About Us
What We Offer
Uptown Yonge Preschool provides enriched high-quality, child-centered programming for children 18 months to 5 years, as well as an After-School Club for JK to Grade 6, supporting each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. We believe learning through play, exploration, experience, and creativity is essential to a child’s growth. Through strong communication with parents, we tailor our approach to best support every child and provide a positive early school experience.
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Inclusivity
We are a secular preschool that embraces all cultures and beliefs, providing high-quality, child-centred education in a safe, fun, and nurturing environment. Learning through play and experience is encouraged as children develop to their fullest potential. We value strong partnerships with families, welcoming parental involvement and the sharing of cultural traditions. By fostering respect, belonging, and community, we offer a nurturing first school experience while meeting and exceeding all early childhood and ministry requirements to prepare children for elementary school.
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Our Teachers
The teachers at Uptown Yonge Preschool are dedicated to supporting each child’s transition into a school environment by guiding social interactions, offering developmentally appropriate activities, encouraging independence, and building self-confidence. Our goal is to nurture socially and culturally aware, empathetic, and curious children, with a strong focus on emotional and social growth while respecting each child’s individual learning style.
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Our Philosophy
At Uptown Yonge Preschool, we believe that every child is unique and deserves individualized attention and care. We encourage creativity, exploration, and learning through play, and we strive to foster a lifelong love of learning in every child.
As perpetual scholars of ECE, we select what we perceive as the valid aspects of a variety of theories to craft our own unique approach. While the Montessori and Reggio Emilia approach inspires the program most, some influence has been taken from; Adler, Waldorf; High Scope, Gardner, many play theorists, and Piaget as well as the directors own insights into the behaviour, and learning of young children. We enjoy sharing our unique philosophy with parents because it works with kids.
Children learn best through play and experience, developing a lasting love of learning through active engagement. Our school embraces play-based learning, a well-researched approach where teachers observe children and plan activities that support and extend each child’s emerging skills, often joining in their play. Guided by the belief that play is the work of children (they choose it at will, derive pleasure from it, are intrinsically motivated and as a result engaged), educators thoughtfully design the environment, materials, routines, and pacing of the day. We recognize that children develop at their own pace and tailor our programming to support individual differences.
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Every Child Is Unique
At Uptown Yonge Preschool, we believe that every child is unique and deserves individualized attention and care. We encourage creativity, exploration, and learning through play, and we strive to foster a lifelong love of learning in every child.
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We Are Process Oriented
Learning at Uptown Yonge Preschool is "process-oriented" and not "product-oriented". The learning occurs in the process of "doing" the activity, the result is less important. Thus children spontaneity and creativity are not stifled e.g. during art, each child uses the medium and materials carefully selected by teachers to create however and whatever they are inspired to.
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Conflict Resolutions
Toddlers and preschoolers frequently experience conflict in social situations. Teachers encourage those involved to work it out together while a teacher observes. Should this approach not result in an acceptable solution, the teacher may model appropriate behaviour, turn taking, and encourage children to consider others point of view. Ultimately our goal is to help children to interact effectively with others.
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Respect Is In The Details
Classroom set-up and staff approach is geared toward respect and recognition of children. Staff gets down to the child's level when speaking, rather than talking over them. Furniture is child sized, and wall art/displays are at their eye level, not ours.
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Everyone Is Welcome
We promote anti-biased behaviour throughout the program. Children participate equally in all activities. We practice and teach respect regardless of gender, race, creed, colour, religion, class, age, sexual orientation, marital status, physical challenges, ethnic origin, ancestry or citizenship.
Learn More
Please don't hesitate to approach the supervisor, or staff members to discuss our approach in more detail!