Child Care Operating Funding
Last updated on December 19, 2024
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Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) is available for eligible licensed providers through CCOF Base Funding, the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) and the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement (ECE-WE).
This funding assists providers with the day-to-day costs of running a licensed child care facility. It also enhances early childhood educator wages and reduces fees for families.
Participating in Child Care Operating Funding, the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement is optional for child care providers. However, enrolment in Base Funding is required to participate in the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative and Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement.
Information for 2025-26
- Together, government and child care providers are reducing fees for families and sustaining child care services in communities throughout British Columbia
- In January 2025, applications for the 2025-26 renewal will open through My ChildCareBC Services. To ensure providers have time to plan, the funding guidelines have been shared ahead of time
- For 2025-26, fee increase limits remain at 3% of the regional median fee. These limits support families to access affordable child care. In addition to the 3% fee increase, providers are supported through base funding, fee reductions for families, provider payments and the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement
- The affordability benchmarks for new child care centres will remain at the regional 80th percentile for children under 36 months and at the 75th percentile for all other child care categories. Refer to the 2025-26 Funding Guidelines for more information
- The Child Care Operating Funding program contact centre is open to provide support to child care providers from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, at 1-888-338-6622 (Option 2)
Eligibility requirements and details
Base Funding
Base Funding assists with the day to day costs of running a licensed child care facility. This funding helps child care providers maintain quality child care for the community.
Eligibility
Base Funding is available to licensed Family and Group child care providers.
Read more about Base Funding.
Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative
The Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative enhances child care affordability by offering funding to eligible, licensed child care providers to reduce and stabilize monthly child care fees. Families do not need to apply. Providers opt-in to receive funding when they apply for Child Care Operating Funding.
Organizations can choose to apply to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative at any time during the Child Care Operating Funding term.
Organizations are encouraged to opt-in to the program when they apply for Child Care Operating Funding as the program supports providers in reducing the monthly child care costs by up to $900/month per child for families in their care.
Eligibility
Providers approved for Base Funding can apply for the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative if they have any of these eligible care categories:
- Group infant/toddler care (Under 36 months)
- Family infant/toddler care (Under 36 months)
- Group care for children aged 3 years to kindergarten
- Family care for children aged 3 years to kindergarten
- Group and Family care for children in kindergarten
- Group and Family care for Grade 1 to age 12
- Licensed Preschool
Read more about the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative.
Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement
As part of the B.C. government's Early Care and Learning Recruitment and Retention Strategy, Early Childhood Educators working in licensed child care centres receiving Child Care Operating Funding may be eligible to receive up to a $6 per hour wage enhancement. Early Childhood Educators may also be eligible for the new Specialized Certification Grant.
Child care providers need to apply and be approved to participate to receive funding.
Eligibility
Child care providers who receive Base Funding and have opted in to the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative can apply for the wage enhancement.
All Early Childhood Educators, including those who are also owner or operators of a licensed child care facility, are eligible for the wage enhancement if they are directly employed by a licensed child care facility that meets the requirements found in the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement funding guidelines.
Read more about the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement.
Reporting on ChildCareBC
View B.C. Child Care Data and Reports for ChildCareBC programs across the province.
Supporting Information
Contact information
CCOF Program Contact Centre
- 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday
1-888-338-6622 (Option 2)
250-356-6501 (Victoria)