Early Years - Frequently Asked Questions

Kindergarten is a two-year program consisting of Year 1 and Year 2 students, previously known as Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten. Students who are enrolled in Kindergarten will attend a full day, Monday to Friday program. This full day of learning will promote your child’s reading, writing, and math skills, and provide a strong foundation for future learning. 

For any required accommodations, the home school can work alongside your family to understand the current needs and develop a plan that will work best for your child and your family.

Families must register for the full-day Kindergarten program with their child’s designated home school, and if there are special accommodations that need to be supported, the home school can work alongside the family to understand the current needs, and develop a plan that will work best for your child and family.

In Kindergarten, Educator teams use the Ontario ministry document, The Kindergarten Program. This program was developed by the Ministry of Education and is the official Kindergarten document that supports Educator teams to guide and promote children’s learning. All Kindergarten programs in Ontario are built around the expectations and pedagogical approaches detailed in the document. The Kindergarten Program is a child-centred, developmentally appropriate, integrated program of learning that has a sole purpose of establishing a strong foundation for learning in the early years, and to do this in a safe and caring, play-based environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of all children.

The Kindergarten educator team consists of a Teacher and Early Childhood Educator (ECE). Together they form a unique partnership that is built to nurture your child's learning through co-creation and intentional planning of purposeful play activities. The Kindergarten team offer complementary skills that help to create a learning environment that will support the unique needs and reflect the diversity of each child. The Durham District School Board (DDSB) is privileged to have wonderful teams of educators who will welcome your child into Kindergarten. If you have questions about the team of educators who will be supporting your child, please contact your school directly.  

The ECE and the teacher are equal partners in the classroom. When you are wanting to communicate with your child’s educators, it is always best to include both team members. We recommend that you attend your school’s Great Beginnings Introduction to Kindergarten welcome event where you may have the opportunity to meet the team who will be supporting your child in September.  

Will the Kindergarten educator team share their classroom documentation? 

There are a variety of ways that educators may choose to share evidence of your child’s learning with families throughout the year. Some examples may include, but are not limited to, pictures, videos, work samples, learning stories, or voice recordings. This documentation helps families to see a child’s growth and learning within the classroom setting. Documentation also supports a school-to-home connection and allows families to engage in specific conversations around the areas of learning their child may be engaged in.

The specific tool selected for the documentation process will be dependent on the unique Kindergarten team. For additional information on documentation, please contact your child’s Kindergarten team directly.

Families will receive a progress report in November, as well as two Communication of Learning documents, which will be shared in January and June. Please contact your child’s educator team if you have specific questions about their learning. 

Is my child only going to play through their day? When are they going to learn “skills”? 

What is the schedule for a full day of school in Kindergarten? What is the start and end time? 

School schedules, including bell times, vary by school. Each school has their own bell times that are related to school bus transportation and other considerations. When you register your child at your home school, they will be able to share this information with you. It is recommended that families attend their school’s Great Beginnings Introduction to Kindergarten event where additional information on the school schedule and general routines will be shared. Please contact your school for additional details on the timing of this event.  

What should be included in a child’s backpack for September? 

All learning materials required for learning within the classroom will be provided by the school. Families will not be required to send students with notebooks, crayons, or other learning materials. Instead, families may want to prepare a backpack that will include a lunch bag with containers the child can open/close independently, indoor shoes, and extra clothes. A typical school day includes a morning and afternoon break, plus a longer lunch break every day. It is also encouraged that all families send extra clothes for days where their first set may become wet or soiled inadvertently. Indoor shoes are also required to keep the indoor spaces clean and safe. The Kindergarten educator team will share additional information to help prepare your child for September.  

Are children monitored during outdoor time? 

Students are supervised at all times of the school day. This is inclusive to indoor and outdoor times/routines throughout the day. The supervision may be provided by a Teacher, ECE, Administrative team member (i.e., Vice Principal), or lunchroom supervisor. 

Is there snack time for children throughout the day? 

Students will be provided with snack times throughout the day. However, the schedule is dependent on each individual school. We recommend that you redirect this question to your school team at the Great Beginnings Introduction to Kindergarten event that all new registered families will be invited to attend. During this session, the school team will be able to provide you with specific answers that will best support this question.

Will someone help my child eat their lunch? 

