Updated June 2026. Quick answer — licensed Ontario centres run at infant 3:10, toddler 1:5, preschool 1:8, kindergarten 1:13 and primary school-age 1:15. The full Schedule 1 table, plus the reduced-ratio nap and open/close windows, is below.
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 ratio table (licensed centres)
| Age group | Staff-to-child ratio | Max group size |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 18 months) | 3 staff : 10 children | 10 |
| Toddler (18–30 months) | 1 : 5 | 15 |
| Preschool (30 months–6 years) | 1 : 8 | 24 |
| Kindergarten (44 months+) | 1 : 13 | 26 |
| Primary / junior school age (68 months+) | 1 : 15 | 30 |
| Junior school age (9–12 years) | 1 : 20 | 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.
Run your daycare on Mitten — free to start
Mitten does everything in this guide — daily reports, photos, messaging, billing, even payroll prep — free for your first 5 children, then just $20/mo + $2 per child.
Start free — no card needed → See the live demoFrequently 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.