We help your centres pursue and maintain quality designations — Raising the Bar, CCAC accreditation, ECERS-3 / ITERS-3 ratings — with the documentation, coaching, and self-study work done for you.
- ✓Accreditation roadmap and gap analysis
- ✓ECERS-3, ITERS-3, FCCERS-3 self-assessments
- ✓Documentation and portfolio assembly
- ✓On-site coaching during assessment visits
- ✓Continuous quality improvement plans
- ✓Recognition and award application support
Move from compliant to celebrated.
CCEYA compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. The centres that distinguish themselves in their markets — the ones parents choose first, the ones that command premium fees, the ones that get the best educators applying — are the ones that have pursued recognized quality designations beyond baseline licensing.
We take your centre through the journey: quality assessment, documentation, coaching, and the sustained practice that quality designations require.
The problem you’re probably facing
You’ve heard of ECERS-3 and ITERS-3 ratings. You know Raising the Bar exists, at least in Toronto. You’ve wondered about CCAC accreditation. But the pathway from “interested” to “certified” looks long, opaque, and requires expertise you don’t have in-house.
Your existing program is almost certainly good enough to score well, but you don’t have a formal ECERS-3 rater on staff, you don’t know exactly what the assessors will look for beyond the published criteria, and you don’t have the capacity to prepare the portfolio-level documentation that these processes require.
So nothing happens. Year after year. Meanwhile, a competitor with an objectively comparable program gets certified, gets to advertise it, and starts winning more enrollment.
What we actually do
Accreditation roadmap
- Self-assessment — we conduct a mock ECERS-3 or ITERS-3 rating to establish your baseline
- Gap analysis — specific items, specific interventions, specific timelines
- Roadmap — 6-to-12-month plan to move from current state to designation-ready
Coaching and preparation
- On-site coaching — our certified assessors work alongside your educators on specific items that need improvement
- Documentation coaching — the portfolios, reflections, and program evidence that assessors will review
- Mock assessments — full run-throughs in the 60 days before the real assessment
- Assessment day support — our team available by phone or on-site during the actual rating
Documentation and portfolio development
- Centre portfolio for accreditation submissions
- Individual educator portfolios
- Program portfolios — photo documentation, learning stories, parent testimonials, continuous improvement evidence
Recognition pursuit
Beyond accreditation, we identify and pursue recognition opportunities specific to your centre:
- Raising the Bar designation (where applicable regionally)
- Industry awards — Top Choice, Consumer Choice, sector-specific awards
- Community recognition — Chamber of Commerce, local business awards
Continuous quality improvement
Post-designation, we build the practices that maintain your rating and prepare you for re-assessment:
- Annual internal audits
- Educator peer observation systems
- Continuous improvement logs
- Re-assessment preparation 6 months before expiry
How the engagement works
Months 1–2 — Baseline and roadmap. Full self-assessment. Clear written roadmap with specific milestones.
Months 3–8 — Implementation. Coaching, documentation, program refinement. Mock assessments at the midpoint and near the end.
Assessment month — Delivery. Formal assessment conducted by the rating body. We support throughout.
Post-designation — Maintenance. Quarterly check-ins to ensure you’re holding the rating.
What you can expect
Partner centres completing this engagement typically achieve:
- ECERS-3 scores in the 5.0–6.0 range (high quality) within 12 months
- Formal accreditation or recognition designation they can advertise
- Measurable enrollment lift — accreditation is a differentiator parents actively value
- Higher applicant quality in hiring — top RECEs want to work at recognized centres
Pricing
From $2,400/month during the active engagement period (typically 9–12 months), then a reduced maintenance rate ($800–$1,200/month) for ongoing quality assurance.
Frequently asked questions
Which quality frameworks do you work with? ECERS-3, ITERS-3, FCCERS-3, Raising the Bar (Toronto-region), CCAC national accreditation, and sector awards. We advise on the right fit for your centre.
Is accreditation worth it for a small operator? Often, yes — because small operators need differentiation in their local market more than big chains do. But not always. We’ll give you an honest recommendation during the discovery call.
How long does the full process take? Typically 9–12 months from baseline to designation. Centres starting with a strong baseline can sometimes do it in 6–7.
Do we have to close or disrupt programming? No. All of the work happens within normal operations. The assessment itself is a visit, not a closure.
What happens if we don’t pass? First, we don’t submit until our mock assessments indicate you will pass. If an unexpected outcome happens at the real assessment, we run the remediation plan and represent. Most designation bodies allow a re-submission within a defined window.
Ready to pursue recognition? Book a call — we’ll assess your current state and tell you honestly whether accreditation is a fit right now.
