Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements (SELCCA)
Detailed information for 2025
Status:
Active
Frequency:
Every 4 years
Record number:
5287
Statistics Canada is gathering information on child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 12 in the provinces and children aged 0 to 5 in the three territories of Canada.
Description
The Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements, sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada, gathers information from parents and guardians on child care arrangements for children aged 0 to 12 in the provinces and children aged 0 to 5 in the three territories of Canada. 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.
Subjects
- Child care
- Children and youth
Data sources and methodology
Target population
The target population is children in the provinces aged 0 to 12 and children in the three territories aged 0 to 5 (as of April 30, 2025). Children living on reserves are excluded from the target population.
Instrument design
The content for the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements electronic questionnaire was drafted in consultation with Statistics Canada's Health Analysis Division, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), as well as several external subject matter experts.
The SELCCA questionnaire underwent cognitive testing in the form of in-depth interviews in both of Canada's official languages and were conducted by Statistics Canada's Questionnaire Design Resource Centre. The goal of the qualitative study was to test the survey content.
Sampling
This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.
Survey frame:
The SELCCA sample was selected from the Canada Child Benefit (CCB).
Sampling unit:
This is a targeted respondent survey. The sampling unit is the person knowledgeable about the child care arrangements for a child who lives in their household and in the provinces is aged 0 to 12 and in the territories is aged 0 to 5.
Stratification method:
The frame for the Survey on Early Learning and Child Care Arrangements was stratified by province or territory and a simple random sample was selected independently within each province or territory.
Sampling and sub-sampling:
Sufficient sample was allocated to each of the provinces or territories so that the survey could produce provincial or territorial level estimates.
An initial sample of 34,000 in the provinces and 3,000 in the territories targeted respondents was selected and sent to collection. The selection of a sample unit is done in two stages.
First, a list of Canada Child Benefit (CCB) recipients whose children are aged 0 to 12 in the provinces and aged 0 to 5 in the three territories is stratified by province or territory. Within each stratum, a simple random sample of CCB recipients is selected. The second stage consists of selecting randomly, for each recipient selected, a child among the recipient's eligible children. A child is eligible if they are aged 0 to 12 in the provinces and aged 0 to 5 in the three territories.
Data sources
Data collection for this reference period: 2025-01-06 to 2025-04-30
Responding to this survey is voluntary.
Data are collected directly from survey respondents either through an electronic questionnaire (EQ), through computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) or through computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI).
View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .
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