Centres For Early Learning

What Centres For Early Learning does

Centres For Early Learning (CFEL) is a privately held, family-owned early childhood education and childcare provider founded in 1975 in Toronto by Amina Bhaloo, with operations now spanning nine to ten licensed childcare centres across the Greater Toronto Area and Milton, Ontario. The company delivers age-tiered programs covering infants (birth-18 months), toddlers (18-30 months), preschool (2.5-4 years), kindergarten (4-5 years), and school-age children (6-12 years), with regulated staff-to-child ratios ranging from 1:5 in infant rooms to 1:15 for school-age groups. Its educational offering is built on a Learning Through Play philosophy and integrates a portfolio of curriculum modules including ELECT ('How Does Learning Happen'), Brain Gym, Life Skills Education, STEAM, Jolly Phonics literacy, French language programming at select locations, and a wellness program featuring monthly Yoga. Operational technologies are intentionally light: the proprietary educational curriculum is delivered by Registered Early Childhood Educators (credentialed with the College of Early Childhood Educators), supported by the Hi Mama app for daily parent communication and Wholesome Kids Catering for nutritionist-approved meal service.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer, subscription-recurring revenue model with two customer streams: full-fee families and subsidized families receiving City of Toronto fee subsidies, both of which are now repriced through the federal Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program at CAD $22/day for children under six as of January 2025, with a stated government target of $10/day by 2026. All centres are licensed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and regulated by Toronto Children Services, undergo routine Public Health and Fire Department inspections, and are AODA-compliant. Enrollment is conducted through a website-based wait list that is free to join and filled on a first-come, first-served basis by age group and vacancy, supplemented by community word-of-mouth referrals and parent testimonials. GTM motion is essentially omnichannel-light: a single institutional website (cfel.ca), an Instagram channel (@centresforearlylearning), and dedicated Centre Directors handling in-person conversations.

The company is led by CEO Azam Bhaloo of The Foray Group (the parent organization) and VP of Education Pattie London, with each of the nine independently operated centres headed by a named Centre Director. Ownership remains within the founding family — no external investors, venture capital, or corporate parent are disclosed — and the organization funds operations internally with no funding rounds on record. Strategic partnerships cluster around inclusion services (City of Toronto Resource Consultants, Humber College Resource Educators, Community Living, Toronto Speech and Language), community engagement (East Scarborough Storefront, True Davidson Acres), and food service (Wholesome Kids Catering). The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 and continues to expand into adjacent geographies, most recently into Milton, while extending curriculum and inclusion capabilities across the existing footprint.

Name

Centres For Early Learning

Legal name

Centres for Early Learning

Website

https://cfel.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centres For Early Learning is a private, family-owned early childhood education provider operating nine to ten licensed childcare centres across the Greater Toronto Area and Milton, Ontario. Founded in 1975, the company serves children ages 0-12 through age-tiered programs and proprietary curriculum, with CWELCC-affiliated daily pricing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Day Childcare Centers (EDACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Center-Based Infant Care (0–18 months) (EDACAGAA), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Childcare services
• Preschool programs
• Daycare services
• Infant care

Headquarters

HQ city

MARKHAM, ON

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Childcare Fees - Full Fee: Standard childcare fees charged to families not receiving government subsidies. Fees have been reduced through CWELCC program participation.
2. Childcare Fees - Subsidized: Fee subsidies through City of Toronto for eligible families based on income and circumstances. Subsidized clients eligible for up to 35 days absence per calendar year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Centres For Early Learning operates a network of 9-10 licensed childcare centres across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) offering age-differentiated early childhood development and education programs for children from infancy (0-18 months) through school age (6-12 years). Services include structured curriculum (Learning Through Play, ELECT, Brain Gym, STEAM, Jolly Phonics, French) delivered by Registered Early Childhood Educators in physical classroom facilities, with meals catered by Wholesome Kids Catering and parent communication via the Hi Mama app.

