Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA)

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Have you been invited to participate in this survey via email or mail? To log in to the survey, complete the following steps.

Step 1: Visit the electronic questionnaire portal and select Start my survey.

Step 2: Enter your secure access code (you will find this code in the invitation letter or email you previously received from Statistics Canada).

Step 3: Complete the survey.

Are you missing your secure access code, or do you need help?

Phone:

1-877-949-9492
(TTY: 1-800-363-7629)
Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern time

If you use an operator-assisted relay service, you can call us during regular business hours. You do not need to authorize the operator to contact us.

Email:

infostats@statcan.gc.ca

 

The Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements, sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada, gathers information from parents and guardians on early learning and child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 5. The survey asks parents and guardians about the arrangements they use for their child, including the associated costs, the difficulties they may have faced when looking for care, and what their preferences for child care are. Results from this survey will be used to help improve the Canada-wide early learning and child care system and provide Canadians with a strong baseline of data to measure progress and changes to the system. 

This survey should be completed by a parent or guardian who is knowledgeable about the household's child care arrangements.

Collection period:

April 5 to June 15, 2023

Mail-out: April 5, 2023

Collection methods:
Internet (Electronic questionnaire) with Telephone and in person follow-up for non-response.
Survey participation:
Voluntary

  • Block Information Confidentiality

    Confidentiality

    Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

  • Block Information on Record linkage

    Record linkage

    To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from the 2021 Census file, personal tax files, the T1 Family File, the Longitudinal Immigration Database, and the Canada Child Benefit file.

  • Block Information on Topics covered in the survey

    Topics covered in the survey

    The survey asks questions about

    • Child care arrangements
    • Reasons for using as well as not using child care
    • Difficulties in finding child care.

  • Block Information on Published data

    Published data

    Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.

    Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.

    Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.

  • Block Information on Survey-specific questions

    Survey-specific questions

    What is the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements?

    The Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA) collects information from families on the different types of early learning and child care arrangements, the difficulties some families may face when looking for childcare, as well as reasons for not using child care. The survey's definition of "child care" does not include occasional babysitting or care by a parent/guardian.

    Questions include the number of hours or days spent in child care per week, the location of the care, costs for child care, whether the care facility is licensed, and reasons for difficulty in obtaining child care.

    Why is this survey being conducted?

    Information from this survey will provide a current snapshot of the use of early child care in Canada, and can be used to:

    • understand why families choose to use or not use different types of child care arrangements;
    • guide research for improving early learning programs for children; and,
    • create policies aimed at improving the accessibility and affordability of high-quality early learning and child care programs.

    The survey results can help governments better assess various policies and programs so that child care and learning options are aligned with children's needs.

    How does this survey benefit Canadians?

    Results from this survey will be used to inform research, policies and programs aimed at improving the accessibility and affordability of high-quality early learning and child care in Canada.

    Can't the information be obtained from other surveys?

    This survey is being conducted to fill the need for information on child care usage that is not available from other sources.

    Although some of the questions in this survey are similar to those in other surveys, the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements is asking for information specifically from families of children aged 5 and younger to learn about reasons for using child care, or reasons for not using child care. The intention of the survey is to better understand the challenges families face when looking for early learning and child care arrangements.

    Who is conducting funding this survey?

    The Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements is conducted by Statistics Canada and funded by Employment and Social Development Canada.

    When will the results be released?

    Survey results will be released in late fall 2023.

    How will the survey data be made available?

    The information collected in this survey will be aggregated and made available to researchers and the general public in summary formats, such as graphs, charts and statistical tables. Many of these resources will be available on Statistics Canada's website.

    As well, analytical files will be stored in research data centres (RDCs) located on university campuses and staffed by Statistics Canada employees. RDCs are operated under the provisions of the Statistics Act in accordance with all confidentiality rules. They are accessible only to researchers with approved projects who have been sworn in under the Statistics Act as 'deemed employees.'

    Are individuals legally obligated to take part in this survey?

    No. Statistics Canada cannot collect this information without your explicit consent. This is a voluntary survey, intended to capture the experiences of a representative portion of the Canadian population. Full participation is very important as it will help to ensure that survey results are representative of the Canadian population as a whole. Every individual who participates in the survey helps to make the results more accurate and meaningful.

    How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?

    As with all Statistics Canada surveys, any information provided will remain confidential pursuant to the Statistics Act.

    Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. Published data can never identify you or your household.

    To find out more about the measures in place to safeguard the confidentiality of your information, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.

    Could the person responding be someone other than the person receiving the invitation letter?

    Yes. The survey should be completed by a person who is knowledgeable about the child care arrangements for the selected child.

  • For more information about this survey
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