Education Guide
EducationAge 4 (Junior Kindergarten) or age 5 (Senior Kindergarten)
Kindergarten start age in Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Education
All Ontario public schools since 2014
Full-day kindergarten available
Ontario Ministry of Education
Must be developed within 30 school days of placement
IEP timeline after identification
Ontario Ministry of Education, Special Education Policy
Schools must accommodate to the point of undue hardship
Duty to accommodate
Ontario Human Rights Code
Begin transition planning at least six months before school starts. Contact the school to arrange a meeting with the principal and kindergarten team. Share your child's diagnostic assessment, therapy reports, and any relevant information about their strengths and needs. Ask about the school's experience with autistic students, available supports (Educational Assistants, resource teachers), and what the kindergarten day looks like.
If your child is receiving early intervention services (OAP, EarlyON, daycare support), ask your service providers to prepare a transition summary document. Many therapists are willing to participate in transition meetings with the school. Early communication sets the tone for a collaborative relationship.
Preparation should be gradual and tailored to your child's communication and comprehension level. Use social stories about going to school, visual schedules of a typical school day, visits to the school during quiet times to familiarize your child with the environment, and practice with school routines like using a cubby, sitting in circle time, and eating in a cafeteria.
Work with your child's therapists to target kindergarten readiness skills: following group instructions, transitioning between activities, toileting independently (if possible), managing personal belongings, and basic social greetings. Not all of these skills need to be mastered before school starts — schools are expected to support ongoing development.
Request an IEP or equivalent support plan before school starts or within the first weeks. The IEP should address communication supports (visual schedules, AAC devices, PECS), sensory accommodations, transition supports between activities, behaviour strategies, and safety considerations. Ask about the process for requesting an Educational Assistant if needed.
Establish a communication system with the school team — daily communication books, email updates, or brief phone calls at a frequency that works for both parties. The first weeks are an adjustment for everyone. Clear communication prevents small issues from becoming big ones and builds trust between home and school.
Ontario Ministry of Education
The Kindergarten Program (2016) and transition planning resources (ontario.ca/education)
Ontario Ministry of Education
Special Education in Ontario: Policy and Resource Guide — early identification and transition
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Verified Facts
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)
88,175 — children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50 — According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
US$2.4M — Lifetime support costs for autism with co-occurring intellectual disability can reach US$2.4 million per person (Buescher et al.)
23.4% — Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four