Case Study: McNicoll Child Care Centre
A Tailored Staffing Solution That Improved Retention and Stability
About
About McNicoll Child Care Centre
For over 40 years, McNicoll Child Care Centre, currently led by Lynn, has been a trusted part of the North York community, providing high-quality early childhood education in a warm, supportive environment. With licensed programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, the centre focuses on hands-on learning, social development, and fostering independence through age-appropriate activities. Spacious classrooms, outdoor play areas, and experienced educators create the best setting for children to grow and thrive.
With her decades of experience, Lynn has encountered a variety of staffing challenges over the years. She knew that for her smaller centre to thrive, she needed a staffing solution that was not just reliable but also flexible and cost-effective. In 2022, she turned to Intra for support, hoping to maintain consistency in care, and to find a solution that could adapt to the unique scheduling needs of her centre.
Challenges
High turnover created instability for staff and children.
Before partnering with us, Lynn had worked with other agencies and tried different staffing solutions but consistently encountered the same issues; high costs for supply staff and many times those agencies couldn't provide the staffing she needed. Her smaller centre required a cost-effective approach, and other agencies couldn't offer the flexibility or pricing she needed.
A major priority for Lynn was block booking, allowing her to schedule the same staff member consistently rather than rotating through different employees. She also needed special pricing options to make this cost-effective. Additionally, finding staff willing to work on short notice for brief shifts, sometimes as little as three hours, was an ongoing struggle. High turnover rates of these three-hour shifts were bound to happen, and as a result, caused instability for both her team and the children they cared for.
Solution
Block booking, preferred pricing, and 24/7 support.
Our first step was setting up block booking, allowing her to schedule the same staff members for regular shifts, which improved consistency and provided stability for both the children and staff. To make this cost-effective, we introduced special pricing for block bookings.
Additionally, our 24/7 support system ensured that Lynn could request staff on short notice and still receive qualified candidates, even for those tricky three-hour shifts. Our focus on reliability and responsiveness gave her the flexibility she needed while ensuring every shift was covered by someone she could count on.
"Thank you for your super-efficient and friendly responses! You're all lifesavers."
Outcome
A stable environment for children and less stress for staff.
Since Lynn began working with Intra's services in 2022, McNicoll Child Care Centre has seen a significant improvement in overall reliability of securing sufficient supply staffing. Block booking has allowed her to maintain consistency with staffing which in turn creates a more stable environment for the children. The ability to fill short shifts quickly and at a competitive rate has made staffing more efficient and less stressful. Lynn has praised Intra for our 24/7 support and quick responses. Knowing she can secure reliable staff on the same day has made a significant difference in managing her centre's needs.
Join Intra and Claim Your Free Shift
Joining starts with a conversation. We learn what your centre needs, identify educators who fit, and prepare a supply network you can contact whenever a staffing gap appears. There is no cost to join, no obligation to request shifts, and you get a free eight hour ECA shift just for joining.