Alberta Childcare Regulatory Changes under Bill C-25 – Compliance Details & Helpful Tips
Bill C-25 has brought many new changes to Alberta’s childcare landscape. Daycare operators must ensure they keep up to date on these new regulations so they are always staying compliant. This post gives you a detailed breakdown into all of the new Alberta childcare regulatory changes under Bill C-25, so you can make sure you’re up to date and making any necessary changes.
Hiring 16- and 17-year-old Staff
Licensed programs can now employ 16–17-year-olds as childcare staff, counting them in ratios only if a certified adult (Level 2 or higher) is supervising on-site. IMPORTANT: Minor staff must never be left alone with children – an adult educator must always be present and immediately able to intervene.
(Schedule 1, s.23(1.1))
“One-to-One” Supervision Rule
A single Level 2+ certified adult may supervise at most one staff member who is under the age of 18, at one time. In other words, one adult cannot simultaneously oversee two teen workers; each minor employee requires their own designated adult supervisor.
Enhanced Staff Certification Requirements
Youth staff must follow the same certification path as adults – they must obtain at least a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification within 6 months of hire. Staff under the age of 18 require a standard criminal record check, and once they turn 18, a vulnerable sector check is mandatory.
Stronger Enforcement & Penalties
Alberta’s child care regulator now has greater authority to hold both individuals and centers accountable. The Statutory Director can impose sanctions on an educator’s certification (e.g. suspension or cancellation) for serious violations. Licensing officers can also issue licence orders to partially or fully close a program if there’s an immediate safety risk; or place a licence on probation until issues are resolved. Additionally, license holders or staff can now be fined for non-compliance, along with other disciplinary actions. These tools mean non-compliance can result in personal consequences (like a staff member’s certification being suspended) and financial penalties for centres, not just warnings.
Common Compliance Pitfalls to Avoid
Let’s go over some compliance pitfalls to avoid with the Alberta Childcare Regulatory Changes under Bill C-25, making it easier for you to adhere to regulations and stay compliant.
Active Supervision Lapses
All children must be adequately supervised at all times (no distractions or blind spots). A common pitfall is staff becoming distracted (e.g. by personal cell phones) or leaving the room momentarily, leading to lapses in supervision.
Every child should be within sight and sound – staff should always position themselves to see and hear all children and avoid any distractions that compromise vigilance.
SOLUTION: Have a basket or area for staff to place their personal mobile devices while on the clock, to avoid easy distraction.
Staff-to-Child Ratio Mistakes
Maintaining correct ratios can be challenging during transitions and mixed-age groupings.
Rest/Nap Time Ratios: During designated rest periods, Alberta allows reduced staffing ratios only if every child is lying down quietly resting; if even one child is awake, active, or not resting calmly, you must immediately return to regular ratio levels. A common mistake is failing to bring staffing back up when some children are awake during nap.
SOLUTION: ChildFriendly’s napping feature lets you simply toggle on a room for napping and then toggle off as soon as a child wakens, making it that much easier to stay compliant.
Mixed Age Groups
Be cautious when combining age groups (e.g. at opening/closing or in low enrollment periods) – you must meet the required ratio for each age group and follow any restrictions. Notably, if your daycare is licensed for 3+ infants, do not mix infants (<12 months) with older children between 8:30am–4:30pm without special approval. Infants should have their own room/group during core hours to ensure they aren’t overlooked in a larger group.
IMPORTANT: Always adhere to the most stringent ratio when groups are combined, and plan staffing during transitions (drop-off, pick-up times) to stay in compliance.
Attendance Record Gaps
Licensing requires daily attendance records with each child’s actual arrival and departure time. A frequent compliance issue is incomplete or inaccurate attendance logs – e.g. missing sign-in/out times, not updating when a child leaves, or incorrect counts. Such record-keeping errors have led to inspection citations and corrective action. Ensure staff consistently record attendance in real-time and double-check records for accuracy. Incomplete incident reports or other admin records are similarly problematic – all required documentation should be thorough and up to date.
