Daycare FAQ’s
What ages of children do you accept?
We accept children ages 11 months to Kindergarten in our Daycares. We also offer Out of School Care at our Lewis Farms and Savaryn Centres.
Do you provide part-time or drop-in?
We offer full time spots only.
What hours are you open?
We open at 7:00 AM and we close at 5:30 PM.
Are you open year-round?
Yes, we are open year-round! We do close on statutory holidays including Easter Monday and Remembrance Day. We are also closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, as well as some additional days during the winter holidays of which we notify parents well in advance.
What are the ratios of Educators to children?
All childcare Centres in Alberta are required to follow these Educator to Child ratios: One Educator for up to 4 Infants (12-18 months), up to 6 Toddlers (19-35 months), up to 8 Jr. Preschoolers (3 years) and up to 10 Sr. Preschoolers (4 years).
What types of credentials do your Educators have?
Like all childcare Centres in Alberta, all of our Educators have their provincial childcare certification, a criminal record check and child welfare check. In addition, at least 1 in 2 Educators have current first aid certificates.
What we believe sets our Educators apart is that as a small, local business we hand-pick and carefully select our Educators based on their skills, passion and demonstrated love for their profession. Many of our Educators have been with us for more than 5 years and most Educators join us as a result of being recommended by a currently employed Educator.
We are a tight-knit, harmonious community that cares for and supports each other well. We believe that this translates positively into the warmth and love we express to the children entrusted to our care.
Do you have a waitlist? How likely am I to get a spot?
With such high demand at our centres, we do not have a waitlist. We invite families to join an Interest List through the Join a Centre page of our website, and if a spot opens up that meets the needs of the family, we get in touch at that time.
The most likely time to receive a spot at our Centres is in July/August because this is when a number of children graduate from Daycare and move to our Out of School Care programs.
How does my child transition into your Centre?
New spots become available on the 1st of the month. The first two days your child attends in the morning only. If your child is struggling with the transition we will call you for an early pickup. If the transition is on track, your child will stay for the entire 3rd day.
If your child has been at Daycare before and you believe your child does not need a staggered entry, he/she can attend a full day starting on the 1st.
What do I need to bring on our first day?
The first day is both exciting and nerve-wracking! Most importantly, please bring your precious child. If this is your first time leaving your child at an early learning Centre, you might want to bring some tissues. It’s not easy to leave your child for the first time, even when you have done all of your research and you feel confident in your decision.
Each family that comes to our Centres has a private, personalized New Family Orientation meeting with the Director. During Orientation, we will discuss what to bring the first day. This list includes: diapers, wipes, labelled water bottle, labelled indoor shoes, change of clothes, outdoor seasonal attire and a family picture.
When is naptime and where do children nap?
Naptime is between Noon and 2:30pm. Infants nap on mats; Toddlers and Preschoolers nap on cots. We provide sheets that are laundered weekly and families send a blanket.
We know that Infants may be napping in the morning and if your Infant falls asleep in the morning, we will ensure that they are comfortable.
We also know that children drop their naps as early as 3 years old and as late as Kindergarten. Children who no longer nap will either be placed in a non-napping room, or will have tabletop and other quiet activity options to enjoy while other children are napping.
Do you provide meals and snacks?
At Lewis Farms and Summerside we provide breakfast at 8:30am, lunch at 11:30am and snack at 2:30pm, prepared on-site by our chef. At our Savaryn location families can choose our hot lunch option or send lunch with their child. We provide AM and PM snacks.
We are a nut-free Centre and are able to accommodate most allergies. We can accommodate some specialized dietary needs for an additional $75/month. If your child is a picky eater, we partner with you to encourage your child to try and enjoy the food that has been prepared and is being enjoyed by his/her friends each day.
Please visit our NUTRITION page for more information.
Will my child go outside every day?
Yes, outdoor play and education is essential to your child’s physical and mental health. Children go outside for 30-45 minutes in the morning and again in the afternoon where they enjoy our spacious and well-equipped outdoor classrooms.
What is the attendance policy when my child is ill?
All Alberta Daycares are mandated by AHS that sick children are to be sent home from Daycare and need to be symptom-free for 24 hours before they are eligible to return to group care.
We follow all AHS COVID guidelines to ensure that all children and Educators are our Centres are as safe and healthy as possible.
What differentiates Global Aware Care?
We are a locally-owned, professionally operated small business that exists to serve our families and to provide the best working environment for our valued Educators. This is what motivates us and guides the decisions that we make.
We believe that our clean, spacious, well-maintained Centres provide children with an outstanding environment in which to learn and grow. You will see that we offer medium-sized Centres (75-100 children) which we believe offer the best of both worlds. Our Centres are large enough to attract outstanding Educators who value working with a local, yet professional leadership team. At the same time, our Centres are not so large that they have a “corporate” or “cookie-cutter” feel. Instead, each Centre is unique and an expression the community that we serve. As a result, we have developed deep roots in our communities, with many families and Educators having been with us for many years.
So, if you are looking for a place that is filled with warmth, love, stability and strength we invite you to check out Global Aware Care!
Do you have a parent communication app?
Yes, your fees include a monthly subscription to Lillio and you will receive daily reports and pictures throughout the week, documenting the daily adventures in your child’s classroom.
How are payments made? Do you accept subsidy?
We accept payment via pre-authorized withdrawal on the 1st of the month. We do accept subsidy. Details on how to apply for subsidy can be found here.
Can you tell me your current fees?
Here are our 2024 base monthly fees. These fees have had the government affordability grant already applied.
In addition, families can apply for subsidy to further lower their fees by $106-$266/month, depending on family income.
Age | Lewis Farms | Savaryn | Summerside |
Infant 12-18 months | $611 | N/A | $657 |
Toddler 19-35 months | $589 | N/A | $671 |
Preschool 36 months+ | $559 | $507 | $610 |
Registration Fee | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Annual Materials Fee | $75 | $75 | $75 |