The jump from daycare to kindergarten is one of the biggest transitions in early childhood. In Ontario, children can enter Junior Kindergarten (JK) in the calendar year they turn four. Here's how to make it smooth.
Understanding Ontario's System
Ontario offers two years of full-day kindergarten — Junior Kindergarten (age 4 by December 31) and Senior Kindergarten (age 5 by December 31). This is a full school-day program, but many families still need before-and-after-school care, which is typically offered at the school or through a licensed child care provider.
Timeline: When to Start Planning
12–18 months before JK: Start researching schools in your catchment area. Use Ontario School Rankings to compare schools by Fraser Institute ratings, EQAO scores, and program offerings.
6–12 months before: Register for before-and-after-school care at your chosen school or a nearby licensed centre. These waitlists can be long too. Check our daycare rankings for centres that offer Kindergarten-age programs.
3–6 months before: Begin transition conversations with your current daycare. Many centres offer structured transition support.
Summer before JK: Visit the school, attend orientation events, practice the new routine.
What Skills Help?
Ontario's kindergarten program is play-based and inquiry-driven — it's not about academic readiness. Focus on independence skills: using the bathroom independently, putting on shoes and coat, eating lunch without help, basic communication of needs, and comfort being in a group setting (which daycare children usually have in spades).
The Before-and-After-School Gap
Full-day kindergarten runs roughly 9am–3:30pm, but most parents work 9–5. Before-and-after-school programs fill this gap. Where demand is sufficient, schools offering JK through Grade 6 must also offer these programs (or partner with a licensed provider). Fees apply but are CWELCC-eligible at participating programs.
Choosing the Right School
Your daycare choice and your school choice should be part of the same planning process. Many parents in Mississauga, Hamilton, and Kitchener choose daycares near their preferred school to ease the geographic transition.
Use Ontario School Rankings to compare schools in your area, and Rate My Neighbourhood to understand the community around each school. If a school change means a neighbourhood change, Steve can help you find the right home in the catchment area you're targeting.