entry to-school
OAP Category
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Free (OAP-funded)
Cost to Families
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
moderate
Evidence Level
WHO Standards for Autism Intervention
5+ years
OAP Wait Time
OAP bi-weekly progress report (Jan 7, 2026) obtained via FOI by CBC News
OAP-funded program for children aged 3-6 entering school for the first time. Provides group-based instruction to build school-readiness skills including communication, social interaction, and classroom routines. While Entry to School Program is considered highly effective, especially during the critical window of ages 3-6, before or during first school entry, families depending on the Ontario Autism Program face a severe bottleneck. Currently, 76.6% of registered children are waiting to access core services like Entry to School Program.
Entry to School Program is a government-funded OAP service. There is no cost to families. Your child must be registered with the Ontario Autism Program to access this service. Contact your AccessOAP service coordinator to confirm eligibility and availability in your region.
Related Resources
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
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement