Q: Is subsidy available?

Yes. The government provides an Affordability Grant . You don’t need to apply — we handle all the paperwork and automatically apply it to your monthly invoices. Amounts are listed on our fee page, can be accessed from our information package

Q: Can you prove your results?

Absolutely — our parent reviews and success stories speak louder than words. Click here for parent reviews .

Q: What are the Illness Protocols?

We follow robust illness policies, detailed in our Parent Handbook .

Q: What happens if my child has to isolate at home?

- If just your child isolates: we provide a home learning package , lesson plans, and direct access to the teacher through our app. - If the class isolates: we switch to teacher-led virtual classes , paired with physical packages delivered to families. These interactive online lessons keep children engaged and learning.

Q: Which program will my child be in?

Program eligibility is based on age as of Dec 31 of the program year School year is Sep-Jun: - Discovery (Parented): Age 2, not yet ready for solo preschool. - Prep: Age 3. - Scholars/Kinder: Age 4+. - Afterschool Learning (coming soon): Grades 1–3. Children can start in September or later (based on availability). We also offer Summer Programs (Level UP!) in July–August.

Q: Do you offer a Full Day option?

No — our strength is part-time, structured education delivered by teachers (not daycare staff). A full-day academic program at this age would not be sustainable. Instead, we partner with daycares and dayhomes for transportation, offer extended PM care , and even run a Saturday program for maximum flexibility. View our Locations page for information about transportation/extended care options or nearby facilities that offer full-time care.

Question 1

Is subsidy available?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The government provides an Affordability Grant. You don’t need to apply — we handle all the paperwork and automatically apply it to your monthly invoices. Amounts are listed on our fee page, can be accessed from our information package

Question 2

Are the fees tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Because JumpStart is a licensed childcare facility, fees qualify as childcare expenses on your tax return (if eligible). See CRA details here: Child Care Expenses Deduction.

Question 3

Will my child be prepared for special entrance exams?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our curriculum covers everything included on Kindergarten entrance exams for programs like Cogito (Edmonton Public), Tempo, Aurora. or any other private/charter program.

Question 4

Can you prove your results?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — our parent reviews and success stories speak louder than words.

Click here for parent reviews.

Question 5

Can I see the classroom?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can book a tour before or after completing the registration process to secure a spot.

Book a tour through a Discovery Call with our admin team: Book Here.

Question 6

What are the Illness Protocols?

Accepted Answer

We follow robust illness policies, detailed in our Parent Handbook.

Question 7

What happens if my child has to isolate at home?

Accepted Answer

- If just your child isolates: we provide a home learning package, lesson plans, and direct access to the teacher through our app.
- If the class isolates: we switch to teacher-led virtual classes, paired with physical packages delivered to families. These interactive online lessons keep children engaged and learning.

Question 8

What are the available schedules?

Accepted Answer

Click here to view our program schedule

Question 9

Which program will my child be in?

Accepted Answer

Program eligibility is based on age as of Dec 31 of the program year

School year is Sep-Jun:

- Discovery (Parented): Age 2, not yet ready for solo preschool.

- Prep: Age 3.

- Scholars/Kinder: Age 4+.

- Afterschool Learning (coming soon): Grades 1–3.
Children can start in September or later (based on availability).

We also offer Summer Programs (Level UP!) in July–August.

Question 10

Do you offer a Full Day option?

Accepted Answer

No — our strength is part-time, structured education delivered by teachers (not daycare staff). A full-day academic program at this age would not be sustainable.
Instead, we partner with daycares and dayhomes for transportation, offer extended PM care, and even run a Saturday program for maximum flexibility.

View our Locations page for information about transportation/extended care options or nearby facilities that offer full-time care.

Question 11

Is JumpStart Montessori based?

Accepted Answer

Yes and No.

Parents beware, there is no real Montessori 'standard' to follow. A program labelled as Montessori can mean your children just play with toys all day, but meet the vague criteria listed below. It is up to parents to ensure that the program aligns with their goals for their children as well as their child's needs.

To answer this question more specifically, it helps first to know who or what Montessori is:

Montessori education is an educational approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori in 1897 based on her extensive research with "phrenasthenic" children and characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and social development. Although a range of practices exist under the name "Montessori", the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and the American Montessori Society (AMS) cite these elements as essential:

Mixed age classrooms, with classrooms for children ages 2½ or 3 to 6 years old are by far the most common
Student choice of activity from within a prescribed range of options
Uninterrupted blocks of work time, ideally three hours
A "discovery" model, where students learn concepts from working with materials, rather than by direct instruction
Specialized educational materials developed by Montessori and her collaborators
Freedom of movement within the classroom
A trained Montessori teacher

The JumpStart Program contains elements of Montessori but excludes others. The Montessori approach is 120 years old and there have been many advancements in research and methodology in regards to early childhood education. The public education curriculum has also evolved over time. Our goal is to prepare your child for their formal education, giving them the skills and abilities needed for success.

Our program includes best practices of many other approaches coming from the latest and most up to date research from universities and private researchers around the world. A major difference is that our classes are structured and sizes are kept small with children of similar age and development. A class of 30 students with varying ages definitely does not produce the desired goal of our program.

There are many other researchers that have either built upon or developed other approaches that work just as well or even better than the Montessori approach. We strive to constantly update our program to include the best approaches that work.

Our program combines all this research and incorporates the actual Alberta Education Curriculum into a comprehensive, high quality educational experience. We don't restrict ourselves to any one of way of providing Early Childhood Education.

Question 12

Is my child ready for the JumpStart Program?

