Finding childcare while working or attending school
Match care hours, funding and enrollment steps to your work or class schedule.
Finding a program is only one part of arranging care. You also need hours that cover work or school, an available place, a manageable cost and a safe, appropriate setting. Child Care Works, pre-K and school-age programs serve different needs and use different application rules.
Sources reviewed November 3, 2026. This is a researched starting point, not an eligibility decision or a live availability check. Confirm current funding, openings, requirements and costs directly with the provider. No account or personal information is needed to read this guide.
Practical next steps
Work out the hours you actually need
Include class or shift times, travel, early starts, evenings, weekends and school closures. Note your child's age and any accessibility, communication or care needs you want to discuss directly with the provider.
Ask ELRC about Child Care Works
Philadelphia's Early Learning Resource Center, Region 18, helps with the Child Care Works subsidy process. Ask how your employment, school or training schedule fits the current requirements. Do not assume every education program qualifies or that approval means care will cost nothing.
Apply for funding and check providers in parallel
ELRC's official page links to the COMPASS application and document instructions. Ask providers whether they participate in Child Care Works, have an opening for your child's age, and cover your full schedule. A funding approval and an available seat are separate things.
Explore pre-K or school-age options where appropriate
For preschool-age children, contact FreePhillyPreK about the current age cutoff and application. For older children, look at school-linked or City afterschool programs. Pre-K hours may not cover an entire workday; ask about wraparound care and closure days.
Confirm the full cost and start date in writing
Ask about copayments, charges above the subsidy, registration or activity fees, meals, transportation, waiting lists and when care can begin. Submit family documents only to official providers or application systems, not to this site.
Resource starting points
- ELRC Region 18: Child Care Works
Official Philadelphia subsidy guidance, eligibility documents and application instructions.
Read the current requirements and use the linked COMPASS application; request staff help if needed.
Income, child and employment/training rules apply. ELRC determines eligibility.
Ask about funding, waitlists, provider participation and the earliest approved start date.
- FreePhillyPreK application support
A route to participating Philadelphia pre-K programs and help with the application.
Compare program choices and call for application help. Check the current age cutoff and required documents.
Pre-K routes have age, residency and program-specific requirements.
Places, calendars and wraparound care vary. A free pre-K seat does not guarantee a full workday of care.
- City child care and early education guidance
City- and state-funded routes for locating care and understanding financial support.
Use the official guidance to identify the appropriate early-learning or child-care route.
Requirements differ by funding program and provider.
Contact providers directly for openings, operating hours and costs.
- City afterschool and summer program guidance
Options for school-age children who need activities outside the school day.
Use the locator and contact a suitable program about enrollment and pickup times.
Check ages, grades, school affiliation and any attendance rules.
Confirm fees and hours; not every activity provides full childcare coverage.
Helpful things to know
Questions for a provider
“Do you have a place for my child's age? Are you open for my full schedule? Do you accept Child Care Works? What would we pay each week, including extra fees?”
Keep a backup plan
Ask about holidays, staff-development days, summer schedules and late pickup. An afterschool activity or a short pre-K day is not automatically full-day childcare.
Common questions
Can I get assistance while attending school or training?
It may be possible, but Child Care Works has employment/training and income requirements. Ask ELRC to review the specific program and schedule; this guide does not determine eligibility.
Does a subsidy mean the care is free?
Not necessarily. ELRC describes a family copayment and notes that a provider may charge a difference above the subsidy. Ask for the complete cost before enrolling.
Is free pre-K the same as childcare for a full workday?
No. Programs have particular hours, calendars and age rules. Ask about before/after care, summer and school closures, and whether there are separate charges or applications.