Get Ready for School

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The application for the 2026 Get Ready for School™ program is now closed.

For the list of current programs and program sites, please view the program schedule.

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Applications for the 2027 Get Ready for School™ program will open on November 2, 2026. Please visit our website in October for the latest updates.

The program, starting in January or February 2027, is available to children born in 2023 who reside in neighbourhoods where our programs are offered.

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Get Ready for School™ program

Get Ready for School™ is a free program offered in partnership with local community centres. Designed for children aged 3 to 4, the program features 44 two-hour sessions delivered by trained Instructors and Volunteers. Classes run from January or February until June, just before children begin Junior Kindergarten. Developed by Dr. Iuliana Baciu, this research-informed program is especially helpful for children learning English as an additional language, as well as for families with low to moderate incomes.

The program is designed to support children in developing important early literacy skills. It specifically aims to build vocabulary, enhance understanding of letter sounds, and foster positive classroom learning behaviours—key foundations that help children get ready for their formal schooling.

The program also offers guidance and support to parents, helping them better assist their child’s learning at home. Throughout the program, parents are invited to attend information sessions where they learn about the program and receive practical tips on how to reinforce the skills their children are developing. Parents are kept up to date through regular newsletters, and children receive learning materials to take home so they can practise these skills with their families.

For more information on this program, please contact Program Manager, Kirsten Carr, and Assistant Program Co-ordinator, Caroline Stamp, by e-mailing grfs@strongstart.ca. Please see Our People page for individual team member contact information.