What is the infant ratio in Ontario daycares?

Licensed centres run infant rooms (under 18 months) at 3 staff per 10 children with a maximum group size of 10 — and infant ratios can never be reduced, at any time of day.

How many toddlers can one ECE supervise in Ontario?

Toddler groups (18–30 months) run at 1 staff per 5 children, maximum group of 15 (so a full toddler room has 3 staff).

Can ratios be reduced during naps in Ontario?

Toddler and preschool groups may operate at half ratio during a rest period of up to two hours if another staff member is available on the premises for emergencies — infant groups never reduce. There is also a limited reduced-ratio window around opening and closing (not for infants).

How many children can an unlicensed home daycare have?

Five children under 13 maximum (counting the provider’s own children under four), with at most three under two. Licensed agency home providers may have six.

Ontario Daycare Ratios & Group Sizes (2026): Schedule 1 Explained

Ratios are the load-bearing rule of Ontario child care: they set your staffing, your room layout, and most of your cost structure. Here is Schedule 1 of O. Reg. 137/15 (under the CCEYA), translated. (Authoritative source: the ministry licensing manual, Part 3.)

The core table (licensed centres)

Infant (under 18 months) — 3 staff : 10 children, max group 10.
Toddler (18 months to under 30 months) — 1 : 5, max group 15.
Preschool (30 months to under 6 years) — 1 : 8, max group 24.
Kindergarten (44 months+, in a kindergarten group) — 1 : 13, max group 26.
Primary/junior school age (68 months+) — 1 : 15, max group 30.
Junior school age (9–12 years) — 1 : 20, max group 20.

Within each group, qualification rules apply (e.g., RECE requirements per group), and group sizes are hard caps per licensed room — a 26th preschooler doesn't mean one more educator, it means another licensed group.

The flexibility windows (and their limits)

Opening/closing: for the first 90 minutes after opening and before closing, most groups may run at two-thirds ratio. Never infants.
Rest period: toddler and preschool groups may run at half ratio for up to two hours during sleep, provided another adult is available on site for emergencies. Never infants.
Mixed-age grouping: a licensed group may include a limited share (generally up to 20% of group size) of younger children, with the group then following the younger rules in specific ways — this is where directors most often get tripped up; confirm your configuration with your program advisor.

What this means for your budget

Infant care needs one educator per ~3.3 children — which is why infant fees are highest and infant rooms are usually loss-leaders covered by preschool rooms (1:8). When you model a new room, model the staffing step function, not the average: the 11th infant requires a whole new group. Our margin guide walks the math, and Mitten's live ratio dashboard shows each room against its requirement in real time — including the nap-window allowance.

Home daycare limits

Unlicensed: max 5 children under 13 (your own under-fours count), max 3 under two. Licensed agency homes: 6. Full details in the home daycare guide.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the infant ratio in Ontario daycares?: Licensed centres run infant rooms (under 18 months) at 3 staff per 10 children with a maximum group size of 10 — and infant ratios can never be reduced, at any time of day.
How many toddlers can one ECE supervise in Ontario?: Toddler groups (18–30 months) run at 1 staff per 5 children, maximum group of 15 (so a full toddler room has 3 staff).
Can ratios be reduced during naps in Ontario?: Toddler and preschool groups may operate at half ratio during a rest period of up to two hours if another staff member is available on the premises for emergencies — infant groups never reduce. There is also a limited reduced-ratio window around opening and closing (not for infants).
How many children can an unlicensed home daycare have?: Five children under 13 maximum (counting the provider’s own children under four), with at most three under two. Licensed agency home providers may have six.