Licensed Daycares in Cambridge, ON

Daycare & Childcare in Cambridge

Cambridge is one of the better-documented child care markets in MapleCub's Ontario coverage: 24 of its 38 licensed programs have at least 3 Google reviews — enough to actually compare — and they average 4.61, ahead of the 4.46 provincial average for rated providers. Seventeen programs sit at 4.5 stars or higher. At the top, Ashbury Heights Academy holds 5 stars across 16 reviews, with Coronation ELCC (5 stars, 9 reviews) and Tender Loving Daycare Cambridge (5 stars, 8 reviews) close behind. The market itself is centre-dominated — 35 centres to 3 licensed home providers — and 37 of the 38 are enrolled in CWELCC, so $10-a-day fees for under-sixes are the norm rather than the exception; only one listed program sits outside the system. What our data can't yet tell you is age coverage: 37 of 38 listings have no licensed age groups recorded, so confirm infant or school-age space directly before building your shortlist around it.

What to know about childcare in Cambridge

Unlike most mid-sized Ontario cities, Cambridge gives parents enough review data to work with. Twenty-four of the 38 listed programs clear our 3-review minimum, and the depth at the top is real: Ashbury Heights Academy's 5-star average across 16 reviews is one of the stronger signals in Waterloo Region, and Coronation ELCC and Tender Loving Daycare Cambridge both pair perfect averages with high single-digit review counts. Seventeen providers — nearly half the rated pool — sit at 4.5 or better. When this many programs cluster near the top, ratings alone won't separate your finalists; use them to rule out outliers, then let tours and waitlist timing decide.

The supply mix is heavily institutional: 35 centres against just 3 licensed home child care providers. Families specifically wanting a home setting have a short list, and should probably also look at neighbouring Kitchener and the townships. Centre dominance does have an upside in a fast-growing city — centres add licensed capacity in bigger increments, and several Cambridge programs operate multiple rooms across age groups.

Cost-wise, 37 of 38 programs participate in CWELCC, Ontario's $10-a-day framework for children under six. That one exception is worth asking about directly if a program you like isn't upfront about fees. Region of Waterloo children's services administers additional fee subsidy for eligible families, and every licence can be checked in the province's Licensed Child Care Search.

The main blind spot in our Cambridge data is age-group licensing: 37 of 38 listings don't yet record which bands they serve. Our directory shows a single program with recorded infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age licensing, which certainly undercounts the true availability. Treat age filters as incomplete for now, and confirm by phone — infant rooms fill first, and Waterloo Region waitlists commonly run months for under-twos. Cambridge's three historic cores — Galt, Preston, and Hespeler — are far enough apart that commute logistics should anchor your shortlist before ratings do.