Early childhood staff grant
Overview
This funding provides wage top-ups for early childhood staff and educators (employees) working in licensed centre-based early learning and child care programs over and above the base wage paid by the employer.
Status
Applications can be submitted at any time.
Available funding
Early childhood staff and educators must apply directly the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) to receive this funding. Funding is determined by the number of hours worked per quarter (every four months) and the level of post-secondary education in the area of early childhood development.
| Level of early childhood development education | 100-234 hrs worked/quarter (8-18 hrs/wk.) | 235–351 hrs worked/quarter (18.5-27 hrs/wk.) | 354–468 hrs worked/quarter (27.5-36 hrs/wk.) | 469+ hrs worked/quarter (37+ hours/wk.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | $600 | $900 | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| Certificate | $800 | $1,200 | $1,600 | $2,000 |
| Diploma | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Degree | $1,200 | $2,400 | $2,400 | $3,000 |
For example: If a child care worker who has no post-secondary early childhood development education worked 35 hrs/week between April to June, they qualify for a grant of $1,200.
Payment schedule
| Quarter | Date |
|---|---|
| 1st payment (Q1) | April 1 – June 30 |
| 2nd payment (Q2) | July 1 – Sept 30 |
| 3rd payment (Q3) | October 1 – December 31 |
| 4th payment (Q4) | January 1 – March 31 |
Deadline
Applications can be submitted at any time; payments are made quarterly directly to the early childhood staff and educators (employee).
Eligibility
- Early childhood staff and educators (employees) permanently employed by a licensed centre-based early learning and child care programs.1
How to apply
Before you apply download the application and guidelines.
- Complete the application and prepare your supporting documents.
- Submit your completed application to the Early Childhood Consultant in your region.
Contact us
For questions about applying for funding, contact the Early Childhood Consultant in your region from Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm.
1 Employees that provide care, assistance, and supervision of children as part of their usual job duties or provide on-site supervision of the daily operation of the program.