For families
Starting preschool, and the everyday details.
What the first weeks look like, what goes in the backpack, how snack and allergies work, and how you will hear about your child's mornings.
The first weeks
A slow start makes for a happier year.
Every child settles at their own pace. We start in small groups with short mornings, so the room is calm and teachers have time for each new child.
Week one
Two short mornings of about an hour, in groups of five or six. A parent or caregiver stays the first time and sits near the door the second.
Week two
Full mornings on your child's usual days. A short, warm goodbye at the gate works best; we phone you if a child can't settle.
Weeks three and four
Most children know the order of the morning by now. Some take longer, and that is normal. We'll talk it through with you at pickup.
What to bring
Label everything. Then label it again.
Sixteen small coats look the same on the hooks. A name on every item saves a lot of searching at pickup.
- A backpack your child can open and close alone
- A full change of clothes in a labelled bag
- Indoor shoes that slip on without help
- A refillable water bottle
- Rain boots and a rain suit, kept at school
- Snow pants, mitts and a warm hat in winter
- A sun hat in September, May and June
- A small comfort object for the first weeks, if it helps
Snack and allergies
One shared snack, made safe for everyone.
We serve snack at 10:00 each morning: fresh fruit or vegetables, something like crackers, toast or oat bites, and cheese or yogurt, with water to drink. The week's snack is posted by the door. Please send nothing else to eat.
The classroom is nut-free. Tell us about any allergy or food rule on the registration form and again at your visit, and we will write a care plan with you. A child's epinephrine auto-injector stays in a labelled bag that goes outside with the group.
Toilet training
Children don't need to be fully toilet trained to start with us.
Many three-year-olds are still learning. Pull-ups are fine in the 3s. Teachers take children to the bathroom at set times, help calmly with accidents and follow the words and routine you use at home. Just keep a full change of clothes in the backpack.
Staying in touch
How we share news
Small children rarely answer “What did you do today?” So we tell you.
- At the gate, daily
- A few words at pickup about how the morning went, especially in the first weeks.
- Friday note
- A short email each Friday: what the room was busy with, a few photos of the work and the garden, and what is coming next week.
- November and April
- Family conversations, about twenty minutes, on how your child is growing and settling.
- Any weekday
- Phone after 12:30 or email any time. We answer within the working day.
Questions families ask
Do you offer afternoons, full days or summer care?
No. We run mornings only, September to June. Licensed child care centres in Guelph offer full days, and we are glad to share the list we keep.
Is Fernhollow a Montessori school?
No. We are Montessori-inspired: we use some Montessori materials and habits alongside free play and lots of outdoor time. Our approach page explains more.
Can my child start partway through the year?
Yes, if there is a place. Children can start in any month from September to June, and the fee starts in the month they begin.
What if my child cries at drop-off?
It happens, and it usually passes within a few minutes of a parent leaving. We stay close, offer a familiar job like watering or pouring, and phone you if your child can't settle.
When do you stay inside?
For thunder and lightning, freezing rain, or a wind chill below −20. Otherwise we go out, so dress your child for the weather.
Where do we park at drop-off?
There are short-stop spaces along Larkspur Lane. Please walk your child to the garden gate rather than dropping them at the curb.