Von endorsed programs are truly unique & represent the first truly innovative idea in Childcare for quite some time. The program we have created allows us to endorse dayhome programs in neighborhoods that need more childcare spaces. Unlike traditional dayhomes that are usually run by a stay at home mother in her residence with little oversight and requirement for formal experience / qualifications, Von endorsed providers are specifically selected based the on quality of care they are able to provide, as well as their ability to deliver our curriculum and procedures. Each program is managed by a hand picked childcare provider who is pre-screened and professional. All program directors are experienced, and in many cases, qualified teachers. Each dayhome is set up specifically according the Von Premium Childcare Network template which ensures children are spending their days in a stimulating environment, without sacrificing the familiar warmth inherent to a home based childcare space.

No, we are not an agency. The Von Premium Childcare Network is primarily focused on marketing and promoting Calgary’s finest premium childcare & preschool programs. Each program we endorse uses our unique daily curriculum, procedures and early learning program. All our endorsed dayhomes operate as private programs adhering to stringent standards and all provincial childcare guidelines. On top our our various checks and oversights, each of our partner providers also have built in tiers of accountability so that parents can feel assured that each provider is supported and monitored on a regular basis.  

Each Von Premium Childcare Network ensdorsed provider has combined the best of all childcare / early education models. We have the professional administration. We have the warmth and local convenience offered by being a dayhome, and we have a formal curriculum driven educational component offered in the scholastic environment.

The Von Premium Childcare Network endorses both age specific and multi-age dayhome programs. Even with the crawlers and toddlers, keeping them with same aged children allows the dayhome director to focus on developmentally specific activities. As children integrate into the care environment, they learn routine and make friends they will enjoy interacting with on a daily basis. Having said this, there are many positive elements to multi-age programs such as diverse learning and socialization opportunities.

Dayhome hours are 7:30am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Office hours are 8:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday. 

We always want to make the process easy for parents to get more information on our programs and registration. All registration for every endorsed program is handled via our registrar. Best way to get started is to with fill in the registration form on the CONTACT US page, or email registrar@voncreative.com. We would love to invite you to our next open house, or if your requirement is more urgent, we can start the process immediately :)

Each endorsed premium dayhome runs our unique Von Premium Childcare Network curriculum, which we developed in house with the help of some top notch curriculum development experts in the UK! Our preschool programs are based on the English Infant School system, and our crawler and toddler programs integrate developmentally appropriate activities related to our monthly themes!

All dayhome providers must have a valid police check, demonstrated track record working with children, as well as hold a first aid qualification. Teaching qualifications are always desirable, but not a pre-requisite. An absolute requirement: Directors MUST love working with children!

We have a daily requirement for outdoor play time in each endorsed dayhome (weather permitting). As well, we have access to member of our team who advise us on ways to integrate developmentally appropriate physical activities into the daily routine!

Yes! If you need to drop and shop, have some time to get errands done, or take a mental health day get in touch with our Registrar to schedule your drop-in. With over 50 endorsed dayhomes we likely can find a space for your child with one of our amazing providers. Quick Tip: Fridays and Mondays are usually pretty good days to get drop in space ;-)

Of course! All of our endorsed programs run our rotating menu plan that we developed in consultation with nutritionists and parents. All meals are made with whole foods and cooked with loving care and attention. Each provider keeps a parent information board so that when parents pick up they can check on what was served at mealtime!

Yes! We do endorse programs that have second language integration. Languages we currently offer are Spanish, French. Hindi, Tagalog, and Cantonese.  Check out program page to read more about our thoughts on early second language integration and brain development.

We have a NO TELEVISION policy for all endorsed providers. Unless pre-authorized by the parents for a special occasion, our directors do not use television at any point in their day.

At all Von endorsed programs, we maintain parent established napping schedules in order to support cohesion between home and dayhome! 

Like many other childcare providers in Calgary, our endorsed providers require 1 calendar month notice. 