Accepted Answer

- Discovery: Age 2+
- Prep: Age 3 by Dec 31
- Scholars: Age 4 by Dec 31
- Summer: Age 3+

There are some exceptions we can grant, contact us to evaluate your situation.

Question 13

When should I begin the Program?

Accepted Answer

The best time to start is the year your child turns 3 (Prep) or even earlier in Discovery (age 2). At this age, children’s brains are like sponges. With the right structured, fun environment, they learn rapidly, building confidence and a smooth transition into Kindergarten.

Question 14

What are the benefits of a Junior Kindergarten Class?

Accepted Answer

Junior Kindergarten gives children a chance to experience classroom routines, expectations, and peer socialization before entering Kindergarten. This reduces overwhelm, builds confidence, and helps them thrive academically and socially in Grade 1

Question 15

Why choose JumpStart?

Accepted Answer

JumpStart’s program is unique because it combines:
- A structured curriculum aligned with Alberta Kindergarten outcomes.
- Small class sizes (12–14) with 2 educators.
- Experienced leadership (our Director has a Master’s in Education and 20+ years with Edmonton Public Schools).
- A proven track record of preparing children for success in any stream — traditional, Cogito, or otherwise.

Question 16

Will JumpStart prepare my child for the Cogito Program?

Accepted Answer

The Cogito Program is the fastest growing program in the Edmonton Public School system. It requires your child to pass an entrance exam before they are accepted into the program. Everything on the Kindergarten exam is part of the JumpStart curriculum. 100% of our students who applied for the program have been accepted.

Cogito is just another approach to learning, it may or may not be best suited for your child's individual learning style. We do not promote one program over another. Contact us to set up a consultation and we can provide you with more in-depth information.

Question 17

What are your class sizes and ratios?

Accepted Answer

Unlike Kindergarten classes of 20–30 children, our classes are capped at 12–14 students with 2 educators. This means more one-on-one attention, individualized instruction, and fewer distractions — a huge difference in quality

Question 18

How much are the fees?

Accepted Answer

Tuition varies by location and frequency. Request our info package here: Info Package. Fees are offset by government grants/subsidies, plus families receive progress reports, small class ratios, and a curriculum aligned with Alberta standards — making it excellent value for money.

Question 19

Are parents required to volunteer?

Accepted Answer

No. Many preschools rely on parent volunteers to meet ratios. At JumpStart, we are fully staffed with trained educators. Volunteering is optional and opportunities are shared in monthly newsletters.

Question 20

How will my child's progress be reported to me?

Accepted Answer

Parents receive 4 progress reports per year, based on Kindergarten outcomes. Reports show mastered skills, goals, and suggestions for home. We also keep portfolios of work, photos, and artwork — yours to keep at graduation.

Question 21

Do parents need to commit time outside the program?

Accepted Answer

No mandatory commitments. We encourage reinforcement at home, but our structured curriculum and reporting make it clear what skills your child is developing.

Question 22

What are the differences between the Scholars I, II, III, and V?

Accepted Answer

See our program descriptions here

All Scholars tiers follow the same curriculum; the difference is frequency:
- Foundations (1 day): Gentle start, flexible option.
- Core (2 days): Builds steady routine with consistent practice.
- Enriched (3 days): Most popular; stronger routines, more depth, 2 field trips.
- Elite (5 days): Ultimate Kinder experience; daily mastery, more one-on-one time, 4 field trips.
👉 More days = stronger routines, quicker progress, and smoother transitions to full-time Kindergarten

Question 23

Do you provide snacks?

Accepted Answer

No. Parents supply snacks (10–15 minutes allocated daily). Guidelines are in the Parent Handbook.

Question 24

Is there outdoor play time?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer outdoor playtime. Students do go outside for curriculum related purposes like a nature walk or science experiment. Our program is only part-time and we concentrate on our core competencies. The students have the rest of the day to develop their gross motor skills in other activities!

Question 25

How will you support my child if we speak another language at home?

Accepted Answer

This program is perfect for these types of students and is very highly recommended.

Research has found that when children are first exposed to an English speaking classroom, they go through a silent phase where they just observe. This phase can last anywhere from a few days to a few months depending on their level of comfort. By enrolling your child in JumpStart, he/she will be exposed to a small intimate English-speaking classroom environment. This exposure will provide him/her with the opportunity to feel comfortable in a shorter amount of time. This will aid your child to learn key English words at a quicker pace, providing a smoother transition into the Kindergarten classroom and school environment. Please note that continuing to speak the native language at home is highly recommend as your child learns English at school. Research suggests maintaining your native language in the home as children have the ability to learn many languages fluently in the early years of their education.

Please call or email us and we can discuss the best approach for your child in more detail.

Question 26

Do you run Summer Programs?

Accepted Answer

Yes — our Level UP! Summer Programs keep children learning and growing:
- School Readiness (6 weeks): Cumulative, structured prep for PreK–Grade 1.
- Weekly Themes (flexible): Fun, engaging themes that build literacy, numeracy, and social skills without long-term commitment. Both balance learning and summer fun.

Preschool in Ambleside |
Edmonton

Ideal for families who don’t need daycare — just high-quality, part-time early learning.
Also, a great for daycare families who want structured learning alongside daycare.

About this location

Take a virtual tour of this location

Need full time care and/or transportation?

WELC Daycare

Ambleside Daycare

Pickup & Dropoff Times

Frequently Asked Questions

Call 587-524-1065

Preschool in Ambleside |Edmonton

Ideal for families who don’t need daycare — just high-quality, part-time early learning. Also, a great for daycare families who want structured learning alongside daycare.