Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke. “By creating an additional 2,450 affordable spaces by December 2026, we will nearly double the number of spaces that Simcoe County has created since 2022. This is wonderful news for families across our region. These spaces will open doors to brighter futures for thousands of children and their families, helping build a thriving, connected Simcoe County for generations to come.”

The plan outlines a vision that ensures inclusive, accessible, high-quality, and affordable early learning and child care. It was developed through extensive community consultation that has been backed up by comprehensive data analysis.

The Early Learning and Child Care Service System Plan includes three key strategic priorities:

Inclusive and accessible early learning and child care experiences, a thriving and sustainable early learning and child care workforce, and cohesive community planning.

The plan aims to increase positive early learning experiences and child development and invests for the future while supporting economic growth and social cohesion.

To learn more or to download the County’s 2025-2029 Early Learning and Child Care Service System Plan, visit simcoe.ca/childcare.

To enhance accessibility and transparency, a Children Services Dashboard was created on the County’s open data portal, found a simcoe.ca.

This provides insights into the region’s early years and child care system, and allows residents and community partners to access data on licensed child care.

Readers Comments (0)