Before and after school care in BC: how it works and how to find a spot

4 min read · facts checked Oct 19, 2026

Once your child starts kindergarten, full-day daycare ends and you need care around the school day. In BC that's school age care, a licensed type of child care for kindergarten and up. Rules below come from the province's guide to types of child care.

How school age care works

• Ages: kindergarten and up.
• Group size: up to 24 children when kindergarten or grade 1 children are in the group, or up to 30 when everyone is in grade 2 or older.
• Staff: 1 adult for every 12 kindergarten and grade 1 children, and 1 for every 15 from grade 2. Staff are at least 19, with child care training, first aid and a criminal record check.
• Where: in community centres, other facilities, or on school grounds.

Finding a spot

1. Start the year before kindergarten. Programs on or near your school fill first.
2. Ask your school which program runs on site, and get on its list as soon as you know your catchment school.
3. Look at licensed home daycares and multi-age programs too. They can take children up to age 12; ask whether they do school drop-off and pick-up.
4. Check whether the program covers school holidays and professional development days, or only school days.

Help with the cost

Licensed school age care can take part in fee reduction, and families who qualify on income can also get the Affordable Child Care Benefit.

Tip: Many programs give siblings priority. If an older child is already in a program, ask about a spot for the younger one early.