The company has in fact spent more than 25 years building an early learning franchise rooted in research consistency and long-term value.
What began as a single school in 1998 has grown into a network of more than 50 schools across Canada, with more than 20 schools in the pipeline across North America.
At the heart of CEFA’s success is a simple belief: the first six years of a child’s life shape how they learn, grow, and thrive for the rest of their lives. Everything CEFA has built – from its curriculum to its franchise model – stems from that principle.
A founder-led vision ahead of its time
CEFA was founded in 1998 by Natacha V. Beim, an early learning expert who identified a disconnect between what research showed about early brain development and how education was being delivered in practice. Beim envisioned an approach rooted in curiosity, exploration, and how young children actually learn. That insight became the foundation of CEFA’s full-day early learning model: one designed to support the whole child by developing problem-solving, language and cognitive skills, creativity, and social-emotional growth alongside a strong focus on wellbeing.
Years ahead of broader shifts in the sector, the first CEFA school offered a more intentional classroom experience that quickly resonated with families. Parents saw the difference, demand followed, and CEFA’s research-driven philosophy became the basis for a model built on quality, consistency, and long-term impact.
Growth driven by families and educators
CEFA’s early growth was organic and directly driven by family demand. By the early 2000s, the first CEFA school had developed multi-year waiting lists, with many families traveling long distances so their children could attend.
In January 2005, the second CEFA school opened, co-owned by a CEFA parent and a CEFA teacher. This milestone marked a pivotal moment in CEFA’s evolution and validated demand for expansion beyond its original location. Building on this momentum, CEFA formally launched its first franchise model in 2008, creating a structured system that allowed parents and educators to open schools while maintaining consistent education and operational standards.
As the franchise system matured, CEFA expanded thoughtfully into new markets, entering Alberta in 2020, followed by Ontario in 2024. Today, CEFA operates 50 schools across Canada, with a growing footprint in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. Many CEFA schools continue to be owned by parents of CEFA students or educators, reinforcing the brand’s education-first culture.
A franchise model built on education first
At the core of CEFA’s franchise system is its proprietary curriculum, which blends core academics with STEM, fine arts, mindfulness, and physical development delivered through purposeful, play-based, research-backed methodologies. The education-led foundation translates into a franchise model that prioritizes quality, consistency, and long-term sustainability.
Franchise partners are supported across real estate and site selection, school design and construction licensing, staffing, training, and ongoing operations – an essential advantage in a highly regulated sector.
Why early learning – and why now
Canada’s childcare and early learning sector is in a sustained growth phase. The global market is projected to grow from $18.6 billion in 2024 to $24.1 billion by 2030 (Grand View Research), driven by workforce participation, population growth, and increased recognition of early education’s importance.
More than two decades after opening its first classroom, CEFA remains focused on preparing children not just for kindergarten, but for life. For entrepreneurs seeking a franchise opportunity that combines stability, purpose, and community impact, CEFA’s 25-year journey demonstrates how education-led franchising can create lasting value – for children, families and franchise partners alike.
