Time really does fly by, doesn’t it? One minute your child is in nursery school, and in the blink of an eye they’re going through their very first graduation ceremony. And then the festivities die down, you head home, and a whole new challenge starts.
Finding a kindergarten. If you’re lucky, your nursery school might already have a kindergarten program. If not, then think of it this way: it’s a chance to give your kid a new environment and a change of pace.
Of course, there’s plenty of kindergartens in Calgary, but which one’s the best? Well, my family and I decided to take a look at exactly that as my nieces and nephews finish nursery soon, and here were some of our favorites.
How much does it cost to enroll a child into kindergarten in Calgary?
Enrolling your child into a dedicated kindergarten in Calgary can cost anywhere from $185 to $500 a month, depending on additional fees such as lunch costs and uniforms along with the schedule of classes.
Table of Contents
1. Right Start Daycare
Address: 332 41 Ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 2N3
Contact Details: +1 403 460 7376, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
As any parent would know, a reliable preschool and kindergarten can be crucial to giving your child a good start to their education. With that in mind, we wanted to see if the Right Start Daycare lived up to its name!
On our visit, the kindergarten got off to a good start with us with their communication. They were quick to respond shortly after we reached out, letting us know of their available times to tour and meet with the team!
Another factor we noted was the facilities. We found their dedicated learning and play spaces to be clean and well-maintained, and children were given ample time to engage with these throughout the day.
Finally, we were also pleased to hear about the team’s proactivity with communicating to parents. Parents reportedly received regular updates with photos throughout the day, keeping them looped into how their child was doing while in class.
On that note, we do have to note that we observed a strict time limit at the school for picking up their children. We find that this can be difficult for parents with long work schedules or other obligations.
We are so happy with the care that she receives here
“Our daughter has attended for over a year now and we are so happy with the care that she receives here. The teachers are kind, patient, and our daughter loves them! She is excited at drop off and comes home happy every day. We love the photo updates throughout the day and appreciate the regular communication from the staff/owner. We’re very grateful for this amazing team and highly recommend this daycare.”
– Ms. Patricia S., Google Review
Outstanding communication and transparency
“We have had an excellent experience at Right Start Daycare. They have outstanding communication and transparency. We can feel that the staff are caring and loving. The environment they create allows the kids to grow, learn, and play effectively. Their meals are varied, nurturing, and fresh. Not only will we miss Right Start Daycare but we would 100% recommend them to any parent. 5 stars Right Start!”
– Mr. Rob Cormier, Google Review
2. CEFA Early Years School
Address: 9625 Macleod Trl SW, Calgary, AB T2J 0P6
Contact Details: +1 403 217 9675, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Students can benefit from having a focused learning space, no matter the age. With this in mind, we sought out private kindergarten options for families looking into that and came up with the CEFA Early Years School!
Even before our visit, we got in touch with the team and were pleased with the communication! They readily gave us information about their programs and class availability, letting us know of their enrollment process and more.
We couldn’t resist a visit after that, and we weren’t disappointed. Upon observing a few classes, we noticed the faculty conducting a wide variety of activities for every subject. These included indoor and outdoor play along with standard lessons.
On top of that, we appreciated how the faculty also saw to the needs of each child during and even between lessons. We found this handy for keeping the kids engaged and actively participating, which is always a plus.
That being said, we did get a chance to look at their pricing. As a private kindergarten, we found their enrollment fees to be on the pricer side, so we’d advise booking a tour to see whether their learning style and environment matches your child’s
So lucky to have found such a wonderful place
“We couldn’t be happier with the care our son receives at CEFA – Calgary South! Ms. Luisa, Ms. Laura and all of the other teachers and staff are incredibly kind, patient, and attentive. The activities are so fun and educational, and include a lot of outdoor play time, which is important to us. It’s clear that his teachers truly love what they do and we feel so lucky to have found such a wonderful place for him!”
– Ms. Becky Moen, Google Review
I love that the curriculum keeps them engaged
“Amazing school with attentive and truly loving staff for my two children. Ms. Luisa & Ms. Laura have made my son feel so at home in their classroom, and always send such personal mementos home with him.. I really know they care. And my daughter always lists her teachers, Ms. Callie & Ms. Nicole, at the top of her list of friends. I love that the curriculum keeps them engaged in an array of activities that has fostered an excitement towards learning. It’s so heartwarming and such a relief to be able to drop my children off and know they’re in good hands. Thank you guys for all that you do.”
– Ms. Chelsea Hernandez, Google Review
3. Happy Souls Playschool
Address: 3400 14 St NW unit # 101 and #209, Calgary, AB T2K 1H9
Contact Details: +1 825 438 5352, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
What’s a part of school that always gets kids going? If your answer is field trips or camps, then the Happy Souls Playschool might just be up your alley. We discovered this spot through one of their camps, so we wanted to see more for ourselves!
One factor that immediately caught our attention was the scheduling. The Happy Souls Playschool offered regular kindergarten programs as well as before and after school care, which we find handy for kids needing extra tutoring or play time.
Of course, on our visit we also took the chance to ask about their activities. The team readily let us know of their camps and enhanced kindergarten programs, folding in extra engaging activities like supervised science labs!
