Day Care

Located in University Settlement’s unique setting on Grange Park, children participate in a wide range of activities, all of which have been adapted to meet strict government COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Our Early Childhood Educators are creative, caring professionals who ensure high quality programming under these restrictions that supports the social, cognitive, creative, emotional and physical needs of each of the infants, toddlers and preschoolers in our care.

COVID-19: The safety of your child, your family, and the safety of our staff is our top priority.

We are following all Ontario government and Toronto Public Health guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Our reduced child-to-staff ratio helps maintain physical distancing. Additional staff carry out enhanced cleaning and sanitizing and other COVID-19 related duties.

University Settlement Day Care is a very special place!

Located in University Settlement’s unique setting on Grange Park, in the heart of downtown Toronto, children participate in a wide range of activities, all of which have been adapted to meet strict government COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Our Early Childhood Educators are creative, caring professionals who ensure high quality programming under these restrictions that supports the social, cognitive, creative, emotional and physical needs of each of the infants, toddlers and preschoolers in our care.

Our exceptional licensed program offers a nurturing environment that encourages children’s creativity, self-expression, and respect, while fostering their imagination, curiosity, and intellect. Structured, challenging, and age-appropriate cognitive activities help children understand cause and effect, develop hand-eye coordination, improve literacy, and help develop conceptual thinking and problem solving.

Daily Outdoor Play

Children love our two recently renovated toddler and pre-school outdoor playgrounds. With two playgrounds located apart from one another, we can keep each cohort separate and so provide more time for daily outdoor play.

Highly Qualified Staff

Our highly qualified staff ensure that each child receives the support and care he or she needs, while working to help build confidence and independence. Close communication between parents and staff is a vital factor in our success.

Toys and Creative Materials

Every day, each child receives their own creative materials, e.g., his or her own paint and brush, as well as a choice of toys to play with individually.

Delicious and Nutritious Meals and Snacks

Delicious and nutritious meals and snacks are prepared daily on the premises by our dedicated cook, in accordance with the Canada Food Guide. Children receive two snacks and a hot lunch every day. View sample menu (PDF)

Capacity for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool Children

Infants (up to 18 months)

Pandemic Capacity: 6 infants with 3 teachers
We maintain your baby’s schedule at home in our well-appointed Infant Room.

Toddlers (18 months to 2 ½ years)

Pandemic Capacity: 10 toddlers divided into two groups of five with 2 teachers in each group

Pre-school (2 ½ years olds to 4 years)

Pandemic Capacity: 16 children with 3 teachers

Day Care Rates (as of January 2022)

Infant (Under 18 Months):

$97 per day

Toddler (18 Months to 30 Months):

$83.50 per day

Preschool (30 Months to 4 Years):

$64.40 per day

Note: All parents are required to purchase a yearly University Settlement membership ($25.00 + HST)

Subsidy Information

You may be eligible for a subsidy. Subsidies are available through Toronto Children’s Services. Please contact them directly at (416) 392-5437 or at http://www.toronto.ca/children/subsidy.htm

Hours of Operation

Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5:30 pm. The Centre is closed on statutory holidays and over the December holiday period.

Parent Handbook

View our Parent Handbook (PDF) for more information on policies and procedures.

Registration / Waiting List

If you are interested in adding your name to our waiting list, please fill out our Application Form and email it to daycare.services@universitysettlement.ca. Remember to check in every 6 months to keep your application active.

Parenting through the pandemic

2021 was a tough year to be a parent. Parents struggled with balancing working from home, helping kids with their schoolwork, and worrying about the entire family’s safety and health. For those with young children, it was especially difficult to make the decision to return to

Day Care when the pandemic continued to rage.

At the University Settlement Day Care, we worked hard to make that decision easier for parents. Our enhanced health and safety measures assured parents that their children were kept as safe as possible. Our educators did everything in their power to create warm and inviting spaces where children could thrive in a positive learning environment.

“I was worried about what it would be like for my child to interact with caregivers in masks and protective gear and be distanced from peers in addition to her health and safety” said Elizabeth, a University Settlement Day Care parent. “My fears were alleviated when we were welcomed back warmly. The kindness and genuine affection of the Day Care staff towards my child shone through the masks and PPE. University Settlement was a great choice for us as the values of the Day Care best mirrored our own. We have tremendous gratitude towards the team that has taken such good care of our family throughout this challenging time. Our child will be joining Junior Kindergarten this fall, but we will surely be returning for next year’s summer camp.”

What it means to be an ECE worker in the pandemic

A day in the life of Candace Whynot, an Early Childhood Educator at University Settlement Day Care

Sometimes all it takes is one incident to bring things into focus.

I’m responsible for screening every child and staff member before they enter the Day Care (a high-risk job that demands wearing full PPE). One winter morning a child, let’s call him Sam, was being dropped off to the preschool room. After taking off his boots, Sam stepped on the wet floor with his socks. Sam is on the Autism Spectrum and sensory stimulation can trigger an emotional reaction. He became overwhelmed by the sensation of his wet socks. I tried to calm him but I was wearing full PPE, which is already a problem for Sam because he relies mostly on non-verbal communication; a mask and face shield creates a barrier… Read the full story