Program Description
Oak Learners offers a unique Preschool Enrichment Program designed for children aged 2.5-4 years who will be starting Kindergarten in the following school year. Our Preschool Enrichment Program is NOT a daycare – but rather a purposeful “Kindergarten Readiness” program, designed to set young learners up for success as they begin their educational journey.
Our Preschool classroom operates 4-days per week, Monday through Thursday, from 9:00am through 12:00pm. This 3 hour program lays a strong foundation for a positive educational experience and a smooth transition to Kindergarten, fostering classroom skills and independence skills. Experienced educators spend time exploring literacy, numeracy, science, social language skills and so much more with children through a natural and inquiry-based program.
Program Fees & Dates
2025-2026 Academic Year Annual Enrollment Fees include a non-refundable Registration Fee, plus tuition fees that are based upon 151 instructional days from Sept 2nd 2025 – June 19th, 2026. Please submit an inquiry form below to receive a more detailed breakdown of Tuition Fees and payment schedules.
Program Skill Development
This program includes exploring skills within:
- Language: vocabulary, oral communication through songs, games and storytelling
- Literacy: phonics, writing skills through fine motor development, literature appreciation through storytelling
- Early math concepts, including numeracy and patterning.
- Self-Expression and Creativity through the arts.
- Building independence, self-awareness and confidence through daily routines and community-based programming.
- Cooperation and communication skills with peers
- Cognitive Skills – Memory games, science experiments, sequencing, books, musical instruments, songs and games, visit police and fire stations, fingerplays.
- Gross Motor Skills – Safe area for running, jumping, climbing, swinging, sliding, riding bikes, proper use of balls and bean bags, songs and games.
Small Classes
6:1 ratio in all classes, allowing for personalized and enriched learning opportunities.
Outdoor Education
At least 2hrs every day is spent learning outside in our community and natural surroundings.
Experiential Learning
Hands-on learning and site-based learning.
Arts-Enriched Curriculum
Enhanced learning through the Arts, including daily dance, music, movement, art and creative expression.
Learning Exceptionalities
Personalized instruction to support all learners, including Gifted, LD an Mental Health needs.
STEAM
Integrated learning through Science, Technology, Engineer, Arts and Math.
Preschool Curriculum
Integrated Literacy
Overview
Reading and Writing are taught in an integrated and immersive program, including building phonological awareness and phonics skills. Writing skills are built through fine motor development and literature appreciation through storytelling.
Skills Gained
Students in the Preschool Enrichment Program at Oak Learners will:
*Develop phonological awareness through songs, poems and hands-on learning activities
*Learn about the alphabet and begin to identify letters and sounds
*Learn in an environment which promotes re-telling stories and finding meaning in written text
*Use descriptive and social language to explain, explore and extend
Teaching Strategies
The Preschool Enrichment Program at Oak Learners is delivered by teachers who are passionate about experiential learning and the Reggio Emelia philosophy. We begin with the tenet that children are curious and capable and we design learning experiences for them that enrich their understanding of the world around them. Provocations are set up to provide co-learning, child-guided learning experiences.
Mathematics
Overview
Oak Learners strives to expand the 4 walls of a classroom, and encourages students to find patterns and number representation all around them. Our goal is to develop mathematical skills that can be used in meaningful ways through play and daily living.
Skills Gained
Students in the Preschool Enrichment Program at Oak Learners will:
*Count in order from 1-10, using their hands or concrete materials to introduce 1:1 correspondence when counting.
*Sequence, sort and classify varying materials
*Understand two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes
*Identify and extend patterns
Teaching Strategies
The teachers will focus on manipulatives and loose parts provided as a way to encourage natural learning experiences. Teachers will introduce mathematics as a fun and interactive notion. The goal is for the children to comprehend the application of mathematics in real life scenarios so that they can use their knowledge to make decisions on the strategies they can use. Provocations will be set up to be inviting and play based. Matching numbers to sets of objects is a large element of the mathematics curriculum as it is a bridge to other skills such as counting and identifying patterns.
S.T.E.M *Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Overview
The STEM program focuses on engaging all of our senses. The children will be collecting and organizing information through sorting, comparing and identification. The children can be introduced to 21st century sciences and technological developments. The goal is to engage them in theories that will be developed in later years of schooling.
Skills Gained
Technology is the future and although we cannot fully predict what the employment opportunities or challenges are that our students will face in the years to come, we can certainly prepare them to ask questions, engage in design challenges and think like innovators through an integrated approach. The most important skills that students will learn through engaging in STEM activities at Oak Learners are problem-solving, communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Through the encouragement to be comfortable with skills the children will need in upper years, kindergarten STEM is the foundational work, and instills confidence.
Teaching Strategies
Oak Learners encourages education in a fun and creative way. Exposure to sensory experiments not only improve dexterity and cognitive development but also ignites an excitement towards the sciences and maths aspects of school that the children will eventually be more involved with.
Arts
Overview
We believe that Arts Education plays a very important role in educating young learners. We make sure to integrate Art, Music, Drama and Dance throughout our days, throughout every subject area. The Arts brings learning to life and provides a context for deep emotional and social learning.
Skills Gained
In Visual Arts, students will gain skills in each of the five elements of art: line, colour, shape, form and texture and use these skills to create beautiful and functional art pieces that express creativity and individuality. In the Preschool program at Oak Learners, Art programs focus on Process Art rather than traditional Product-driven “crafts” and may include sculpting, collaging, and painting while using the natural environment as a source of art supplies. In Drama, students will work collaboratively to learn skills in performance and improvisation, with the incorporation of dance routines and techniques. In Music, students will learn theory and composition through consistent enjoyment of songs that include layers and different sound textures.
Teaching Strategies
In the Preschool program, the students are immersed in the Arts in a variety of ways. Students are provided with diverse instructions that allow them to use their creativity and become comfortable with their own ideas. Oak Learners urges the students to learn a variety of art forms and techniques and allows the students to be expressive in whatever way they would like.
Outdoor Education
Overview
Outdoor Education is the centre of everything we do at Oak Learners. Research has demonstrated that interacting with nature on a consistent basis is highly beneficial for the mental health and well-being of children and teenagers. In particular, the World Health Organization has found that children raised with exposure to green spaces are 55% less likely to develop mental health concerns, such as stress-related illnesses. Also, children have demonstrated improved concentration, increased productivity, better behaviour and more positive relationships amongst their peer group when frequently learning in an outdoor environment.
Skills Gained
Utilizing the outdoor classroom as the “third teacher”, students at Oak Learners have the opportunity develop skills in stewardship, navigation, observation and stewardship. Skills in other subject areas are not learned in isolation; rather, students see how they are used in the community to ask questions and devise plans to solve real-world problems.
Teaching Strategies
All subject areas can be taught in an outdoor environment; however, the learning involves interaction with the outdoors and using our natural world as an opportunity for deeper understanding. Through Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and the Arts, students gain knowledge about their role as stewards and take responsibility for their role in preserving their environment. In particular, students are given many opportunities to see ‘treasures’ and ‘troubles’ in their community and work towards devising solutions.
Student Project Showcase
Read about how our students hatched Ducklings in the spring of 2018 as part of an amazing Inquiry-based unit on animal life cycles and eco-systems. CLICK HERE for the whole story!
Inquire today to join an upcoming session!
Please include any questions you may have about our Preschool program, and a member of our admissions team will connect with you shortly to guide you through the next steps in the admission process.