And finally, we especially appreciated their transportation services! Kids could be safely transported from the school to various spots as needed, and it’s definitely a plus in our book for parents without transportation options of their own.
One thing we did want some clarification on was the enrollment fees, however. We faced a bit of a wait upon reaching out to ask about their fees, and we found the breakdown of fees a little unclear for the price.
Safe, warm and welcoming place with excellent staff
“We’ve been lucky to have our oldest daughter here for three years and my youngest is joining her next year. In terms of what we wanted for before and after care, it ticks all of the boxes. Happy Souls is a safe, warm and welcoming place with excellent staff. My oldest just loves it and is always full of stories about what she does after school and all the fun things they have planned ahead. We are delighted to have found ourselves here and feel very fortunate that our kids are so well cared for. Highly recommend.”
– Ms. Holly Bird, Google Review
Has been nothing short of top notch
“This is the second year our son has attended Happy Souls before and after school care. To be plain, we are extremely pleased. The care and attention our son has received has been nothing short of top notch. Whenever we drop him off at Happy Souls, he is always enthusiastic and excited about seeing his friends and participating in the day’s activities. And when we pick him up, we’ve gotten hear all about the fun things he did that day. It is evident the staff put a lot of time into planning activities that are fun, engaging and educational, while striving to create an environment where each child can flourish. The staff are friendly, communicative, and professional in every respect. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have our son in their care before and after his elementary school. We would highly recommend them to anyone!”
– Ms. Libertee Muzyka, Google Review
4. Foothills Alliance Preschool & Kindergarten
Address: 333 Edgepark Blvd NW, Calgary, AB T3A 4K4
Contact Details: +1 403 547 2193, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Kindergarten is a necessary step towards elementary school, so we wanted to find one known for academic prep. Fortunately, our search turned up the Foothills Alliance Preschool & Kindergarten!
The first thing we noticed at Foothills Alliance was the pricing! Their registration fees per month were clearly outlined both on their website and were provided to us when we reached out, making for easier budgeting.
This clarity extended to the rest of their communication, especially regarding the scheduling. The team was ready to show us their schedule both for enrollment and for classes, letting us know of their rescheduling process as well.
Finally, we got to see their curriculum. We were pleased to find a wide variety of lessons and subjects included to help students get ready for their foray into first grade, with tutoring and extra classes also available.
If you’re planning to enroll here, we would recommend contacting them early to check their class availability. The team took some time confirming which classes, grade levels and how many slots were available.
The entire team is absolutely wonderful
“Wonderful school especially if your little one is having some challenges. Our son was a PUF student and their team was absolutely wonderful. They do offer some extra classes (for free when you are PUF) to help your kid reach their full potential. The entire team is absolutely wonderful. A big thank you to Janet who is in charge of the Solid Foundations program!”
– Ms. Lisa Pouet, Google Review
Children become well prepared for grade one and beyond
“My daughter attended preschool, and currently attends Jr. Kindergarten at Foothills School. She is also registered for Kindergarten there in the fall as well. It is an excellent school that makes learning fun! My daughter loves going there. The teachers are amazing and the activities are so hands on and fun. Children become well prepared for grade one and beyond at Foothills Alliance School. I would highly recommend it!”
– Ms. Carrie Braun, Google Review
5. Step By Step Montessori Preschool
Address: 129 Aspen Stone Pl SW, Calgary, AB T3H 0H4
Contact Details: +1 403 615 9059, [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
The Montessori style of education is a favorite, and is even applicable as early as kindergarten! With that in mind, we were pleased to find that Calgary had Step By Step Montessori as an readily available option.
When we reached out to the team, we immediately took notice of their scheduling. We found this particularly flexible, allowing parents to arrange morning or afternoon classes depending on what’s convenient for their schedule.
Of course, we couldn’t resist looking into the classes themselves. We weren’t disappointed by what we saw! The faculty was able to pay ample attention to each student in their class, helping address each one’s academic needs.
This attention also came through in the monthly feedback and progress reports provided by the faculty! These were reportedly rather thorough, helping parents keep track of their child’s academic performance and how they were getting on in class.
Keeping that in mind, we did note that their class sizes were on the smaller side. Their class sizes only went up to six per teacher, which did limit the slots and made it a bit tricky to obtain a slot for your child.
I really appreciate the monthly feedback
“I highly recommend Mrs Maria. Our son learned so much in just a few months. She is a very caring Teacher and very hands-on with her students. I really appreciate the monthly feedback she provides to her students. She takes the time to address each student learning needs and create a level of instruction for their individual improvement, behaviour, and the overall progress of the class, which helped create a supportive and growth-focused learning environment.”
– Mr. Dyan D., Google Review
Mrs. Maria truly cares about her students
“Having two older children who attended other preschools, Step by Step, was an entire different experience. Mrs. Maria offers a low teacher to student ratio and focuses on supporting the learning of the individual child. My child developed a significant amount both academically and socially/emotionally while attending preschool with Mrs. Maria at Step by Step Montessori. Mrs. Maria’s classes are structured, organized, include well thought out challenging yet age appropriate curriculum, and fun. My child loved going to class. Mrs. Maria truly cares about her students and their growth.”
– Ms. Paula Elgar, Google Review
