Preschool vs daycare in BC: hours, group sizes and costs compared

5 min read · facts checked Oct 19, 2026

In BC, preschool and daycare are both licensed child care, but they solve different problems. Preschool is a short, school-year program for 3 and 4 year olds. Daycare (group care or a licensed home daycare) covers a full workday, all year. The figures below come from the province's guide to types of child care.

The differences at a glance

• Ages: preschool takes children from 2½ (30 months) to kindergarten. Group daycare is split into under-3 groups (birth to 36 months) and 2½ to school age groups.
• Hours: most preschools run 1 to 4 hours a day, September to June. Daycare usually runs a full working day year-round.
• Group size: up to 20 children in a preschool, up to 25 in a 2½ to school age daycare group, and up to 12 in an under-3 group.
• Staffing: a preschool has 1 Early Childhood Educator for up to 10 children, adding an ECE Assistant for 11 to 20. A 2½ to 5 daycare group has 1 ECE for up to 8 children.
• Cost: fee reduction lowers preschool fees by up to $95 a month for 2026-27, compared with up to $545 a month for full-time group care for 3 to kindergarten (CCFRI 2026-27 guidelines).

When preschool is the right fit

Preschool suits families with a parent at home or working part-time, and children who'll benefit from a few hours a week with other kids before kindergarten. It is also a gentle first step for a child who hasn't been in group care.

When you need daycare

If both parents work full days, preschool alone won't cover it. You'll need full-day group care or a licensed home daycare. Some families pair a preschool with a home daycare or a relative for the rest of the day.

Tip: Popular preschools fill their September spots early, so join their lists well ahead. If you want both options, join both kinds of list.

Help with the cost

The Affordable Child Care Benefit counts a licensed preschool program as a qualifying reason for care, so families who qualify on income can get help with preschool fees even if a parent is at home.