Yes, there is a difference between public schooling and early childhood situations. There's a huge developmental difference. The developmental needs of young children are very different from the needs of older children. School is five or six hours a day. Day care, at least in B.C., can be up to 13 hours a day, seven days a week. The developmental differences are key.
Sharon mentioned that the optimal situation for children is a loving, caring situation. That is true, but part of that is also the continuity of care. You could have excellent caregivers, but if there are too many of them, the child is developmentally damaged.
The Quebec system currently has 21% of children who are ages six months to five years in it. There is 9% of children under one year old. It's not a universal system. A truly high-quality universal system would cost far more. Currently in Quebec, the staff-to-child ratio can be eight children for one staff. It's not high quality.