Schoolhouse Playcare Centres originated in 1984 with a single location in an Oshawa secondary school. At that time, its main purpose was to provide quality early learning and child care programs for infant, toddler and preschool children, serving primarily teachers and students within the Durham District School Board. As government policies and community needs changed, Schoolhouse Playcare grew and expanded to serve children from infancy to 12 years of age, in both elementary and secondary schools, and to meet the needs of both DDSB employees/students as well as the community at large.

For many years, Schoolhouse Playcare was the sole provider of child care within the Durham District School Board, but in response to the ever-increasing demand for quality early learning programs and reliable child care, the Board amended its Child Care Policy to reflect the current model. Child care within the Durham District School Board now supports the provision of quality child care services in its school through a number of qualified, licensed organizations, all of which are members of the DDSB's Child Care Consortium. Schoolhouse Playcare Centres continues to operate numerous locations across the Durham District School Board and is proud to serve more than 1350+ children and families.