Drop-In Daycare vs Full Enrollment in Regina SK | What You Need to Know | Daisy Days

Many Regina SK parents ask about drop-in daycare — the ability to bring a child to a licensed daycare on an occasional basis without a formal enrollment agreement. Here’s what you need to know about how drop-in care works in Saskatchewan, and why full enrollment at a CWELCC centre is usually the better option.

What Is Drop-In Daycare?

Drop-in daycare refers to using licensed childcare on an as-needed basis without a formal ongoing enrollment. Parents pay by the day or hour without committing to a consistent schedule. In some provinces, drop-in care is relatively available. In Saskatchewan, it’s rare among licensed facilities.

Why Licensed Daycares in Regina SK Rarely Offer Drop-In

Saskatchewan’s licensed daycare system is built around stable enrollment agreements for several important reasons:

• Staffing ratios: Saskatchewan regulations require specific staff-to-child ratios. Licensed daycares must know daily attendance in advance to staff appropriately — unpredictable drop-in numbers make safe staffing nearly impossible.
• CWELCC agreements: CWELCC enrollment is based on a formal agreement between the family and the licensed centre. Drop-in care doesn’t qualify for the $10/day CWELCC rate.
• Child development continuity: ECE research consistently shows that consistent attendance — not sporadic drop-in — produces the strongest developmental outcomes for children in group care.
• Licensing compliance: Strict daily record-keeping requirements make ad-hoc drop-in administratively complex for licensed facilities.

CWELCC and Drop-In Care in Saskatchewan

The CWELCC program does not apply to drop-in care arrangements. CWELCC (the $10/day program) requires a licensed centre enrollment agreement. This means drop-in care — even at a licensed facility — would be billed at full fee rates of $45-70/day or more in Regina SK.

For families who need occasional childcare, the math clearly favours part-time enrollment over drop-in: a 3-day/week CWELCC-enrolled spot at Daisy Days Daycare costs approximately $30/week (3 × $10), while full-fee drop-in care costs $135-210/week for the same coverage.

Part-Time Enrollment — The Better Alternative to Drop-In

For families with variable schedules, part-time enrollment at a CWELCC-enrolled licensed daycare offers:

• The CWELCC $10/day rate (versus full-fee drop-in pricing)
• A guaranteed, consistent spot for your child
• Developmental continuity and relationship building with ECE educators
• Predictable scheduling for parents
• Eligibility for the Child Care Expense Deduction (CRA Line 21400)

Contact Daisy Days Daycare to Discuss Your Schedule

Daisy Days Daycare offers both full-time and part-time enrollment. Contact us to discuss your family’s schedule and find the enrollment arrangement that works best.

Contact Daisy Days Daycare. | 306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5