What is the Early Learning Gateway? *UPDATED*
The Early Learning Gateway is an online platform to improve access to early learning and child care in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Early Learning Gateway parent portal provides parents/guardians, a service portal for regulated child care services, and a ECE portal for Early Childhood Educators (ECE).
New features will be added in the near future to further support access to high-quality, affordable, and inclusive early learning and child care in the province.
Why is the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador launching an Early Learning Gateway?
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care. The launch of a provincial Early Learning Gateway will provide an online solution and multiple benefits for parents/guardians, regulated child care services, and early childhood educators (ECEs) to connect and access resources.
Listed below are some long-term benefits:
- Connect regulated child care services with parents/guardians who need child care through a waitlist
- Connect regulated child care services with ECE substitutes who are interested in working part time
- Decrease some of the administrative burden of managing a waitlist
- Streamline processes
- Improve efficiency
- Quick access
- Convenience
- Secure information collection
When did the Early Learning Gateway become available? *Updated*
As of May 29, 2024, the Early Learning Gateway became available to parents, guardians, and regulated child care services.
What is the Early Learning Gateway Service Portal?
The Early Learning Gateway service portal provides regulated child care services the ability to:
- view and manage the list of parents/guardians who added their child(ren) to the service waitlist in Early Learning Gateway
- view parent/guardian contact information to follow up when a space becomes available
- create and manage Early Learning Gateway account access for their admin staff
- view the list of ECEs who are registered as an ECE substitute in the Early Learning Gateway.
What is the Early Learning Gateway Parent Portal?
The Early Learning Gateway parent portal provides parents/guardians seeking child care the ability to:
- add their child(ren) to their profile
- search for regulated child care services
- add their child(ren) to a regulated child care service waitlist(s)
- edit or remove their child(ren) waitlists
What is the Early Learning Gateway ECE Portal? *NEW*
The ECE Portal in the Early Learning Gateway provides ECEs the ability to:
- register as a substitute ECE to showcase their certifications and availability for regulated child care services looking for support
- edit their profile details
- disable the visibility of their profile if unavailable for work
All ECE registrations will be reviewed and approved by AECENL. Once approved, the ECE profile will be added to the list of ECE substitutes for regulated child care services. This streamlined process connects ECEs seeking part-time work with regulated child care centers that need support, promoting flexibility and continuity in early childhood education.
Who can register as a substitute ECE in the Early Learning Gateway? *NEW*
ECEs who hold a Child Care Services Certification (CCS) can register as an ECE substitute through the Early Learning Gateway. When an ECE completes registration, it is submitted to AECENL for review and approval.
Are the ECE substitutes reviewed and approved by AECENL? *NEW*
Yes. When an ECE completes their registration in the Early Learning Gateway, it is submitted to AECENL for review and approval. Once approved, the ECE will be added to the list of ECE substitutes for regulated child care services in the Early Learning Gateway.
Please note: The child care service will verify requirements and any supporting documents with a ECE and will use their existing hiring practices prior to confirming work in the child care service.
How can regulated child care services access the list of ECE substitutes in the Early Learning Gateway? *NEW*
Once AECENL approves an ECE registration in the Early Learning Gateway, regulated child care services can access the list of ECE substitutes in the Early Learning Gateway service portal.
Please note: The child care service will verify requirements and any supporting documents with a ECE and will use their existing hiring practices prior to confirming work in the child care service.
Guidance on how to access the list of ECE Substitutes in the Early Learning Gateway.
What is a waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway? *Updated*
The waitlist within the Early Learning Gateway connects parents/guardians in need of child care with regulated child care services. Parents/guardians can access Early Learning Gateway to add their child(ren) to a regulated child care service waitlist. Then, regulated child care services can view and manage the list of parents/guardians who added their child to their waitlist through the Early Learning Gateway
The regulated child care service will continue to manage and accept a child based on their own policies and procedures. The regulated child care service will contact a parent once a space becomes available. The Early Learning Gateway does not guarantee a space, by the preferred date care is needed. It is an online tool to connect parents in need of child care with child care services.
How do I receive access to the Early Learning Gateway Service Portal?
Child care licensees or family child care providers: Please check your email for a message titled ‘Early Learning Gateway Service Portal Account’ from the Department of Education. Follow the instructions to create an account. If you did not receive an email, please send a request to elgateway@gov.nl.ca, including your name and the name of your child care service.
Administrators: Please contact the child care licensee to request an account.
Once you receive access and create your account, you can sign into the Early Learning Gateway website at www.gov.nl.ca/EarlyLearningGateway
What electronic devices can I use to access the Early Learning Gateway?
You can access the Early Learning Gateway on computers, tablets, and smartphones. You will need to access the internet using a browser such as Google Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.
Is there training material for the Early Learning Gateway Service Portal?
Guidance on how to use the Early Learning Gateway service portal.
If you have questions relating to the Early Learning Gateway, please contact elgateway@gov.nl.ca.
I am a regulated child care service, does my business have to use the waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway?
As of May 29, 2024, if on Operating Grant Program (OGP), you can use the waitlist within the Early Learning Gateway to view the list of parents/guardians who added their child(ren) to your waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway. As a condition of your OGP funding, participation in the Early Learning Gateway is expected. Services that have existing enrolment waitlists are expected to cease using service level waitlists and begin to transition to the Early Learning Gateway as soon as possible. Services will have a transition period to start using the Early Learning Gateway waitlist. Regional staff will work with you to develop a timeline that works best for you and for the families you service. If you are not on OGP, you can utilize the resources available within the Early Learning Gateway, including the waitlist.
