Our Program

At A Special Kind of Play Nursery School, our program is thoughtfully designed for children ages 2 to 5 in a mixed-age group setting. This approach reflects real life — where children learn from one another, grow together, and develop skills naturally through everyday interactions.

Our days are rooted in play, supported by structure, and guided by caring educators who create intentional environments where children feel confident to explore, participate, and grow.

Our mixed-age classrooms are one of the greatest strengths of our program.

In this setting:

• Older children naturally step into leadership roles, practicing responsibility, communication, and confidence
• Younger children learn by observing and modeling, gaining comfort and skills from those around them
• Children develop empathy, patience, and cooperation
• Learning feels natural, social, and meaningful

This creates a strong sense of community and allows children to grow at their own pace, supported by peers as well as teachers.

Our program is structured, play-based, and child-directed.

Children are free to choose, explore, and engage in ways that feel meaningful to them. At the same time, our educators intentionally design the environment, routines, and experiences so children are gently guided toward important life skills.

Teachers play an active role by:

• Setting up purposeful play invitations
• Guiding group moments like circle time
• Supporting social interactions
• Modelling language and behaviour
• Helping children navigate emotions
• Encouraging independence and focus

Play is never random — it is intentional, thoughtful, and responsive to the children in the room.

Rooted in the Ministry of Education’s framework How Does Learning Happen, our program is built on four foundational pillars:

• Belonging
• Well-Being
• Engagement
• Expression

We create safe spaces where children can thrive emotionally, socially, and cognitively — with structured routines that foster independence, freedom to explore, and activities that spark wonder.

Through daily routines and play experiences, children naturally build skills such as:

• Independence (tidying up, self-help skills, making choices)
• Attention and focus during activities and group time
• Emotional awareness and self-regulation
• Communication and social interaction
• Patience, turn-taking, and cooperation
• Confidence in participating within a group
• Creativity and problem-solving

These skills develop through repetition, consistency, and meaningful experiences.

Our program is guided by Ontario’s How Does Learning Happen?  Philosophy, which emphasizes:

• Belonging
• Well-being
• Engagement
• Expression

We create environments where children feel safe, valued, and connected, allowing learning to unfold naturally through relationships, play, and exploration.

Each day includes a balanced rhythm of:

• Open play
• Guided group moments
• Creative experiences
• sensory exploration
• outdoor play
• rest and quiet time
• predictable routines

This structure helps children feel secure while giving them the freedom to explore and grow with confidence.

Our goal is simple:

To support children as they grow into confident, capable, and emotionally secure children, ready to navigate their world with curiosity and joy.