Early childhood professional wages
If you have questions about top-ups, start by reviewing our CWELCC guidelines and school-age funding guidelines to learn more about our programs.
If you still have questions, talk to your centre supervisor or employer.
Your hourly base wage is the amount we pay directly to your employer. The hourly base wage plus wage top-ups make up your hourly pay.
Your employer or LHCC agency must be part of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan. They are responsible for telling you the CWELCC grants they apply to your wage and benefits. You can also ask your employer or LHCC agency to explain any notes on your pay statements.
If you’re a child care centre supervisor, an educator who supports child ratio requirements, you could earn wage grants. Your employer receives these grants from Peel Region through the following funding:
- General Operating Funding (GOF) for centres.
- Wage Enhancement Grant (WEG).
- Workforce Compensation Funding (WCF). This applies if you are a member in good standing with the College of Early Childhood Educators (CECE).
Wage Enhancement Grant
You may qualify for the up to $2 an hour Wage Enhancement Grant (WEG) if you meet both conditions:
- You are a child care centre supervisor or program staff who supports adult to child ratio requirements.
- Your hourly wage, including your base wage, is less than $33.81 an hour.
This top-up will appear on your pay stub as WEG.
Workforce Compensation Funding (WCF)
If you are a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) working as a child care centre supervisor or program staff who supports adult to child ratio requirements you may qualify for:
Up to $4 an hour RECE wage increase, if your base wage + WEG is below:
- $28 an hour for program staff.
- $31 an hour for child care centre.
RECE wage floor, meaning you must earn (including all top-ups) at least:
- $25.86 an hour for program staff.
- $26.86 an hour for child care centre supervisors. This top-up will appear on your pay stub as CWELCC.
Top-ups for statutory holidays, vacation, sick days, and closure days
Pay for statutory holidays, vacation, sick days, and closure days are considered benefits. If you are paid for these days, then the GOF, WEG, and WCF top-ups must also be paid if you qualify for them.
Ineligible positions
You do not qualify for the top-ups if you are:
- A student or volunteer.
- A third party or agency worker.
- Working in a position that never supports child ratio requirements.
Licensed Home Child Care (LHCC) providers who are contracted by a licensed home child care agency that is part of CWELCC qualify for their agency payment, plus top-ups.
Your employer or LHCC agency must be part of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan. They are responsible for telling you the CWELCC grants they apply to your wage and benefits. You can also ask your employer or LHCC agency to explain any notes on your pay statements.
Home Child Care Enhancement Grant
LHCC providers may qualify for full or partial Home Child Care Enhancement Grant (HCCEG) depending on the number of hours they operate each day, and the daily payment they get.
Full day providers
LHCC providers that provide child care for more than 6 hours a day and earn less than $338.10 a day can earn a grant of up to $20 a day.
Partial day providers
LHCC providers who provide child care for less than 6 hours a day and earn less than $202.86 a day can earn an added payment of up to $10 a day.