Entry to School Program

Who we support

The Entry to School Program is for Ontario families of children with autism who:

• Are entering kindergarten or Grade 1 for the first time
• Are registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
• Have received an invitation to participate

What your child will learn

The goal of this program is to help children feel ready, capable, and excited about school.

Through play-based, group learning, children build skills that support a positive start to school, including:

Following routines and classroom schedules

• Participating in group activities
• Building early communication and social skills
• Practising independence (e.g., transitions, following instructions)
• Developing confidence in new environments

Program Phases

• Group-Based Learning (Before School Starts)

Children take part in a six-month school readiness group program focused on building foundational skills for learning and participation in a classroom setting.

Families are supported alongside their child and gain tools to reinforce learning at home.

• Transition Support (Once School Begins)

As your child starts school, support continues through:

• Coordinated transition planning
• Consultation and collaboration with families and providers
• Ongoing support during the first six months of school

This ensures skills learned in the program carry over into the classroom.

Smooth the transition to their first year of school

Our Entry to School Program helps children with autism build school-readiness skills before starting kindergarten or Grade 1. Parents, caregivers and children also receive ongoing support during the first months in the classroom—so no one faces the transition alone.

This program is offered at six agencies in many locations across Toronto. During intake, you will choose your preferred location, service in English or French, school board, semester start date and time of day (all depending on availability).