Finding the right licensed Markham daycare that offers both quality education and affordability is a top concern for many families. At Inspire Montessori School, we’re proud to participate in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program—an initiative designed to reduce childcare costs while maintaining high standards of care and education.
As daycare operators, we know the CWELCC system inside and out. In this post, we want to share what families can expect from CWELCC, both the benefits and the realistic considerations, so you can make an informed choice that suits your family’s needs.
🌱 What Is the CWELCC Program?
The CWELCC program is a partnership between the federal and provincial governments to lower child care fees for families with children under six years old in licensed childcare centres across Ontario.
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As of January 1, 2025, daily fees will be capped at $22/day for eligible families
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The goal is to bring fees down to an average of $10/day by March 2026
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Only licensed centres that have opted into the CWELCC program can offer these reduced rates
At Inspire Montessori School, both of our Markham campuses are proud to offer CWELCC-approved spots and committed to helping families access more affordable, high-quality early education.
✅ Benefits of Enrolling in a CWELCC-Approved Markham Daycare
Families who secure a CWELCC spot at Inspire Montessori enjoy:
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Substantial Cost Savings: Reduced fees make childcare significantly more affordable for families with children under age 6
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Support for Working Families: With lower fees and full-day programming, CWELCC makes quality child care more accessible and sustainable for dual-working households
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Safe, Regulated Environments: CWELCC daycares must meet ongoing provincial standards and reporting, ensuring accountability and consistent care
⚠️ Important Considerations About CWELCC – What Families Should Know
While CWELCC provides great benefits, it’s important for families to understand the full picture:
1. Extremely Long Waitlists
Due to the overwhelming demand for reduced-cost child care, CWELCC spots are limited. At Inspire Montessori, we currently have a waitlist of over 1,000 families for CWELCC-funded spaces. In some cases, the wait time may extend to multiple years.
2. Government-Imposed Funding Restrictions
The CWELCC system operates under a strict cost-controlled framework defined by the provincial government. While this ensures affordability, it also limits how centres can spend funding.
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Some educational enhancements, materials, and enrichment programs may not be feasible under CWELCC funding
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Centres have less flexibility in investing in innovation, facility upgrades, or extracurriculars compared to non-CWELCC programs
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Staffing and programming changes must be aligned with CWELCC budget rules and reporting
In essence, while tuition is lower, some aspects of the breadth and speed of improvements in program quality can be impacted.
3. Limited Control Over Fee Adjustments
Under CWELCC, centres cannot set their own fees and are subject to government-prescribed rates and approval processes, which can limit responsiveness to changing operational needs.
🔄 Non-CWELCC Option: A Flexible Alternative with Shorter Wait Times
At Inspire Montessori, we believe in supporting every family’s unique situation. That’s why we also offer non-CWELCC spots—ideal for families looking for:
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Shorter wait times (especially compared to the CWELCC list)
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Enhanced educational flexibility (access to enrichment programming, flexible days and hours, or added services not funded under CWELCC)
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Greater availability and ease of registration
💡 Bonus: Priority Access to CWELCC Spots
All students enrolled in non-CWELCC spots at Inspire Montessori receive priority access to CWELCC spaces when they become available.
This means:
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You can start your child’s early learning journey now without delay
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Once a CWELCC spot opens up, your child will automatically be prioritized, bypassing years of waiting on the general public list
📍 Our Campuses
We currently serve families at two licensed Markham daycare campuses:
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Castlemore Campus
📍 1210 Castlemore Avenue, Markham, ON L6E 0H7 -
Unionville-Milliken Campus
📍 7828 Kennedy Road, Markham, ON L3R 5P1
🚧 Mississauga Campus – Coming Fall 2025
We’re excited to expand into Mississauga’s Applewood area in Fall 2025, bringing our signature Inspire Montessori experience to even more families in the GTA. All spots at the Mississauga campus have been approved for CWELCC funding. For more info, visit Inspire Montessori Mississauga .
✅ Students have priority to transfer between campuses, offering flexibility if you move or if space becomes available sooner at another location.
🌟 Why Families Choose Inspire Montessori
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Participating in both CWELCC and non-CWELCC options
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Fresh, chef-prepared meals daily through our in-house kitchen
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Montessori-certified teachers and experienced RECE in delivering tailored child-led programming
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Multilingual and enrichment programs including French, Chinese, music, gym, and more
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Safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environments
Ready to Join Our Inspire Community?
If you’re looking for a trusted, flexible, and high-quality Markham daycare, we invite you to tour our campuses, speak with our team, and learn more about the enrollment process.
📞 Call us: 289-800-2238
📧 Email: info@inspiremontessori.ca
