Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child really benefit from nursery school in the long term?
Absolutely! Read a recent article on the long term benefits of preschool and an article written by one of our own parents about her and her child's personal gains from attending our nursery school.
How old does my child have to be to begin at school?
We require that the children be at least 2.5 years old to attend the morning program. There are, however, two spots per program for underage children.
Does my child have to be potty trained to attend the school?
No, your child does not need to be potty trained. If your child is not potty-trained, they must wear a pull-up.
We have found that many of the children who start school wearing a pull-up are fully trained within a short time of starting nursery school. They seem to find visiting the washroom with the other children, at break time, quite motivating.
My child wasn't quite ready in September; can he/she start in January?
Yes, in fact, space permitting, your child can start anytime throughout the year.
How much involvement from parents is expected?
In the morning program, you can expect to have approximately 4 parent helper days throughout the year; in the afternoon program, due to smaller class size, you can expect to have 1 helper day each month or so.
In addition to your helper days, parents are expected to participate in both our Spring and Fall Mom to Mom sale fundraisers. Your participation can either be before the sale, as part of a planning committee, or on the day of the sale, by filling a shift in any number of a variety of positions. Parents do have the option to opt out of these mandatory fundraisers for a fee of $65/sale.
Parents are also expected to sign up for one other small job to help with the every day workings of the school. For a full list of these school duties, please see the Volunteer Duties List.
I work full time. Is there any way for my child and I to be part of a co-operative nursery school if I can’t do parent helper days?
Yes, duty days do not necessarily need to be performed by mothers. Dads, grandparents, and other childcare givers are welcome to fulfill the duty day commitments given that they have a valid police check.
Duty days can also be scheduled around what days work best for your family. If something comes up on your scheduled day, it is also possible to switch days with another parent.
If necessary, it is possible to arrange to opt of parent helper days at the beginning of the year for a fee. ($25 per helper day to be paid to the covering parent– note: you are still responsible to provide the snack )
Can I bring my other child with me on my parent helper days?
Only younger siblings that can be held in a carrier are permitted to come along to school on your duty days. Many of our students have younger siblings though, so often parents will help each other out by caring for each other’s younger children when duty days come around.
Is the nursery school associated with the United Church?
No, the nursery school simply happens to be located in the downstairs of the Almonte United Church. It is however, an independent, co-operative nursery school regulated by the Day Nurseries Act of Ontario.
How big are the class sizes?
The morning programs have a maximum class size of 20 students and are supervised by 2 teachers and 1 parent helper. The afternoon and Friday program have maximum class sizes of 12 students and are supervised by 1 teacher and 1 helping parent.
My child's language is not well developed yet. Although my child understands everything that is spoken to them, they do not readily use their own words in response. Is it necessary for them to talk?
Both of our teachers have years of experience that will help them decipher what your child is saying or help your child to find another way to express themselves
| 