Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about
Stepping Stones Child Care!
How many child care spaces are available?
Stepping Stones Child Care operates three locations with a total of 270 licensed spaces. Each location provides care for children between 6 weeks old and 12 years old.
How do I enroll in one of your programs?
The quickest and most efficient way to fill out a wait list application from our home page. All registrations will get an automatic response once received. When a space becomes available we will call you to set up a personal interview. Interviews take place at the location where we are offering the space. During the interview we provide a tour of our facility, explain our policies and describe how our program works. We are happy to answer any questions that you have about our program at this time.
Can I accept a space at one site and request a transfer to another location at a later date?
Absolutely! We are more than happy to accommodate transfer requests as spaces become available. Families who are using our services at any location have priority on waiting lists when they exist.
Do you have a waiting list?
Yes we have a wait list of about 200 children for our infant program.
Our wait list for children over 18 months to 12 years is also has about 200 children.
This is a shared wait list for our three 90 space child care centres, but parents can request to only be placed on the wait list for one or two of our centres.
We are rarely able to enroll a new school age child, due to the large number of our existing kindergarten children who move up into our school age group each fall.
How is my position on the waiting list determined?
Priority is given to current family’s (members) for any spaces that become available. The date your request is received determines your place within each age group
How long will I wait for a space?
Depending on the age of your child and the location you have requested you may wait 12 months or more.
How/when will I know if I do have a space?
We will call you. If you have a change in your phone number, address or care requirements please let us know as soon as possible.
What will happen if I am offered a child care space but I do not call back in the specified time frame to confirm my interest?
Unfortunately we will assume that you are not interested in the child care space, your name will be removed from our waiting list and the space will be offered to the next family on the list.
What if a space is offered and it is not a good time for my child care needs?
Any family who declines a space but wishes to stay on the waiting list is placed in a holding file and is not re-contacted by the Centre. Once the family re-contacts the Centre, their file will be reactivated as of that date.
Do you ever remove families from the waiting list?
Yes. Families are removed from the waiting list for several reasons. A child is removed once he is no longer age-appropriate to attend our program; the family asks to be removed; the family does not return a phone call requesting confirmation of interest in space; the family is not able to be contacted by phone because the phone number is out of service; or the family has moved and has not left a forwarding contact number.
When can I have a tour of the Centre and fill out the application form?
Tours are set-up at a convenient time once we know we have a space to offer. During the tour the Program Supervisor will discuss how our program operates, explain in detail the Centre policies, give parents the opportunity to ask any questions they have and provide all the necessary enrollment forms. Parents are encouraged to bring their child with them and should anticipate the tour to take approximately 1 hour.
Is there a registration fee?
Our centre has a $40.00 non-refundable registration fee per family.
Is there a membership fee?
Our centre has a $10.00 non-refundable co-operative membership fee per family.
Both the Registration Fee and the Co-op Fee must be paid by the time a family starts in the centre and may be paid in advance to hold or guarantee a spot. The membership and registration fees are in addition to the monthly child care fee.
What else do I need to know?
Please keep us informed about phone number changes. Occasionally we have a child care space available and are unable to give it to an interested parent because we are not able to reach them by telephone.
