Schools and kids.
Public school is free for children of permanent residents and many temporary residents. Register early, and start on childcare even earlier.
School registration
- Proof of address
- Immunization records
- Language assessment
What to bring.
Contact your local school board or school. Your address decides which public school your child attends. Most boards assess English or French and place children by age.
- Child’s birth certificate or passport
- Your immigration documents and the child’s
- Proof of address, such as a lease or utility bill
- Immunization records, translated if needed
- Previous school reports
Types of schools.
Public schools
Free, run by local school boards, and where most children go.
Catholic schools
Publicly funded in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan; open to Catholic families and sometimes others.
French-language and immersion
French-language schools serve francophone families; French immersion teaches English speakers in French.
Quebec
Most newcomer children attend French-language school under Quebec’s language law, with exceptions.
Private schools
Tuition-based, with varied programs and admission rules.
Language support
Schools offer ESL or French support programs for newcomer students.
Start early. Waitlists are real.
Fees have come down under the Canada-wide early learning and child care plan, but spaces are limited in most cities. Join several waitlists as soon as you know where you’ll live.
- Licensed centres and home childcare are both options
- Subsidies are available based on income
- Before- and after-school programs cover working hours
- Settlement agencies often offer childcare during their programs
Money for families.
The Canada Child Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. New residents apply with form RC66, and you need to file taxes every year to keep receiving it.