SOLUTION: Invest in a daycare management software that shows you attendance and ratios in real-time, alerting you of any non-compliance. ChildFriendly’s highly intuitive attendance module alerts you of non-compliance or staffing shortages immediately, while also keeping detailed reports for attendance, safety, and incidents, to show licensing officers.
Key Takeaways & Proactive Tips for Staying Compliant
While the new childcare regulations in Alberta under bill C-25 can pose some additional measures to put into place to ensure compliance, there are a few important things you can do to always stay within ratio and compliant at your center.
Stay Informed & Train Your Team
Review the new regulations with all staff, especially the one-to-one minor supervision rule and other Bill C-25 changes. Update your staff handbook and policies to align with the latest requirements. Conduct regular training sessions and refreshers on critical topics like supervision, ratios, and record-keeping.
Keep track of this training in our digital files for each staff member.
Build a Culture of Active Supervision
Emphasize constant active supervision as a core staff responsibility. Prohibit personal phone use on the floor and instruct staff to position themselves for maximum visibility of children at all times. Regularly remind and coach educators on scanning play areas and conducting headcounts, including during transitions and outdoor play.
Routine Compliance Checks
Implement internal checks to catch issues early. For example, have a supervisor or designated staff do daily ratio counts and attendance audits at random times. Review sign-in/out sheets daily for completeness. Periodically simulate “surprise” inspections internally – check that all documentation (medication forms, incident reports, cleaning logs, etc.) is in order.
Address Issues Immediately
If a non-compliance incident occurs (e.g. a child was briefly unsupervised or an attendance record missed), take prompt corrective action and document it. Retrain staff involved and communicate the resolution to your licensing officer if required. Being proactive and transparent in fixing problems can prevent escalation of enforcement.
Foster Open Communication
Encourage staff to speak up about any safety or compliance concerns. Create an environment where educators feel comfortable reporting issues or near-misses without fear. This helps identify and resolve potential compliance problems before they result in violations.
Know Your Regulations & Ask for Help
Keep the Early Learning and Child Care Act and Regulation accessible and refer to them regularly – understanding the rules is fundamental to providing high-quality care. If you are ever unsure about a requirement or a scenario, reach out to your licensing officer or the Child Care Connect helpline for guidance rather than risking a guess.
How ChildFriendly Pro Platform Supports Compliance
ChildFriendly has multiple feature that go a long way in ensuring you are staying compliant, following regulations, and fostering a safe and healthy environment for all.
Real-Time Attendance Tracking
The platform digitally records each child’s exact check-in and check-out times, creating accurate daily attendance logs. This minimizes human error and ensures you always have up-to-date records (helping avoid the incomplete attendance issues noted above).
Automated Ratio Management
ChildFriendly Pro continuously tracks staff-to-child ratios across rooms and age groups in real time. You can instantly see if a room is within the required ratio, and get alerted when a ratio is breached or if a group size exceeds regulatory limits. This helps you react immediately (e.g. by re-assigning staff) to maintain compliance throughout the day.
Comprehensive Reporting Tools
The system can generate audit-ready compliance reports on demand. Whether you need attendance records for an inspector or want to review incident logs, the platform compiles the data instantly. These reports make it easy to demonstrate compliance during licensing inspections or when responding to any inquiries, saving time and reducing stress for directors.
Staff Credentials & Reminders
The platform also maintains an optional database of staff certifications, police checks, and other documents, with alerts for expirations. This helps ensure all educators’ qualifications (first aid, certification status, etc.) remain current, which is essential for compliance.
FIND OUT MORE BY BOOKING A LIVE DEMO.
Resources & Contacts for Operators
Alberta Child Care Licensing Information – Alberta’s official child care website (Alberta.ca) provides the Early Learning and Child Care Act & Regulation, licensing handbooks, and updates on requirements. (See: alberta.ca/child-care )
Child Care Connect Helpline – For any questions about licensing or regulations, contact Child Care Connect (toll-free 1-844-644-5165. This line connects you with provincial experts and your regional licensing officers.
Licensing Officer – Keep the contact information for your program’s Licensing Officer handy. They are your primary resource for interpreting regulations and can provide guidance specific to your center. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them for clarification or support in meeting requirements.
Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Always consult your Licensing Officer or Child Care Connect
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