Activity 1.1 | Exploring the System and Systems Thinking

The ECE System in British Columbia (BC)

Notably, British Columbia (BC) has four different types of child care: (1) licensed, (2) registered license-not-required, (3) license-not-required and (4) in a child's own home.

Read the following descriptions to identify the types of child care defined by the BC Government: 

1. Licensed child care facilities

Licensed childcare facilities are monitored and regularly inspected by regional health authorities. They must meet specific requirements for health and safety, staffing qualifications, record keeping, space and equipment, child-to-staff ratios, and programming.

2. Registered license-not-required

These are unlicensed care providers. They must have registered with a Child Care Resource and Referral Centre. To register, operators must have completed:

• Criminal record checks (for everyone over age 12 living in the home)
• Character references
• A home safety assessment
• First aid training
• Childcare training courses or workshops

Registered care providers also have access to support, training, resources and group liability insurance.

3. License-not-required

These child care providers can operate legally in B.C. They are not registered or licensed and are not monitored or inspected. Unlicensed child care providers do not have to meet health or safety standards.

Legally, the child care providers can care for up to two children (or a sibling group) who are not related to them. They may be operating illegally if they have more than two children in their care.

Parents and guardians are responsible for overseeing the care and safety of their children in these care arrangements.

4. In-child's-own-home

This unlicensed care is when parents arrange for child care at home – like a nanny or a babysitter.

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The BC government (n.d.) has developed an interactive Child Care Map to identify all BC's licensed and registered ECE providers. This searchable web map (using geospatial data) that allows those accessing it to search by program type, city, distance, or services offered.  

Take a few minutes to explore the map before navigating to the next page of this activity.