Preparing Young Explorers for a World of Infinite Possibilities!

Our early learning programs are designed for children who may benefit from extra support to foster their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development during these critical early years. Our goal is to ensure every child enters kindergarten confident, capable, and ready to succeed.

We welcome children ages 3–5 who may have speech and language delays, developmental needs, or other early learning challenges. Our approach combines high-quality classroom instruction with meaningful family engagement, so progress continues well beyond the school day.

Through our Head Start programs — both in and out of the classroom — and our comprehensive family support services, we ensure that every child, regardless of background or ability, has an equal opportunity to thrive. We serve families facing financial, social, and developmental challenges, providing a holistic approach that integrates early learning with health, nutrition, and family support to build a strong foundation for success.

Our Program Models Include:

Inclusive, Play-Based Learning

Our classrooms follow the Flight curriculum, fostering growth through play, exploration, and self-expression. Educators carefully observe each child, adapt learning experiences, and create personalized plans to support their unique strengths and needs.

We offer two program streams based on age:

• Explorers – For children turning 3 on or before December 31

• Discovery – For children turning 4 on or before December 31

Both streams focus on specific developmental goals that prepare children for kindergarten success.

Learn more about our Program Streams and outcomes here.

Specialized Support

Children and families have free access to our skilled interdisciplinary team, which includes:

• Certificated Teachers

• Education Assistants (Levels 2 & 3)

• Speech-Language Pathologists and Assistants

• Behavior Consultants

• Occupational Therapy support (consultant)

Family Support Services

Our Family Engagement Team offers parenting support, family groups, and one-on-one guidance to help families build resilience. Support can include food security assistance, financial literacy workshops, community connections, and more.

Learn more about the resources available to ABC families here.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

We also provide Learning Beyond the Classroom experiences — learning that happens outside the traditional classroom, either in the home or in the community.

We know a child’s learning journey is strongest when school and home are connected. By working alongside families, we can:

• Give parents practical strategies to support their child’s development in everyday routines

• Provide real-world opportunities for children to practice and apply new skills

• Identify additional ways our Family Engagement Team can support the family’s needs

Examples include:

• Teacher/parent/child sessions at home

• Library visits, nature walks, or cultural centre experiences

• Targeted support with a speech-language pathologist, behaviour consultant, or occupational therapist

For children in our Discovery program, Learning Beyond the Classroom is a required part of their learning experience and is built directly into the program plan. For children in our Explorers program, we also include a Learning Beyond the Classroom component, but the scope and format are determined based on each child’s needs. In all cases, sessions are intentionally planned by the certificated teacher — often in collaboration with our resource team — and are customized to support the goals in each child’s Individual Program Plan (IPP).

A child’s success in Learning Beyond the Classroom depends on strong family participation. When parents and caregivers actively engage in these sessions, children make greater progress and are better prepared for lifelong learning.