Family, childcare and schools in Ontario

The CCB is a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency for families with children under 18. You may be eligible if you live with the child, are primarily responsible for their care, are a resident of Canada for tax purposes, and you or your spouse or common-law partner are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person, registered Indigenous person or a temporary resident who has lived in Canada for the previous 18 months and has a valid permit in the 19th month.

For July 2026 to June 2027, the maximum is $8,157 a year ($679.75 a month) per child under 6 and $6,883 a year ($573.58 a month) per child aged 6 to 17, for families with an adjusted family net income below $38,237. Payments are reduced above that income and are recalculated every July. A child disability benefit of up to $3,480 a year can be added. You can apply before you file your first tax return.

Kindergarten in Ontario is a free, two-year, full-day program for 4- and 5-year-olds, which prepares children for Grade 1. Classes with more than 16 children have both a teacher and an early childhood educator, and learning is play-based. A new kindergarten curriculum applies from the 2026-27 school year. Ask your school board about the age cut-off and registration dates.

Toronto has four publicly funded school boards: the English-language public Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the English-language Catholic Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), and two French-language boards, one public and one Catholic. Schools are generally assigned by your home address. Eligibility for Catholic and French-language boards depends on criteria that each board sets out, so check with the board.

For the 2026-27 school year, the TDSB registers students from kindergarten to Grade 12 online through its PowerSchool application; you upload documents and the school you want to attend can help. You need:

• proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport;
• proof of address: one document from Category A (for example a lease, property tax bill or mortgage statement) and one from Category B (for example a utility bill or certain government documents), in the parent's or guardian's name. Driver's licences, health cards, credit card statements and mobile phone bills are not accepted;
• proof of immunization, reported to Toronto Public Health or given to the school; and
• your child's date of arrival in Canada if they were not born here.

Permanent residents and refugee claimants can register directly at the school. Students who will study on a study permit (international or "visa" students) apply through the TDSB's International Students and Admissions Office. The TDSB also admits children without immigration status and does not share their information with immigration authorities.

The TDSB offers English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development support, settlement workers and interpretation services for newcomer families. Applications for Early French Immersion (from Junior Kindergarten) for September 2027 are open from November 2 to November 27, 2026.

For babies, toddlers and preschoolers, families use licensed child care centres, licensed home child care and, in some cases, before- and after-school programs. Licensed places are in high demand, so add your child to waiting lists early and ask each provider about fees and any fee reductions or subsidies that apply. The City of Toronto runs the local child care fee subsidy program for eligible families.