Preschool

Preschool Programs (2.5-3.8 years)

Our Preschool Program provides high quality licensed care to children between the ages of 2.5-4 years.

Hours - The program operates on weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m., including during March break, summer holidays, Christmas holidays and PD days that fall within the Ottawa Catholic School Board calendar. (See sample daily schedule below.)

Staff/child ratio - 1:8

Cost - $21.45/day

Toddler/Preschool Program Family Handbook

Program features

The Preschool Program provides a nurturing, stimulating and child centered environment where the children can safely learn through play. Educators base the curriculum on the children’s interests. They use the Early Learning for Every Child Today (ELECT) framework, and the document How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years, as a guideline. The program focuses on the developmental domains which include physical, social, emotional, communication/language and cognitive development.

Our program also uses Conscious Discipline®, a positive, social, emotional program that empowers adults who are working with children to consciously respond to daily conflict, transforming it into an opportunity to teach critical life skills to children.

Proper nutrition is important for a child's growth and development. Preschoolers in our program are provided with hot lunches as well as morning and afternoon snacks. Meals and snacks are freshly made by Epicure Catering and delivered daily to our centres.

Preschool Program Sample Daily Schedule*

*These times will vary depending on location

7:00 - Welcome, morning snack, child directed activities & educator directed activities with smaller groups

9:30 - Morning circle

9:45 - Washroom routine and prepare for outdoor play

10:00 - Outdoor play time

11:00 - Washroom routine and hand washing for lunch

11:15 - Lunch Time

12:00 - Washroom routine and story time

12:15 - Rest Time

1:15 - Wakers program & washroom routine

2:15 - Wake up, washroom routines and children participate in child directed activities

3:00 - Tidy up & wash hands for snack

3:15 - Afternoon snack

3:30 - Washroom & get ready for outdoor play

3:45 - Outdoor play time

5:00 - Inside for closing circle time, story time and quiet table top activities

5:45 - Centre closes

Preschool program locations

Our centres are located at schools operated by the Ottawa Catholic School Board. The Preschool program operates in designated, purpose-built child care rooms in the school where the centre is located. Program participants may also have access to the school gym, and to a separate yard for toddlers and preschoolers.

Click the centre's name below for more information on centres with Preschool programs.

Programs in Bells Corners:

Lynwood

Programs in Kanata & Stittsville:

Fernbank Crossing Jackson Trails Katimavik Marchwood Stonehaven

Programs in Barrhaven & Riverside South:

Chapman Mills Crestway Flagstaff Mountshannon River's Edge Shoreline