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Education Series
A free, 6-month program that prepares autistic children for kindergarten, delivered by licensed clinicians before school starts. Here is what it covers, who qualifies, and how to access it.
Entry to School prepares autistic children for kindergarten, a program too few families know exists.
Registered
91,97491,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information
Funded
20,71120,711Have active funding
Only 22.5% of registered children
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information
Without active agreement
71,26371,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information
Verified , MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
Entry to School is an OAP Core Clinical Service funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS). It is delivered before your child starts school by a community-based organization contracted through the OAP, not by the school board.
The program runs for approximately 6 months and combines group and individual therapy sessions. Clinicians, including behaviour therapists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists, work with your child on the specific skills they will need to participate successfully in a classroom setting.
At the end of the program, the provider holds a school transition meeting with the school team. Recommendations from the program feed into your child's IEP and help the school prepare appropriate supports before the first day.
There is no cost to families. Entry to School is fully funded through the OAP and is separate from, and does not replace, any supports the school board is required to provide under the Education Act.
If your child is not already registered with the Ontario Autism Program, start at AccessOAP. Registration is required before any OAP services, including Entry to School, can be accessed.
Contact your OAP intake coordinator and explicitly request a referral to the Entry to School program. Do not wait to be offered it, ask directly. The earlier you ask, the better your chances of securing a spot before school entry.
Your assigned community provider will contact your family to begin intake. This includes an assessment of your child's current skills and collaborative goal-setting to tailor the program to your child's specific school readiness needs.
The 6-month program is delivered, group sessions, individual therapy, and family coaching. Before your child's school start date, the provider holds a transition meeting with the school team. Clinical recommendations are documented and fed into the IEP process.
One of the most common misunderstandings families encounter: thinking Entry to School replaces, or conflicts with, school-based supports. It does not. They are funded by different ministries, governed by different legislation, and your child is entitled to both.
Your child is entitled to both systems. They are complementary, not either/or.
If anyone tells you that Entry to School means the school board does not need to provide EA support or IEP accommodations, that is incorrect. The school board's obligations under the Education Act and the Human Rights Code exist independently of any OAP programming your child receives.
Entry to School is time-limited. When the 6 months conclude, families often wonder what comes next. Here is what to expect and what to actively pursue.
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Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
VerifiedSchools may assign EAs based on IEP needs, but 47% of families report insufficient supports. EA availability varies by board and often fails to match clinical needs, leaving many autistic students without necessary classroom support.
Source: Ontario Education Act & OAC · Open source record
How does special education work in Ontario schools?
VerifiedOntario's Education Act guarantees special education programs and services to students with exceptional needs. [Education Act] Autistic students are typically identified under Communication - Autism or Multiple Exceptionalities categories, which trigger legal obligations for accommodations and support planning.
Source: Ontario Education Act · Open source record
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Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)
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