Waitlist

How do I register my child for the waitlist?

Please click the "Apply to Waitlist" button below to register your child(ren) for our waitlist. Note that a separate form must be submitted for each child. 

In order to assist us in placing your child at the location that ultimately serves their intended school, we encourage you consider which Rainbow centres transport to which area school(s) when signing up for any of our waitlists. This information is available in the Locations tab above.

I have registered for the waitlist in the past. Should I register again?

If you applied for Rainbow's waitlist after August 2021, there is no need to register again. To update your listing (home address, school, birthdate/name for newborns), use the Edit link at the top of the confirmation email you received when you initially registered. If you no longer have that email, send your changes to info@rainbowdaynursery.ca and we will update that for you. Creating a new waitlist application will not update your old application, and may create confusion for us when we fill spaces. 

If you were on the Province's now-retired Online Child Care Registry (OCCR), you will need to reapply once per child using the link above. Due to privacy concerns, the Province provided child care facilities with only basic information when it retired the OCCR in August 2021. As a result, we require families to complete a new registration for each child to ensure we have current, complete information. Your original registration date will be grandfathered to ensure that you retain your original seniority from the OCCR.

How long is Rainbow's waitlist?

Waits vary from centre to centre and program to program. There is no average wait time, however it's not uncommon for families to remain on our waitlist for several years, especially for preschool and school age children. 

Due to the demand for spaces, it's possible that your child may not be offered a spot before they age out of care. We therefore strongly recommend that you register with facilities other than Rainbow. Consider all of the child care facilities in your neighbourhood, specifically focusing on those within or transporting to your intended school catchment area. 

Families requiring immediate care may wish to use the Manitoba Child Care Search tool to locate other licensed child care providers with current vacancies. 

How are spaces filled?

Rainbow does not fill spaces on a call-in or walk-in basis. Families must register on our waitlist using the link above to be considered for spaces.

When spaces open, we consider the criteria for that specific spot (e.g. date of birth, intended school, availability of continuous care, etc.) and then email the families on the waitlist who meet that criteria and have been waiting the longest. 

Rainbow believes strongly in keeping families together and ensuring that we retain quality staff. As a result, siblings of existing Rainbow children and the children of Rainbow staff are prioritized over the general waitlist.

Where is my child on the waitlist? 

Because Rainbow considers criteria such as age or school catchment area when filling spaces, the waitlist does not provide us with meaningful information about where any particular child is relative to others. We cannot estimate when or whether a space will be available for your child, and there is no average or expected wait time. 

Although there's no average wait, it's not uncommon for families to remain on our waitlist for several years, especially for preschool and school age children. Due to the demand for spaces, many children will age out of care entirely before a suitable spot can be offered.

Families requiring immediate care may wish to use the Manitoba Child Care Search tool to locate other licensed child care providers with current vacancies. 

Can I arrange a tour of your centre(s)?

For security reasons, we do not conduct tours unless a space has already been offered. Families who have been offered spaces will have an opportunity to visit the centre for a tour before completing any enrolment paperwork.