Who can attend Kindergarten?
Every child who lives in Toronto is welcome to attend a TDSB school. To attend Junior Kindergarten in September, children must be age four by December 31 of that year. If you have any questions about which grade to register your child in, please contact the school Principal.
Who can register a child for Kindergarten?
Only a parent or legal guardian can register a child for Kindergarten.
When do I register my child for Kindergarten?
Registration for Kindergarten begins in February and continues throughout the school year. Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten for more information about registration options and requirements. Please note: the application process from French Immersion takes place in January of the year your child is in Junior Kindergarten.
Which school should my child attend?
To find out which school your child should attend, please call 416.394.7526 or visit Find Your School.
What if I want my child to attend a school that is different than the one designated my home school by address?
You can apply to out-of-area schools through the Optional Attendance Policy. Please note that many schools are closed to optional attendance due to space limitations. You may want to contact your school of choice first to see if they are open to optional attendance applications.
How do I register my child in French Immersion?
The Early French Immersion Program begins in Senior Kindergarten. Opportunities for intensive French study are also available through the Junior Extended French Program that begins in Grade 4. For more information, please visit tdsb.on.ca/french or email pars_fsl_admin@tdsb.on.ca.
What information do I need to bring to register my child for Kindergarten?
To register your child for Kindergarten, please bring proof of:
- age (a birth certificate or baptismal record or passport)
- Proof of address (including any two of the following current documents: Utility bill (e.g. hydro, gas, water), cable TV, internet, or home phone bill, insurance policy (home, tenant, auto or life), mortgage statement, rental or lease agreement or deed, current purchase and sale agreement, property tax bill or notice of tax assessment. Original correspondence from a government agency or legal clinic may be accepted as a second proof of address document).
- immunizations (the card that shows a list of needles your child has received)
- you can also begin the registration process through the online registration system at www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
What if my child was born outside of Canada?
If your child was born outside of Canada, verification of date of arrival is required. Families who are permanent residents and refugee claimants may register directly at the school. All other families should come to the International Students and Admissions Office, 5050 Yonge Street (first floor), for a School Admission Letter.
Children without immigration status are welcome in our schools and information will not be shared with immigration authorities, as per TDSB Policy P.061 SCH.
What if I don’t have all of the above documents?
Please contact the International Students and Admissions Office in-person, or by phone/email — 5050 Yonge Street (first floor), 416.395.8120 or admissions@tdsb.on.ca.
What if my child has special education needs?
If your child has special education needs and will be entering school for the first time, please call your local school to set up an appointment with the principal and a representative from the TDSB’s Special Education Department. At this meeting, you will be able to share any needs, relevant documentation, and discuss supports that are available in the school for your child. By working together, we can determine the supports and resources your child will need for a successful transition to school.
What other information will my child’s school need?
To help make school a safe and happy environment for your child, your school needs to know:
- the name your child is called, if it’s different from official documentation
- any allergies and/or other medical concerns
- current phone numbers (home, work, cell) for parent(s)/guardian(s) with whom the child resides and of the person picking up the child from school
- name and phone number of child care provider
- emergency contact name and phone number
- names of brothers and/or sisters attending the school
- language(s) spoken in the home
- any legal or personal circumstances that may impact your child
It is important that this information be kept current. Please let the school know of any changes to the above information during the school year.
As part of the process of registering for school, you will be asked to complete a Developmental History Form. This form is used to collect important information about your child’s interests and development. It will help the teacher in planning a program to meet your child’s needs.
A series of voluntary questions from the Ministry will be asked to determine child care experiences.
What do children learn in Kindergarten?
In Kindergarten, children learn in a play-based learning environment with a team of responsive educators who plan learning experiences that promote inquiry and higher order thinking in language, mathematics, science and technology, personal and social development, health and physical activity, and the arts.
Children learn through the integration of the four frames: belonging and contributing, self-regulation and well-being, demonstrating literacy and mathematics behaviour, and problem solving and innovating.
Over the course of a two-year program, children develop self-regulation, and build literacy and numeracy skills while developing positive attitudes toward learning and school. Opportunities exist throughout the Kindergarten day for children to explore learning centres that include drama, writing, math, reading, writing, painting and visual arts, and working with materials such as sand, water, and construction blocks.
How can I get involved in my child’s education?
There are many ways you can actively participate in your child’s education and help your child be successful in school.
- Talk to your child about school every day.
- Read to your child.
- Praise your child’s work to help build confidence.
- Note your child’s strengths and areas they may need to improve. Share this information with the teacher and early childhood educator (ECE).
- Attend parent-teacher conferences.
- Become involved in school activities and the school council.
- Support the classroom program by volunteering.
Who is working in the classroom?
All classrooms with more than 15 students — most of our classrooms in the TDSB — have both a teacher and early childhood educator (ECE) who work together to help young students learn during the regular school day. These educators have complementary skills that create a learning environment to support the unique needs of each child. With two qualified professionals in the classroom for the full school day, there is more time for individual and small group instruction.
How will I know how my child is doing at school?
The teacher and ECE will communicate with you in many ways throughout the school year, both formally and informally. At parent-teacher interviews and on the Communication of Learning: Initial Observations and Communication of Learning (reports), your teacher will share information about your child’s progress and achievement. Since you know your child best, you are also encouraged to share updates and connect with the educators throughout the school year.
What before- and after-school programs are available?
These fee-based programs are run by independent third party licensed child care operators, authorized recreational and skill building programs, or directly by the TDSB for Extended Day Programs. Programming is offered from about 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., although the exact times may vary by program/ operator. When you register your child at the school, please speak with the Office Administrator or Principal about the availability of an FDK Before- and After-School Program, including details about any wait lists, fees and registration.