Parents may register children in the kindergarten of their choice. They are encouraged to register early so they will not be disappointed.

According to the new provincial Age of Entry policy, to be eligible for kindergarten in the 2006-2007 year, a child must be five years old on or before September 30, 2006. Children attending kindergarten in 2007-2008 must be five years old on or before August 31, 2007.

Education Minister Mildred Dover advised that in two years time, all children will have to be five years old when they enter kindergarten, and in three years time, they will have to be six years old when they enter grade one. “This policy is helping to ensure that children are more prepared to succeed when they begin kindergarten and school,” she said. ”The policy was introduced in 2002 in response to concerns that our children were starting kindergarten and school when they were too young. It is being implemented over a five year period to minimize the impact of the change on families and the early childhood and school systems.”

There are more than 85 kindergartens in the province. For information on where to locate a kindergarten, contact the Provincial Kindergarten Program Administrator at (902) 569-7526 or visit the Department of Education website at www.gov.pe.ca/educ/