Finding Child Care in Richmond
The City is implementing the Restoring Richmond Plan, a carefully planned step-by-step approach to reopening services, amenities and facilities impacted by COVID-19. See Affected City Services & Facilities for current service and amenity information.
You might not have to pay for child care all on your own. B.C. has expanded child care funding– making child care more affordable and more accessible. Additional information can be found at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children/child-care-funding.
Families may be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit On September 1, 2018, the Affordable Child Care Benefit replaced the Child Care Subsidy. The new funding will help families with the cost of child care, depending on factors like family size, type of care and household income. Information about and applications for the Affordable Child Care Benefit are available through the Child Care Resources & Referral Centre at 604-279-7020 or the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development - BC Ministry of Children and Family Development.
| Licensed Child Care Programs Classifications | |
|---|---|
| VCH Classification | Maximum # of Children & Other Specifications |
| Child Care provided In-Home | |
| Family Child Care | Maximum 7 children. |
| In-Home Multi Age Child Care | The licensee must be an early childhood education and a maximum of 8 children (infants – 8 years old). |
| Group Child Care (All programs need to be run by early childhood educators and be located in a non-residential space). | |
| Group Child Care - Under 36 months | Maximum 12 children. |
| Group Child Care - 30 months to school age | Maximum 25 children, with no more than 2 children younger than 36 months. |
| Group Child Care - School age (5-12 years) | Care provided before and after school hours, a maximum of 30 children if all children are in grade 2 or higher (if there are children that are in preschool, kindergarten, or grade 1, the maximum is 24 children) |
| Preschool - 3 months to school age | Care provided for a maximum of 4 hours per day, with a maximum of 20 children. |
| Multi-age Child Care | Maximum 8 children. |
Resources for Finding Quality Child Care
- Child Care Resource & Referral Centre – includes information about quality child care in Richmond. Trained staff can assist parents in choosing the right child care program for the child’s needs and will provide referrals to child care centres and updates lists of all licensed and registered child care providers in Richmond.
- BC Ministry of Children and Family Development – Links to resources for parents including a Parents’ Guide to Selecting and Monitoring Child Care in BC.
The Richmond Child Care Locator Developed with assistance from Vancouver Coastal Health, this easy-to-use map displays all licensed child care programs in Richmond as well as related contact information. The locator can be used on a smart phone, tablet or desktop computer.The Child Care Locator Map does not contain current information about if facilities are currently operating due to COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency child care for essential service workers is available. Information can be found at Richmond Child Care Resource and Referral Centre.
The Richmond Interactive Map allows users to search the geographic information system (GIS) for various informational layers including child care, zoning, parks, schools and community centres, etc. The map also helps users gain a better understanding of the neighbourhoods where each child care program is located.