Early learning and child care is vitally important for the healthy development of all children in the NWT. A child’s brain grows most rapidly between birth and age five, and everyone involved in a child’s life – families, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone else – shapes a child’s early development.

ECE’s Early Learning and Child Care Division oversees early learning and child care programs for children from birth to age 12.

We help families and children access licensed early learning and child care programs by:

• Licensing and monitoring centre-based and family day homes according to Early Learning and Child Care Act, Early Learning and Child Care Standards Regulations, and Early Learning and Child Care Funding Regulations 
• Providing funding to licensed early learning and child care programs to help offset the high costs of child care
• Supporting children with additional support needs in child care settings
• Providing post-secondary education and professional development opportunities to early childhood educators