The 2025-2030 Service Plan is now available. It outlines the key goals for the early years and child care sector in Toronto over the next five years. The Plan is based on provincial rules and laws, and it explains Toronto Children’s Services values, role, and responsibilities in achieving the sector’s goals. A French version will be available in Summer 2025. For a brief overview, please see the Service Plan Placemat.
Thank you to all the families, community partners, service providers, and early years and child care staff who shared their stories and ideas. Your input helped shape this Service Plan.
Commitment to Indigenous Communities
Toronto Children’s Services commits to supporting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and families in Toronto.
We will work with Indigenous partners to co-create an Indigenous-led Service Plan. It will include the voices, needs and goals of Indigenous children and families in Toronto.
We know this work is urgent and ongoing. We recognize:
- Indigenous communities face unique challenges in Toronto;
- real reconciliation requires honesty, trust, and long-term action;
- we must speak up to other levels of government for better funding and supports for Indigenous families; and
- building strong, respectful relationships with Indigenous communities is key to moving forward in truth and reconciliation.
Children’s Services commits to:
- upholding Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination in the early years and child care sector;
- promoting culturally safe and welcoming spaces;
- using Indigenous knowledges and practices in programs and services in a respectful way;
- removing barriers to accessing early years and childcare programs and services;
- promoting accessible, inclusive programming; and
- working with Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led organizations in the early years and child care sector to measure progress and strengthen accountability.
Guiding Principles
A set of eight principles guide the Service Plan:
- Truth, Reconciliation, and Justice
- Inclusive
- Child-centred
- Equitable
- Responsible
- Evidence-informed
- Collaborative
- Innovative
Who We Heard From
Over 4,000 people helped shape this plan across 28 different engagement opportunities. This includes:
- 2,878 parents and caregivers with children under 12 shared their experiences with child care and EarlyON through a survey.
- 104 parents and caregivers across 9 focus groups from diverse communities talked about barriers and opportunities when accessing early years and child care services.
- 594 child care operators gave feedback about waitlists and staffing issues on a survey.
- 220 early years and child care program staff were surveyed on their priorities for the sector.
- 200 child care supervisors attended workshops on child care access.
Strategic Priorities for 2025-2030
The Service Plan includes seven priorities to guide our work:
- Advance self-determination with Indigenous organizations and families in the early years and child care sector
- Expand the early years and child care system to meet the needs of children and their families
- Remove barriers to accessing child care and early years services
- Support a thriving early years and child care workforce
- Champion a high-quality and well-managed early years and child care system
- Centre inclusion in the early years and child care sector for children, families, and staff
- Connect families with essential family support services
