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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.
Ontario Autism Program guidelines for Core Clinical Services and supports · Verified 2026-08-10
Waitlist figures as of · reviewed
Sources: FAO Report 2023-24 (Financial Accountability Office of Ontario) · 2026 Ontario Budget (tabled March 26, 2026) · CBC News FOI investigation — bi-weekly OAP progress reports, Jun 2024 – Jan 2026, published Mar 30, 2026 (Nicole Brockbank & Angelina King) · MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports, Dec 10, 2025 – Mar 4, 2026, obtained under Freedom of Information (release CSS2026-0749) · MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition and published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026 (ontarioautismcoalition.com)
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.
Source: Ontario Autism Program guidelines for Core Clinical Services and supports. Verified 2026-08-10.
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.
| Area | Entry to School (MCCSS / OAP) | IEP, EA, and PPM 140 ABA (Ministry of Education) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding | Funded by MCCSS through the Ontario Autism Program | Funded by the Ministry of Education through the Special Education Grant | Ontario Autism Program guidelines; Ministry of Education |
| Delivery | Delivered by a community-based clinical provider | Delivered by the school board (teachers, EAs, school-based clinicians) | Ontario Autism Program guidelines; Ministry of Education |
| Focus | Clinical therapy, not education programming | Education programming and accommodation, not clinical therapy | Ontario Autism Program guidelines; Ministry of Education |
| Timing | Runs before school starts, approximately 6 months | Ongoing throughout your child's school career | Ontario Autism Program guidelines; Ministry of Education |
| Record | Ends with a school transition meeting and recommendations | Documented in the IEP and reviewed annually | Ontario Autism Program guidelines; Ministry of Education |
| Legislation | Governed by the Child, Youth and Family Services Act | Governed by the Education Act and Ontario Human Rights Code | Child, Youth and Family Services Act; Education Act; Ontario Human Rights Code |
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.
Ready to take the next step? Learn how other families have successfully advocated for their children.
Guides and tools related to this page.
Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
School boards may assign educational assistants (EAs) to autistic students based on needs identified through the IEP process. How EAs are allocated varies by board and school, so ask the principal how support is assigned for your child.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education — special education · Open source record
How does special education work in Ontario schools?
Ontario'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
Sources on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Under Ontario Regulation 181/98, an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) can place a student in a special education program. Once that placement starts, the principal has 30 school days to make sure an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is completed. Ministry policy (PPM 140) also lets boards write IEPs for students who have not been formally identified by an IPRC
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Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system