Product overview

Centres For Early Learning operates a network of 9 licensed childcare centres across the Greater Toronto Area, offering age-specific early childhood development programs from infancy (birth-18 months) through school age (6-12 years). The core offering includes five age-differentiated program tiers (Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, School Age) that provide developmental care, education, and nurturing environments. The company integrates a comprehensive educational curriculum built on Learning Through Play philosophy, supported by specialized modules including ELECT (How Does Learning Happen), Brain Gym, Life Skills Education, STEAM, French language instruction, Jolly Phonics literacy, and Wellness programming. Additional services include food catering through Wholesome Kids Catering, parent communication via the Hi Mama app, and participation in the federal CWELCC fee reduction program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Infant Program (Birth - 18 months) Early childhood development program for infants from birth to 18 months featuring individualized schedules, Individual Program Plans (IPPs), Nipissing Developmental Screenings, milestone tracking, and secure sleep rooms with designated cribs.
• Toddler Program (18 - 30 months) Early childhood development program for toddlers aged 18-30 months with capacity of 10-15 children at 1:5 staff-to-child ratio, focused on independence development, toilet training support, and social skill building.
• Preschool Program (2.5 - 4 years) Early childhood development program for preschool children aged 2.5-4 years with capacity of 16-24 children at 1:8 staff-to-child ratio, emphasizing independence, cooperative play, and school readiness skills.
• Kindergarten Program (4-5 years) Kindergarten program for children ages 4-5 years with capacity of 20-24 children at 1:10 or 1:8 ratio, including school escort services to local schools and preparation for school transition.
• School Age Program (6-12 years) Childcare program for school-aged children from 6-12 years with capacity of 30 children at 1:15 staff-to-child ratio, including summer and march break programming with local trips and activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 years of serving children and families
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• World Vision CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Global child sponsorship partnership. In 2012, Centres for Early Learning sponsored their first child, Ikbal Baco from Indonesia. In 2015, they extended support with sponsorship of Anastazia Paul from Tanzania. Partnership reflects company's 'Give Back Way of Life' philosophy of teaching children about kindness and social connection.
• Wholesome Kids CateringcoreOthersProvides catered meals including morning and afternoon snacks as well as hot lunches. Wholesome Kids Catering menus follow the Canadian Food Guide and are approved by a Registered Dietitian. They provide specialized staff who prepare food substitutions for all allergies and food restrictions.
• East Scarborough StorefrontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership providing access to community garden spaces, professional kitchen for cooking classes, community sports pad, and canopy garden. Located in collaboration with the West Hill centre.
• Ministry of Education / Toronto Children ServicescoreOthersLicensed by the Ministry of Education and regulated by Toronto Children Services. Centres consistently meet or exceed expectations in areas required by the Ministry and Children's Services including activities, experiences, children's physical needs, health & safety, and positive interactions.
• City of Toronto Resource ConsultantssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal agency partnership for inclusion support, working with children with special needs to achieve program goals.
• Humber College Resource EducatorssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal agency partnership for inclusion support, providing additional expertise for children with developmental needs.
• Community LivingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal agency partnership for inclusion support services for children with special needs.
• Toronto Speech and LanguagesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal agency partnership providing speech and language support services for children.
• True Davidson Acres Home for the AgedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership through Toronto Integrational Partnerships in Community. Preschool children volunteer at the home, spending time and participating in collaborative activities with seniors.
• Children's Aid SocietyminorOthersAdopt-a-family program through Children's Aid Society as part of community giving back initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PLASP Child Care Services: Non-profit licensed childcare provider operating before-and-after-school and full-day programs across the Greater Toronto Area. Comparable to CFEL in geography, age range served, and CWELCC participation, but operates under a non-profit/cooperative model.
• Childventures Early Learning Academy: Premium Canadian childcare and early learning operator with multiple centres, including in the GTA. Directly comparable to CFEL in delivering curriculum-rich infant-through-school-age programs with enhanced learning components.
• BrightPath Early Learning: One of the largest Canadian operators of licensed childcare centres with hundreds of locations across multiple provinces. Directly comparable to CFEL as a multi-site licensed childcare and early learning provider, but at significantly greater scale and geographic diversification.
• Kids & Company: Premium Canadian childcare operator with multiple centres concentrated in the GTA and other major urban centers. Directly comparable to CFEL in offering licensed infant-to-school-age programs with differentiated curriculum and employer partnerships.
• Lullaboo Nursery and Childcare Center: Multi-site GTA-based licensed childcare provider offering infant-to-school-age programs. Directly comparable to CFEL in geography (Toronto-area), program tiers, and full-day centre-based delivery model.
• Compass Early Learning Centre: Multi-site licensed childcare and early learning operator in Ontario. Comparable to CFEL in delivering structured curriculum-based programs (including STEAM and literacy components) to children from infancy through school age.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Greater Toronto: Large established GTA-based organization that operates licensed childcare centres among a wide portfolio of community services. Comparable to CFEL in serving GTA families with licensed early learning programs, but offers broader recreational, fitness, and youth services beyond childcare.

Emerging players

• Kids Campus Early Learning Centre: Smaller Ontario-based licensed childcare operator offering early learning programs in select communities. Comparable to CFEL in core service offering (licensed infant/preschool care with curriculum), though at a smaller, less geographically concentrated scale.

Regional players

• Upper Canada Child Care Centres: Long-established Ontario-based licensed childcare operator (since 1983) with multiple centres in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions. Comparable to CFEL as a multi-decade GTA operator, but with a broader geographic footprint.
• Today's Family Early Learning and Child Care: Non-profit licensed childcare operator serving the Greater Hamilton/Halton/Niagara region, including nearby Milton (where CFEL has a location). Comparable to CFEL in licensed childcare delivery and CWELCC participation, but focused on a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/centresforearlylearning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centres-for-early-learning

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centres For Early Learning