Welcome to Pluto Day Care

At Pluto Day Care, we believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive. With three convenient locations serving families throughout Kitchener, our dedicated team of educators and leaders are committed to providing high-quality early learning experiences that support each child's unique development.

For over two decades, Pluto Day Care has been building meaningful relationships with children and families while creating welcoming environments where children feel valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Check out our teams here!

Our Story

Pluto Day Care is proudly owned and operated by Nicky and Steve Wedge. After moving to Canada from England in 2004, they purchased their first Pluto Day Care location on Ottawa Street. Prior to arriving in Canada, they had already gained several years of experience owning and operating childcare facilities in England.

Nicky is a fully qualified NNEB Nursery Nurse, the United Kingdom equivalent of a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), and has worked in the childcare field since 1988. Her extensive experience in both public and private childcare settings has helped shape the values and philosophy that continue to guide Pluto Day Care today.

As Pluto grew, additional locations were added to better serve families throughout the community. The Activa location opened in 2005, King Street opened in 2009, and the Victoria Street location joined the Pluto family in 2007 before relocating to Weber Street in 2014.

Today, Pluto remains a family-operated organization. Nicky and Steve's daughter, Rebecca, now serves as General Manager and continues the family's commitment to providing exceptional childcare experiences for local families. Together, two generations of the family share a passion for supporting children during their most important early years.

Our Philosophy

At Pluto Day Care, we are committed to providing a safe, caring, and stimulating environment where children can grow and develop to their fullest potential.

Our program is guided by the belief that children are competent, capable, curious, and rich in potential. We use Ontario's How Does Learning Happen? framework to guide our planning, programming, and daily practices.

We believe children learn best through play, exploration, inquiry, and meaningful interactions with their peers, educators, families, and environment. Our educators create engaging experiences that encourage children to develop confidence, independence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Our Commitment to Quality Care

At Pluto Day Care, we embrace the principles outlined in Ontario's Early Years Curriculum Framework, How Does Learning Happen?

We recognize children as competent, capable, curious, and rich in experience. Through play-based learning, practical experiences, exploration, reflection, and collaboration, children are provided with opportunities to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Our programs support children's growth in the four foundations identified by the Ministry of Education:

Belonging

Creating environments where children feel connected, valued, and accepted.

Well-Being

Supporting children's physical and mental health, self-regulation, and overall development.

Engagement

Encouraging curiosity, exploration, problem-solving, and active participation in learning.

Expression

Providing opportunities for children to communicate, create, and express themselves in a variety of ways.

Our Aims & Objectives

At Pluto Day Care, we strive to:

Promote the health, safety, nutrition, and well-being of every child.
Foster meaningful, respectful, and responsive relationships between educators, children, and families.
Support children in developing positive social skills and communication through meaningful interactions.
Nurture children's natural curiosity, creativity, and love of learning through play and exploration.
Create purposeful learning environments that maximize children's development and potential.
Respect the individual needs of every child through balanced opportunities for active play, rest, indoor learning, and outdoor experiences.
Build strong partnerships with families and actively involve them in their child's development.
Collaborate with community partners and support agencies when appropriate to ensure children and families receive the support they need.
Encourage ongoing professional development and lifelong learning for our educators.
Maintain an open-door approach that promotes trust, communication, and strong relationships.

Licensed Child Care Programs

Pluto Day Care offers licensed childcare programs for:

Infants

0 – 18 months

Toddlers

18 – 30 months

Preschool

2½ – 6 years

Our classrooms are staffed by Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) and dedicated childcare professionals who work collaboratively to provide high-quality care and education.

Each location is led by a Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor who provide leadership and support to educators and families. Supervisors are not assigned to specific classrooms, allowing them to remain available to support children, staff, and families throughout the centre.

Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC)

Pluto Day Care is proud to participate in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) System, helping make licensed childcare more affordable for eligible families. Through this program, families benefit from reduced childcare fees while continuing to receive the high-quality care and early learning experiences that Pluto Day Care is known for.

For more information, please see our Parent Resources Page.

Partnering With Families

We believe that families are a child's first and most important teachers. Building strong partnerships with parents and caregivers is essential to a child's success.

Through open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect, we work together with families to support each child's growth, development, and well-being. Our open-door philosophy encourages ongoing communication and meaningful relationships that help create positive experiences for children both at home and at daycare.

We are honoured to be part of your child's early learning journey and look forward to welcoming your family into the Pluto Day Care community.