Each endorsed dayhome runs our unique curriculum which we developed in house with the help of some top notch curriculum development experts in the UK! Each month is theme based, and each day involves a combination of outdoor time, indoor learning time, creative time, teacher led structured activities, free play, meal time & nap time!

We have a positive discipline policy that must be implemented at all Von Premium Childcare Network dayhomes. This means that our directors work closely with parents to establish expectations and continually reinforce socially acceptable behaviour. AT ALL TIMES children are treated with respect and given clear expectations (as developmentally appropriate). If required, discipline is handled in a consistent manner. If behaviours persist that require further action, parents are immediately engaged to assist in planning courses of action that will support a positive and safe environment for all children.

Most Von Endorsed programs fall under the private dayhome category in the province of Alberta. Whilst we are open to endorsing agency supported programs as well, we typically focus on assisting private providers to offer excellent home based childcare & preschool programs.

Here is a write up done by Bestforkids.ca on the topic:

Posted in Daycare Bear (2011)

“Hello, I am with Best For Kids (Bestforkids.ca), we are a dayhome advocacy group in Alberta and are very up to speed on these regulations for both private and accredited. To say there are no regulations for private day homes is a bit misleading. For example, private dayhomes do have the ability for a caregiver not to count their children into the ratio, however, they also must count all children under the age of 16 (who are not theirs) into their 'children in care' ratio of 6 maximum unlike accredited programs who are allowed to include as many children as they live over the age of 12. 

Therefore, a private dayhome is permitted to have up to 6 children in care + the caregiver's own children (which do not count into the ratio). So, to clarify, the province does have regulations on private day homes, which are as follows:

1. No more than 6 children in care (no age restrictions, applies to both accredited and private dayhome programs. The only way you can have more than 6 children in care is if you are licensed with a 'Group Family Childcare' license or a 'Daycare' license. No regular dayhome, private or accredited, can have more than 6 children in care at any one time).

2. In a private dayhome program, the caregiver's own children DO NOT count into the 6 child ratio (unlike registered programs, where the caregiver's children do count into the ratio)

3. Private dayhomes DO NOT have age related ratios unlike registered dayhome programs. This is something that confuses many people because the Alberta Family services website only lists the regulations for accredited programs, and really does not make reference to regulations related to private programs. However, as mom-in-Alberta noted, if you call in the one of the Calgary offices, they will clear it up for you. 

4. In a private dayhome, all 'children in care' under the age of 16 count into the ratio, as opposed to an accredited program where children 12 and over do not count into the 6 'childcare in care' ratio, hence why many accredited programs earn additional revenue by running an after school program without ratio concerns with children over the age of 12. This is one of the give and takes of a private program. Whilst the caregivers children do not count in to the program ratios, a private program cannot have any more than 6 children in care regardless of age. 

Conclusion: Private programs are a very good way for a mother with children to stay home and run a dayhome program while they care for their own children. This was a really good move by the province and does allow these programs to be both safe and lucrative for the program provider. Parents should always do their due diligence (we have noted MANY accredited and private programs in the city that are run, in our opinion, sub standard - so using accreditation as your measure might not be the best. Parents should judge a program based on a combination of their personal visit, program references, etc... rather than a reliance on a provincial designation).

There are also a few other considerations with regard to age related ratios. The other side of the coin is that if a program is trying to care for a multi-age group of children, then there may be safety concerns related to the developmentally appropriateness of toys (for example, a 4 year old can play with small toys that might be a choking hazard for an infant). Also, even if a program has 6 children under the age of 2, a good provider will ensure that 2 children are likely napping at any one time during the day meaning that, aside from mealtime, drop off and pick up, they would really only be actively caring for 4 children. I have seen this in action and it works well. Also, a having children of the same developmental level means they can engage in age appropriate group activities together. This is much more challenging in a care environment with age diversity ranging from infant to 4 years old. So there is a bit of another perspective on all this for you all to consider.

For more queries, contact Alberta Child and Family Services at (403) 297-7378. Be sure to clarify that you are asking about the regulations surrounding PRIVATE dayhomes in Alberta.”