Introduction
The school bell rings at 3:30. Most jobs end at 5:00. For thousands of North Edmonton families, after school care is what fills that gap, and choosing the right program matters as much as choosing the right school.
A quick, honest note before we start: this guide is written by the team at Northtown Grand Daycare, a licensed childcare centre in north Edmonton that runs its own after school care program. We’ve included our program, but every option below is a licensed program serving North Edmonton families. They appear in no particular order. Our goal is to help you compare options, not to claim one is “#1.”
In this guide you’ll find what after school care looks like in Alberta, a list of programs in North Edmonton with the schools they serve, what it costs in 2026 after the provincial subsidy, and a checklist for choosing.
What is after school care?
After school care is supervised childcare for school-age children outside classroom hours. In Alberta, licensed programs are officially called out of school care (OSC), and they serve children in kindergarten through grade 6.
Most programs cover three kinds of time:
- Before school: typically from about 7:00 am until the morning bell, with breakfast or a snack and a walk or drive to school.
- After school: from dismissal until about 6:00 pm, with snacks, homework time, outdoor play and activities.
- Non-school days: full-day care on PD days, winter and spring break, and often summer.
The word “licensed” matters. Licensed OSC programs follow provincial rules on staff ratios, staff certification, safety and space, and only licensed programs qualify for the Alberta Child Care Subsidy. An unlicensed babysitter or drop-in club can’t offer that.
Programs run in three common settings: inside a school (no transport needed), in a nearby centre with a walking pickup, or in a centre that drives children to and from school. Each section below notes which applies.
After school care programs in North Edmonton
These 9 licensed programs serve North Edmonton families. They are listed in no particular order. Details come from each provider’s public pages as of October 2026, so call ahead to confirm spaces, hours and fees.
Program | Area | Setting |
137 Avenue NW | Centre | |
Castle Downs | Inside the school | |
132 Avenue NW | Centre | |
144 Avenue NW | Centre | |
Northeast | Inside the school | |
Delwood | Inside the school | |
McConachie | Inside the school | |
Cumberland | Inside the school | |
Inglewood | Inside the school |
1. Northtown Grand Daycare
Address: 104, 9450 137 Avenue NW · Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm · Ages: 0+
Northtown Grand Daycare runs before and after school care alongside its daycare program, using the same NTC learning approach and nutrition program as its younger groups. Learn more on the out of school care page or book a visit.
2. Kids & Company Castledowns
Address: 10603 172 Avenue NW, Room 123 · Ages: 6 to 12 · Capacity: 63 children
This program sits inside St. Charles Catholic School and Baturyn Elementary School, so staff pick children up and drop them off at their classrooms with no bus needed. Children have regular use of the school gym. Kids & Company’s St. Charles page lists before care from about 6:30 to 9:00 am and after care from 3:30 to 6:00 pm, plus school break programming and summer camp.
3. Kids & Company Diamond
Address: 7510 132 Avenue NW
A second Kids & Company option in north Edmonton. The provider’s before and after school programs include arts, science, cooking, outdoor play, homework time and snacks, with transportation from select local schools where available. Ask which schools this centre serves.
4. Kids & Company St. Dominic
Address: 5804 144 Avenue NW
A northeast option from the same provider, with the same program format as Diamond. Confirm the school pickup list and summer camp dates directly with the centre.
5. Father Leo Green YMCA Child Care
Address: 7512 144 Avenue NW
The YMCA of Northern Alberta, the province’s largest not-for-profit childcare provider, runs kindercare and before and after school care inside Father Leo Green school. In October 2026 the YMCA listed this site as having spaces available.
6. Delwood YMCA Child Care
Address: 7315 Delwood Road NW
Kindercare and out of school care inside Delwood school, run by the YMCA. Listed with spaces available in October 2026.
7. Soraya Hafez YMCA Child Care
Address: 980 McConachie Boulevard NW
Before and after school care for Soraya Hafez school students, on site. Listed with spaces available in October 2026.
8. Hilwie Hamdon YMCA Child Care
Address: 13815 Cumberland Road NW
Kindercare plus before and after school care inside Hilwie Hamdon school. Listed with spaces available in October 2026.
9. Edmonton Northwest Out-of-School Care
Location: Inside Inglewood School · Ages: 5 to 12 · Hours (Sept–June): 7:00 to 8:30 am and 3:30 to 5:30 pm · Phone: 780-454-9080
A licensed non-profit program that has served Edmonton families since 1976. It runs in the school’s north lunchroom and accepts the provincial subsidy. Note that a spot in the program does not guarantee registration at Inglewood School itself.
Not seeing your school? Edmonton Public Schools doesn’t run before and after school care itself; licensed providers lease space in schools. Check your school’s “Child Care” page or search the province’s Child Care Lookup Tool.
How much does after school care cost in Edmonton?
After school care is not part of Alberta’s flat-fee daycare model. That flat fee covers children up to kindergarten age attending care during school hours, which is why a toddler’s daycare bill and a grade 2 student’s after school bill can look so different. (For daycare pricing, see Daycare Fees in Edmonton: What Care Really Costs in 2026.)
