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1. What is Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services?

Alberta’s Child Care Accreditation Program was designed to improve the quality of child care in Alberta and to help parents choose child care that meets their needs. Accreditation is available to licensed child care programs and day home agencies. It demonstrates how programs go beyond minimum requirements to meet higher standards of care in delivering child care services.

2. What is the difference between accreditation and licensing?

By definition, accreditation and licensing have different functions.
- Licensing provides a legislated ’floor’ below which child care programs are not permitted to operate. It typically includes factors such as space, range of equipment, number and ages of children, staff-child ratios and training requirements. Such factors contribute to quality, but are only minimum standards.
- Accreditation builds on this legislated "floor" to look at factors that determine quality. The emphasis is on staff practices and actual outcomes for children and families. It shifts the focus from meeting minimum standards to continuously striving towards providing higher levels of care.

3. How does a centre become accredited?

Programs engage in a self-study process and undergo a site visit by external examiners to demonstrate they meet 10 quality standards. Once accreditation is successful, programs complete a reaccreditation process every 3 years.

4. How would an accredited program meet my family’s needs?

- Accredited programs demonstrate their commitment to work in partnership with parents to meet your child’s specific needs.
- Accredited programs document your child’s development.
- An open door policy is essential to an accredited program’s practice, and your input and feedback are welcomed.
- Additional opportunities are available to access workshops and other resources that support planning of activities specific to your child’s skill level and interests.
- Accredited programs have access to provincial government funding at enhanced rates to attract and retain qualified staff and to promote staff development.
- The facility exceeds licensing standards.