Describing the Operational Model
Developing an operational model involves describing the services that you are planning to offer. Even if you later modify your operational model, it is good to start with a strong sense of the programs and services you wish to provide. It is a prerequisite to any financial planning, discussions with your licensing officer and/or looking for space.
Other factors that have an impact on the program model include:
- The vision statement developed by the project steering committee
- Licensing requirements for group size and child/staff ratios
- The amount of space available (if it has already been identified)
- How you will integrate children with special needs
- A cost efficient model, taking into account the relative costs of providing child care to different age groups (infant care costs are about double that of care for preschool age children)
- Requirements for additional services you may wish to offer (e.g. family support programs)
- Available capital and operating funding
If you already have a building or a program space identified, your program model will be determined in part by the available square footage, and the ages you plan to serve. Even though every province and territory stipulates minimum square footage per child, none of those minimums meet recommended space requirements for quality programs. The provincial/territorial net inside activity areas range from (40-43 sq. feet) 3.7 sq. m to 4 sq. m/child. Exterior playground area requirements range from 5 to 7 sq m (55-74 sq ft) with a gross outdoor space of 75 sq ft/7 sq. meters. All provinces and territories have regulated child:staff ratios and most have maximum group sizes, both important to take into account to ensure a cost effective model. Unless you are assured considerable ongoing operating dollars, you will probably need to offset the high cost of infant/toddler care with twice as many spaces for 3-5 year old children and/or preschool and out-of-school care program.
Operational Model in Ontario
An operational model in Ontario might look like this:
Our Community Children's Centre will offer child care for children aged 0-6.
- The centre will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- The centre will be comprised of the following programs, all with qualified early childhood educators:
| 1 infant room for 10 infants aged 0-18 months | 3 staff |
| 1 toddler room for 10 toddlers aged 18 mos-2 yrs | 2 staff |
| 2 preschool rooms for 32 children 2-5 years | 4 staff |
| 1 kindergarten room for 20 children 3.8 -5 yrs | 2 staff |
- Total Children: 72 11 full-time qualified program staff
- Additional staff:
- 2 part-time staff (to cover beginning and end of day and staff breaks)
- 1 program director
- 1 cook
The community Children's Centre will also consider operating a before-and-after school program for 24 children 5-10 years depending on the space available and the demand for the service.
There will also be a parenting support program operated 5 mornings and afternoons a week.
Operational Model for British Columbia
A model for British Columbia might look like this:
Our Town Early Childhood Centre will provide full and part-time care to children under the age of 5. The centre will be open from 8am to 5pm, and will operate 12 months/year. All staff will have early childhood education certificates or diplomas.
Infant/toddler staff will have additional specialization.
| 1 infant toddler room for 12 children age 6-30 months | 3 staff |
| 2 rooms for 25 children 30 months-5 years | 6 staff |
| Total children: 62 | 9 full-time program staff |
Additional staff:
- 1 staff (to cover the end of day and to run the parent-child drop in program)
- 1 part-time staff to cover staff breaks
- 1 program director
Our Town Early Childhood Centre will also offer a Family Place parent-child drop in program three mornings a week
Operational Model For Manitoba
A Winnipeg based school age centre might look like this:
The Winnipeg Kool Kids Klub will provide part time care to 60 school age children + 20 'kinders" during out of school hours, and full time care during in-services, school holidays and summer vacations.
The centre will have provision to care for 20 2-4 year olds in a nursery program when the kindergarten children are in school.
Two rooms with a ratio of 1:15 for school age children| Room 1 | 30 Grade 1-3 one ECE and one CCA |
| Room 2 | 30 Grade 4-6 one ECE and one CCA |
| Room 3 | 20 kindergarten children (10:1 ratio) and 20 nursery school children (10:1 ratio) (not there at the same time); they are cared for by 2 staff-one ECE and one CCA. |
During early morning drop off and late day pick up times, Kindergarten children may be part of the same mixed groupings with older children and during those times, ratios may be slightly higher.
Centre employs 6 school age staff, 3 full time ECEs and 3 P/T Child care assistants (university or college students who work part time split shifts during the school year); the centre's director is not part of the ratio but acts as a floater to relieve staff during breaks and can help reduce ratio during the day as required.