Instead, school-age families pay the program’s monthly fee, minus any subsidy they qualify for. Each program sets its own fee, so ask for a written fee schedule that separates before school, after school and non-school days.
The Alberta Child Care Subsidy for after school care
Families with a gross household income under $90,000 a year can get help with licensed after school care for children in full-time kindergarten to grade 6. The subsidy is paid directly to the program. These are the maximum monthly amounts for children in grades 1 to 6 who attend at least 50 hours a month, per the Government of Alberta:
| Family income | Max subsidy, grades 1–6 (Sept–June) | Max subsidy, grades 1–6 (July–Aug, facility-based) |
| $0 to $49,999 | $366 | $644 |
| $50,000 to $54,999 | $348 | $612 |
| $55,000 to $59,999 | $311 | $547 |
| $60,000 to $64,999 | $275 | $483 |
| $65,000 to $69,999 | $238 | $419 |
| $70,000 to $74,999 | $201 | $354 |
| $75,000 to $79,999 | $165 | $290 |
| $80,000 to $84,999 | $128 | $225 |
| $85,000 to $89,999 | $92 | $161 |
A few things parents often miss:
- Summer rates switch automatically. If you already receive subsidy, the higher July–August rate applies without a new application and returns to the regular rate in September.
- Apply the month care starts. Subsidy can start no earlier than the month your completed application arrives, so apply as soon as you have a confirmed spot. You can apply up to one month ahead.
- Extended hours add $100. Families who need 4 or more hours a month of care before 6 am, after 6 pm or on weekends can get an extra $100 per child per month, if the program is approved for extended hours.
- Eligibility depends on need. Parents must be working, looking for work, in school, or have special needs (or a child with special needs).
You can estimate your amount with the province’s subsidy estimator and apply online through Child Care Subsidy Online Services. Questions go to Alberta Supports at 780-644-9992 in Edmonton. For a wider look at costs across Canada, see The Average Cost of Daycare in Canada, and What Edmonton Parents Actually Pay.
How to choose an after school care program: 8 questions to ask
The best after school care is the one that fits your child’s school, your work hours and your child’s personality. Ask every program these questions on your tour:
- Is the program licensed? Only licensed programs follow provincial standards and accept the Alberta subsidy.
- How does my child get from school to care? On-site, walked by staff, or driven? If driven, ask about vehicles, car seats and what happens when school lets out early.
- What are the hours, and what happens on non-school days? Check PD days, teachers’ convention, winter and spring break, and summer. Some programs charge separately for these days.
- What does the fee include? Ask for a written schedule covering before school, after school, non-school days, snacks, field trips and late pickup fees.
- How are children grouped? A 5-year-old and an 11-year-old need different things. Ask whether older kids get their own space or activities.
- Is there homework time? Many parents want a quiet window and a staff member who can help.
- How much time is spent outside or moving? After a full school day, active play matters.
- How do staff communicate with parents? Daily updates, an app, or a quick chat at pickup? Ask who to call if something comes up.
For a broader version of this checklist, see How to Choose the Best Daycare in Edmonton.
Frequently asked questions about after school care
What age is after school care for in Alberta?
Licensed out of school care in Alberta serves children in kindergarten through grade 6, roughly ages 5 to 12. Some programs also offer kindercare for half-day kindergarten students.
What is the difference between after school care and out of school care?
They usually mean the same thing. “Out of school care” (OSC) is Alberta’s official licensing term and covers before school, after school and non-school days. “After school care” is the more common everyday phrase.
Does the $15-a-day flat fee apply to after school care?
No. Alberta’s flat parent fee covers children up to kindergarten age in care during school hours. After school care for school-age children has its own fees, offset by the Child Care Subsidy for families earning under $90,000 a year.
How much is the after school care subsidy in Alberta?
For grades 1 to 6, the maximum ranges from $92 to $366 a month during the school year, depending on family income, with at least 50 hours of care a month. In July and August it rises to between $161 and $644 at facility-based programs.
When should I register for after school care?
As early as you can. Popular programs fill before September, and many keep waitlists. Spaces do open mid-year, so it’s worth calling even in fall or winter.
Does after school care cover PD days and school breaks?
Most licensed programs offer full-day care on PD days, winter and spring break, and summer, but some charge extra or require separate registration. Ask each program for its non-school-day calendar.
Visit after school care at Northtown Grand Daycare
If you live or work near 137 Avenue in north Edmonton, we’d love to show you our after school care program. Come see the space, meet our educators and ask every question on the checklist above.
Book a visit · See our out of school care program · Call +1 780 863-0677
Sources
- Child Care Subsidy Program, Government of Alberta
- Out of School Care locations, YMCA of Northern Alberta
- Kids & Company Castledowns and St. Charles
- Kids & Company Before & After School Care
- Inglewood School child care, Edmonton Public Schools