During lunch time routines, students will be accompanied by a lunchroom supervisor. In some cases, the Early Childhood Educator may also be with the students, as well as older student helpers. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to send snacks and lunches in bite sized, pre-portioned amounts in containers their child can open/close independently. While supervision is provided during lunch time routines, independence is the goal for all children.

We encourage families to review the At-Home Learning Package for activities to help strengthen your child’s self-help skills prior to coming to school.  

Are families able to join their children in the school at lunch?

We recommend that you redirect this question to your school team at the Great Beginnings Introduction to Kindergarten event that all new registered families will be invited to attend. During this session, the school team will be able to provide you with specific answers that will best support this question. 

Is there a recycling program for lunch routines? Is there an expectation for lunches to be garbage-free?

All schools will have their own approach to lunch and snack routines. We recommend that you redirect this question to your school team at the Great Beginnings Introduction to Kindergarten event that all new registered families will be invited to attend. During this session, the school team will be able to provide you with specific answers that will best support this question.

Are there any restrictions for lunch or snacks that can be sent? 

All schools in the DDSB are nut-free. Some schools/classrooms may have additional restrictions, depending on whether there are medical conditions of anaphylaxis in your child's class or school. Information on additional restrictions will be provided by the school prior to your child’s first day of school.

Will the Kindergarten educators help my child complete daily tasks (i.e., applying sunscreen)? 

The DDSB recognizes that our youngest learners will enter Kindergarten at different levels of independence. The classroom team will work with students to develop independence in their daily activities. This may include promoting independence with various self-help skills. 

What will happen if families are late when picking up their child from school? 

How do families register their child for busing? 

Bussing eligibility is determined by Durham Student Transportation Services. Please call the main office of your school to determine eligibility for bussing. All bus routing information will be provided to eligible families closer to September and will be communicated directly. 

Are families able to volunteer at the school?

Many schools do provide parents/caregivers opportunities to volunteer within the school setting. In order to volunteer, parents/caregivers must provide a valid vulnerable sector criminal reference check. For more information on whether your school will be accepting new volunteers, please contact your home school directly.  Visit our Volunteering in Schools webpage for additional information.

Will my child be required to wear a mask in the classroom? 

DDSB continues to follow the advice and recommendations of Durham Region Public Health to create a safe learning environment for all children. The DDSB supports families around their decision to send their child with or without a mask, and educators will support your child through this process. 

Is it a requirement for a child to be toilet-trained prior to starting Kindergarten?

Will families be called each time there is a toileting accident at the school?

The Kindergarten educator team will assist your child to the best of their ability, upholding the integrity of the child. Families may not be called every time their child has a toileting accident at school.

What will happen if families are late when picking up their child from school? 

Student safety is a priority at the DDSB. Students will not be released to anyone other than a designated parent/guardian/caregiver. If families are a few minutes late, the student will be brought to the main office to be supervised. 

What supports are there for children going to French Immersion?

French immersion at the DDSB does not begin until Grade 1. All families of Year 2 (Senior Kindergarten) students will be provided with the opportunity to indicate a desire to enroll in French Immersion for their child’s Grade 1 year. The program begins with immersion through to oral language. As your child learns and grows, the school team will provide a variety of supports and resources for your child to be successful in the program.

Additional information about the French Immersion program beginning in Grade 1 is available on this website. 

Are supports available for speech and language development? 

It is recommended that families speak directly to their school's administration team who will connect the family with the school's Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT). The SERT will have a detailed conversation with the family about their child, and the potential supports available.  A team of Speech-Language Pathologists will support Kindergarten educator teams with oral language development. In addition, Grandview Kids is the school-based rehabilitation services provider for the DDSB that will support speech therapy concerns. 

What supports are available for children whose first-language is not English? 

The DDSB is proud to be part of a highly diverse and culturally rich community. Many of the families within DDSB have a home language that is not English, and we encourage children to continue to learn and speak in their first language while at home. The DDSB has a number of strategies and supports for a student who may be learning English as a second language. Please speak with your home school and educator team to learn more about the supports that may be available for your child.

Are there any additional resources that can help me prepare my child for Kindergarten?

Please find additional resources for families, as well as ways to support your child’s transition, on the Ministry of Ontario’s website. In addition, please refer to the At Home Learning Package that was provided in your registration folder for additional tips and tricks to support you and your child.  Families can also visit any of our DDSB EarlyON child and family Hubs. These free programs provide opportunities for children 0-6 years of age and their caregivers to engage in fun learning activities together.