How to Read Toronto Child Care Inspection Results
How to read Toronto child care inspection results in two minutes. Toronto Public Health inspects licensed child care centres for infection prevention and control. Here is what each result and each level means, in plain words.
This page is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Toronto or Toronto Public Health. Always confirm with the child care centre and the City's own site. Toronto Public Health inspections (City of Toronto)
What the City's data records
Our tables copy the City of Toronto's open data, which records each inspection with one of two results. We show them exactly as written:
Pass
The most common result by far. It can still list minor items the centre was asked to fix.
Conditional Pass
Recorded on some inspections where the inspector noted deficiencies. Look at the date, and at any later inspection of the same centre. The latest result is the one in our tables.
What the City's website says about results
The City's page about these inspections describes three types of result. In the City's words:
- Satisfactory — issued when only minor or no deficiencies are observed.
- Re-inspection Required — issued when one or more significant or crucial deficiencies are observed. A public health inspector works with the operator to re-inspect within 24 to 48 hours.
- Closed — if a health hazard is observed, the inspector orders the centre to close and remove it. The centre may re-open once the hazard is gone. This is rare.
The City's open data file uses the words Pass and Conditional Pass, and the City's website uses the words above. The City does not publish how one set lines up with the other, so we do not guess. For the official picture of any centre, use the City's own results page.
The three deficiency levels
Each item an inspector notes is given a level. The data shows them as written below. One inspection can have items at more than one level.
- M - Minor — the lowest level.
- S - Significant
- C - Crucial
The data also records what happened next, for example Corrected During Inspection or Notice to Comply.
What the inspections cover
The City groups what inspectors note under headings such as environmental cleaning and disinfection; washrooms, diapering and toileting areas; infection prevention and control measures; administrative health policies; sensory play and toys; sleep equipment; pest control; and information sheets. These are infection-control inspections. Food safety is inspected separately by the City.
Three things to keep in mind
- One visit is a snapshot. An inspection shows what the inspector saw on one day.
- The date matters. Something found and fixed months ago is not today's problem.
- Ask the centre. A good centre will tell you what was found and what they changed. That conversation tells you more than any table.
We do not turn these results into scores, stars, rankings or "safe" and "unsafe" labels. The City does not, and neither should we.
Frequently asked questions
What does Pass mean on a Toronto child care inspection?
Pass is the result recorded in the City's open data when an inspection is complete. It can still list minor items the centre was asked to fix. Most Toronto centres have Pass as their latest result.
What does Conditional Pass mean?
It is the other result that appears in the City's open data. It is recorded on some inspections where the inspector noted deficiencies. For what it means for a particular centre, look at the date and at any later inspection, and confirm with the centre and on the City's site.
What are crucial, significant and minor deficiencies?
They are the three levels the City uses for what an inspector notes. Minor is the lowest. The City says a Re-inspection Required result is issued when one or more significant or crucial deficiencies are observed, and that a public health inspector then works with the operator to re-inspect within 24 to 48 hours.
Can a Toronto child care centre be closed after an inspection?
Yes. The City says that if an inspector observes a health hazard, they order the centre to close until the hazard is removed, and the centre may re-open once it is. This is rare.
Why does this page not give centres a score or a star rating?
Because the City does not. An inspection is a snapshot of one visit, and a score would claim more than the record says. We show each result exactly as the City words it, and we never call a centre safe or unsafe.
Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Toronto.
Data last updated: October 26, 2026.
Reformatted by Zusashi Maintenance Company.
Sources: Toronto Public Health child care inspections and Licensed child care centres (City of Toronto Open Data). Seen a mistake? Ask us to correct it.