The Early Learning Gateway waitlist is a tool to provide you with flexibility to access parents/guardians who need child care. It will allow you to view the contact information of parents and guardians who added their child to your waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway. You will continue to manage and accept a child based on your own policies and procedures. The Early Learning Gateway is not involved in the enrolment process.
Why are regulated child care services on OGP required to use the waitlist within the Early Learning Gateway?
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to providing high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care. The Early Learning Gateway waitlist will help parents/guardians search for regulated child care in Newfoundland and Labrador. Parents/guardians can view a list of regulated child care services based on location and other criteria.
The Early Learning Gateway waitlist provides convenience for parents/guardians to add their child(ren) to a waitlist. It also helps regulated child care services connect with parents who added their child to their waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway. The regulated child care service will manage and accept a child based on their own policies and procedures. The Early Learning Gateway is not involved in the enrolment process. It is an online tool to connect parents in need of child care with child care services.
I am a regulated child care service and have an existing waitlist. What will happen to my existing waitlist?
As of May 29, 2024, the following information applies for regulated child care services on the OGP:
- Child care services are expected to utilize the waitlist at the earliest opportunity. In the coming months, child care service providers will be able to incorporate data from their current waitlist(s) to the Early Learning Gateway. If a parent/guardian wants to add their child to your waitlist, please direct them to the Early Learning Gateway Parent Portal and add their child to the waitlist. If necessary, you can exhaust your existing non-Early Learning Gateway waitlist. At that point, you will use the Early Learning Gateway waitlist to connect with parents/guardians in need of child care. All service providers on the OGP will be required to use the waitlist.
- If you do not have an enrolment waitlist or choose not to use your existing waitlist, you can immediately access the waitlist on the Early Learning Gateway Service Portal to connect with parents/guardians in need of child care. If a parent/guardian wants to add their child to your service level waitlist, please direct them to the Early Learning Gateway Parent Portal and add their child to the waitlist.
Regulated child care services that are not on the OGP can utilize the waitlist within the Early Learning Gateway Service Portal.
I am a regulated child care service, how do I manage the waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway?
The Early Learning Gateway will provide convenience for you to view and manage the list of parents/guardians who added their child(ren) to their waitlist. You have the flexibility and quick access to the Early Learning Gateway to view a child’s details when you have a space available. You will manage and accept a child based on your own policies and procedures. Once a space becomes available, you will continue to contact the parent/guardian directly. The Early Learning Gateway is not involved in the enrolment process. It is an online tool to connect regulated child care services with parents/guardians who need child care.
Guidance on how to use the Early Learning Gateway service portal.
How do I create an account for my admin staff to access the Early Learning Gateway Service Portal?
How do I view my waitlist for my child care service?
How do I update my profile in the Early Learning Gateway?
How do I view and edit my child care service information in the Early Learning Gateway? *Updated*
What are waitlist priority questions? *NEW*
Child care services can choose from a selection of priority questions for parents/guardians to answer when adding their children to the waitlist, if applicable to the service. These questions are optional but can assist in managing the waitlist more effectively.
Guidance on how to view and edit your child care service information in the Early Learning Gateway.
How will a parent/guardian add their child to a waitlist for a child care service in the Early Learning Gateway?
As of May 29, 2024, a parent/guardian will use the Early Learning Gateway to add their child to a regulated child care services waitlist.
Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador
A parent/guardian who are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador will use the Early Learning Gateway to add their child to a regulated child care services waitlist. Parents/guardians will have the convenience of accessing the Early Learning Gateway Parent Portal to search for regulated child care services and to add their child to a waitlist. If a parent/guardian wants to add their child to your waitlist, please direct them to the Early Learning Gateway parent portal and add their child to the waitlist.
Guidance on how to update your profile in the Early Learning Gateway parent portal.
Out of Province Parents/Guardians
Out of province parents/guardians seeking child care in Newfoundland and Labrador should complete the Out of Province Waitlist Request Form.
How will a parent/guardian check their child’s waitlist status in the Early Learning Gateway?
At this time parents/guardians will be able to view their child’s waitlists for the services they added in the Early Learning Gateway. Future updates to the Early Learning Gateway later in 2024 will explore how to best identify waitlist status in a manner that meets the needs of parents/guardians as well as child care service providers
What does Waitlist Position number mean in the Early Learning Gateway? *NEW*
Waitlist position is an estimate of a child’s overall position for a specific child care service and is subject to change. Child care services manage waitlists and prioritize children based on various criteria (e.g., child’s age, siblings).
Child care services who are working through their existing waitlist, have the ability not to display the waitlist position to parents/guardians in the Early Learning Gateway. For new services joining the Early Learning Gateway, the waitlist number will be automatically shown.
Guidance on how to view and edit your child care service information in the Early Learning Gateway.
Do parents or guardians need to review their child’s waitlist regularly to keep waitlist records accurate in the Early Learning Gateway? *NEW*
To maintain accurate waitlist records, parents/guardians must review their waitlist in the Early Learning Gateway. After adding their child to a child care service waitlist, they will receive three email notifications every six months, prompting them to review the waitlist. After the first email, parents/guardians have 17 days to complete their review. Waitlists not reviewed within this period will be deactivated.
Is information contained in the Early Learning Gateway safe and secure?
Government is obligated to protect your personal information by making reasonable security arrangements against such risks as unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, or disposal. Security measures are integrated into the design, implementation, and daily operating practices as part of Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting your personal information.
Who can I contact for help with the Early Learning Gateway?
Please see below support contacts for the Early Learning Gateway:
Early Learning Gateway Questions:
Department of Education
Email: elgateway@gov.nl.ca
Early Learning Gateway Account (Child Care Services):
Department of Education
Email: elgateway@gov.nl.ca
MyGovNL Account (Parents/Guardians):
Department of Education Contacts: