Parent Resources to Keep You
Informed & Supported
Parent Resources to Keep You Informed & Supported
Helpful Access to Important Family Resources
including tools & communication to keep everyone connected
At Lakeland Child Care, we believe clear communication and easy access to information help families feel fully supported. This page brings together helpful parent resources designed to answer common questions and keep families connected to their child’s day-to-day experiences.
Our Parent Handbook
Our Parent Handbook provides detailed information about how Lakeland Child Care operates and what families can expect. It outlines important policies and procedures, including enrollment, fees, hours of operation, safe arrival, illness, nutrition, inclusion, and more.
The handbook is a helpful reference throughout the year and answers many of the most common questions families have.
Keeps Us in Contact with You
Our Daycare Communication App
At Lakeland Child Care, we use a secure daycare communication app to stay closely connected with families. Through the app, parents receive daily updates, photos, reminders, and messages directly from their child’s educators. The app is one of the best parent resources to make it easy to see how your child’s day is going, stay informed about routines and activities, and communicate quickly with our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we’ve outlined some quick responses to our most frequently asked questions. Many of these questions are covered in detail in our Parent Handbook. For further information about policies, daily routines, and program expectations, please refer to the handbook.
Table of Contents
What are your hours of operation and holiday closures?
Both our Commerce Park Drive and Ferris Lane child care centres operate Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The centre is closed on statutory holidays, including Thanksgiving, Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, and from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day. If a holiday falls on a weekend, families will be notified of the weekday closure in lieu. Please note that fees are not reduced for holiday closures.
What is your enrollment process?
Families begin by arranging a tour of the centre and reviewing enrollment information with our team. We recommend that children visit the centre with their parent or guardian before starting to help ease the transition. Prior to enrollment, families must complete required forms and provide up-to-date immunization records in accordance with the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA).
What happens if my child is sick?
To help prevent the spread of illness, families are asked to keep children home when they are unwell and to complete daily health screening before attending care. Children must be kept home or picked up if they show symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, contagious conditions, or other signs of illness. These policies protect the health of all children, families, and educators and align with guidance from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
What is your late pick-up policy?
The centre closes promptly at 5:30 p.m., and late pick-ups are tracked. Repeated late pick-ups may result in warnings and could lead to termination of care, and a late fee of $50 per half hour is charged for pickups after closing. If a child is left more than one hour past closing without contact, Family and Children’s Services will be notified.
What kind of meals and snacks are provided?
Lakeland Child Care provides a morning snack, nutritious lunch, and afternoon snack, catered by a local provider. Weekly menus are shared with families and posted in the centre to support meal planning at home.
How do you communicate with families?
Educators share updates and documentation of children’s learning through our secure daycare app, allowing families to stay connected to daily experiences. Lakeland Child Care also shares monthly updates and provides more formal developmental summaries twice per year. Parents are encouraged to communicate regularly and may request meetings with educators at any time.
What is your approach to additional support needs?
Lakeland Child Care is committed to providing accessible, respectful care that supports each child’s dignity and independence. When additional support is needed, educators work closely with families and community resource partners to ensure appropriate accommodations are in place. Referrals to specialized services within Simcoe County may be discussed as part of a collaborative support plan.
What ages do you accept?
Lakeland Child Care offers programs for toddlers aged 1.5 to 2.5 years and preschoolers aged 2.5 years to 4 years. We do not provide infant care or school-age programs, allowing us to focus on these key early learning years.
Do you participate in CWELCC?
Yes. Both Lakeland Child Care centres participate in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program, helping families access high-quality licensed child care at reduced fees.
What is your waitlist process?
Families can join the waitlist by contacting Lakeland Child Care and providing details about their child care needs. There is no fee or deposit to be placed on the waitlist, and priority is given to currently enrolled families, siblings, and families returning from maternity leave. When a space becomes available, families are contacted in order and given a short timeframe to confirm acceptance and submit required paperwork and deposit.
What are your safe arrival and pick-up procedures?
Children are only released to their parent or guardian, or to individuals who have been authorized in writing. Lakeland Child Care follows strict safe arrival and dismissal procedures to ensure children are always supervised. If a child does not arrive or is not picked up as expected, staff follow established protocols to ensure the child’s safety.
Do you accept Simcoe County Childcare Subsidies?
Yes. Families may be eligible for full or partial child care fee subsidy through the County of Simcoe. Eligibility and applications are managed directly by the County, and families are encouraged to contact them for more information.
How much outdoor time do children get?
Children in full-day programs are provided with opportunities for outdoor play totalling approximately two hours each day, weather permitting.
What is your approach to inclusion?
Lakeland Child Care is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where all children feel respected and valued. We celebrate diversity and provide equal opportunities for participation, while recognizing that each child’s needs are unique. Families are viewed as partners, and collaboration is central to supporting every child’s success.
What Lakeland Child Care Families say...
