Somewhere around your child’s third birthday, the question starts coming from every direction: grandparents, neighbours, other parents at the park. Where is she going for JK? If you are not sure how kindergarten works in Ontario, when to register, or how to compare a public school with a private one, you are not alone. This guide walks through the whole picture for Ottawa families, in plain language.
How Kindergarten Works in Ontario
Ontario kindergarten is a two-year program. Junior Kindergarten (JK) starts in September of the year your child turns four, and Senior Kindergarten (SK) follows the next year, the year they turn five. The cutoff is December 31: a child born anytime in 2023 starts JK in September 2027, whether their birthday is in January or December. That means some children start JK at three and a half while others are nearly five, which is completely normal.
Kindergarten is not mandatory in Ontario. Compulsory school attendance begins at age six, so families can choose whether, and where, their child attends JK and SK. In practice, most Ottawa children do attend, and the two kindergarten years are where many of the habits that carry a child through school are formed.
Your Options in Ottawa
Public and Catholic boards. Ottawa has four publicly funded school boards: the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (English public), the Ottawa Catholic School Board (English Catholic), and two French-language boards, CEPEO (public) and CECCE (Catholic). English boards offer full-day kindergarten at your designated neighbourhood school, based on your home address. French-language boards have their own admission criteria, so check eligibility directly with them.
Private schools. Private options include Montessori schools, independent schools, and faith-based schools, including Islamic schools. They charge tuition, set their own admissions timelines, and can offer things a large public classroom often cannot: smaller groups, a specific teaching approach, or a curriculum built around a family’s faith and language. If you are weighing Islamic options specifically, our guide to Islamic schools in Ottawa maps the full landscape.
When to Register
Ottawa’s public and Catholic boards usually open kindergarten registration in the winter for the following September. Exact dates change each year, so check your board’s website in the fall and have your child’s birth certificate or passport, proof of address, and immunization record ready. Private schools set their own timelines and many have limited spaces, so families considering a private kindergarten should start touring in the fall. A simple timeline that works for most families:
- Fall: research options, read reviews, and book tours.
- Winter: register with your public board and submit private school applications.
- Spring: confirm your choice and complete any enrolment paperwork or deposits.
- Summer: practise routines at home: packing a lunch, using the washroom independently, and short separations.
What Actually Matters at Age Four
It is easy to compare schools on reputation or proximity alone. At four, a few things matter more than anything on a brochure: how many children each adult is responsible for, whether learning is hands-on and play-based rather than worksheet-driven, how the school handles the first weeks of separation, how teachers guide behaviour, and whether the environment reflects your family’s values and language. Ask every school the same questions on your tour: What are the real class sizes this year? What does a typical morning look like? How will I hear about my child’s day? What happens when a child is upset at drop-off?
It also helps to know what a school day looks like hour by hour. Ours is laid out in a day at QAF, from drop-off to pick-up.
Signs Your Child Is Ready
Readiness for JK is less about academics and more about independence. Most children are ready when they can use the washroom with minimal help, follow a simple two-step instruction, separate from a parent for a few hours, and tolerate a predictable daily routine. If your child is still working on some of these in the spring, that is normal; a good kindergarten is designed to grow these skills, not to demand them on day one.
Where QAF Fits
QAF School is an Islamic Junior and Senior Kindergarten for ages 4 and 5 at 900 Dynes Rd in Ottawa. Our JK/SK program is aligned with Ontario’s Kindergarten Program and combines Montessori-inspired, hands-on learning with daily Arabic immersion, Quran, and Islamic Studies. The school day runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Tuition is $690 per month over ten months plus a $190 annual resource fee, with a sibling discount; every fee is broken down in our fees guide. We accept applications year-round, and because our program is small, families who apply early get priority. Children leave QAF ready for Grade 1 at any Ontario school, as we explain in how QAF prepares children for Grade 1.
Choosing a kindergarten for September 2027? Submit an inquiry and we’ll invite you to see a QAF classroom in session.
