VACCRRN

Types Of Child Care

There are two kinds of child care in Virginia. There is child care that takes place in a Child Care Center. There is also Family Child Care, which takes place in a provider’s home. Each has advantages and disadvantages. The type of care you choose depends on your family’s needs and the availability of child care in your area.

Center-Based Child Care

Child care that takes place in a facility that is not a private home. . Standards are determined by the Child Day Care Council.

Licensed child care centers must meet the rules in Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers

License-Exempt centers are not required by law to be licensed because of religious practices or because they are private certified preschools. Exempt centers must still meet some state regulations.

Unregulated centers include recreational camps and programs. They are not required to meet licensing regulations.

Family Child Care

Family child care takes place in the child care provider’s home.

*Any home child care provider caring for more than 5 children must be licensed.

Licensed providers may have between 1 and 12 children in care, depending on how many other adults work with them, and their capacity (space) for care. (Children who live in the home are not included in the licensing count.) Licensed home providers must meet the Minimum Standards for Licensed Family Day Homes.

Voluntarily Registered providers may not care for more than 5 children (not including children living in the home). The home must meet the rules of Voluntary Registration of Family Day Homes: Requirements for Providers.

Local Agency Approved child care providers are approved through their local Department of Social Services. Very few areas of Virginia still offer this type of approval.

Unregulated family child care is also known as “family, friend & neighbor” care. It is not licensed or regulated in any way. An individual is breaking the law if they care for more than 5 children at once (not including their own), or if they care for more than 4 kids under the age of 2 (which does include their children).

Families should know the rules and laws work to keep their children healthy and safe. For more information on what kinds of questions you should ask a child care provider, click here.