How registration works: forms, fees and your first steps

Paperwork can feel like a lot when you are already busy, and the fees are usually the part you want to know first. Here is the whole path in plain words, with the money up front.

It comes down to three steps: read the Handbook, fill in one Registration Package, and check the fee lines our staff fill in before you sign.

What does it cost to register?

A one-time registration fee of $200 is required to secure your child's spot. It is applied toward your first month's fees, and the remaining balance is due when your child starts attending.

The Registration Package calls this amount a deposit. It says the deposit is forfeited if the family does not go ahead with care after registering, so it is worth knowing before you start.

For eligible programs receiving Alberta affordability funding, full-time care (100+ hours per month) is $326.25/month and part-time care (50–99 hours per month) is $230/month. Drop-in care is $75 per day, must be arranged in advance and is subject to availability. Fees and funding eligibility are subject to Alberta government policies, so call 780-464-2637 to confirm what applies to your family, or see the Prices page.

What do I need to have ready?

You fill in one Registration Package for each child. Your family details go on page 1 once, and the later permission pages refer back to them. Gather these first:

• Your child's name, date of birth and home address
• Contact details for one or two parents or guardians, and who may collect your child
• The program, start date, days and usual arrival and departure times you would like
• One emergency contact who is not a parent or guardian (staff may ask to see photo identification when someone collects your child)
• Your child's health care number, allergies, medical needs and medication, plus the official immunization record
• A court order about access and your subsidy approval, if they apply to you

The form asks you to attach the official immunization record, so there is no need to copy it out by hand. Please do not write a credit card number on the forms, because card authorization is arranged separately.

Which forms do I fill in, and why?

The Registration Package puts everything in one 9-page file:

• Pages 1 to 3: your family details, emergency contact and health, and your child's routines and immunization
• Pages 4 and 5: the Parent Agreement and fees. One signature on page 5 confirms pages 1 to 5.
• Pages 6 to 9: four permission forms, each with its own signature

The Provincial Childcare Record and Funding Consent lets us send your child's legal name, birth date, parent details and enrolment details to Alberta's childcare registration system. It is used to create or match a Child Care Participant Number and to support funding, and it does not promise any funding amount. If you choose not to consent, the director will explain what that means for enrolment and funding before fees are confirmed.

The Photo and Video Permission asks yes or no for each use, and a No does not affect enrolment. The School Transportation Agreement is only for families who need school transportation. Our guide to permission forms, photos, outings and school transport explains them.

What should I read before I sign?

On page 4, our staff fill in the fee lines, including the monthly fee before funding, confirmed funding or subsidy, and the amount you pay. You review them before you sign. Three terms are worth reading first:

• Fees are due on the 1st of each month. The page also lists late fees and accepted payment methods.
• Fees stay payable to reserve your space during vacation, illness and other absences.
• To end care, written notice is due by the last calendar day before your child's final full month. For an April 30 end date, that is March 31. Without the required notice, one month of fees is payable in lieu of notice.

What happens before the first day?

The Handbook asks you to return your completed registration and Parent Agreement, provide your child's immunization record and any medical care plans, and complete the permissions that apply. Our guide to what to bring and easier goodbyes helps you get ready.

Your next step: read the free Parent Handbook, where page 3 covers starting care and page 8 covers fees.