I don't know a lot about Montessori. What can you tell me about it?
The best way to learn about the Montessori philosophy is to see it in action. Our caring and knowledgable staff are happy to give you a tour of our beautiful facility, explain our philosophy, and answer any of your questions. In the meantime, if you are looking for a quick explanation of the Montessori philosophy, please read our favourite concise article on the subject: I've Got 5 Minutes. Explain Montessori To Me.
I need reliable childcare 12 months of the year. Can I count on you?
The Prep never calls in sick or goes on vacation. We are open 12 months of the year serving our community.
Our closure dates are as follows:
Labour Day
Orange Shirt Day
Thanksgiving Day
Remembrance Day (if on a weekday)
Christmas Day (or Christmas Day observed)
Boxing Day (or Boxing Day observed)
Professional Development Day (Christmas week)
New Year's Day
Louis Riel Day
Good Friday
Victoria Day
Canada Day
August Civic Holiday
Why are your daily fees for a part-time student the same as your daily fees for a full-time student?
Other centres may charge families more for a part-time spot (i.e a Tuesday/Thursday spot + a Monday/Wednesday/Friday spot = more than a full-time spot (sometimes much more). This is understandable and likely because that centre is concerned that the other portion of that part-time spot may remain vacant, causing their business to lose revenue. Because we are a well established child care centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we do not have this concern and hence our daily fees are the same whether your child is registered in a full-time or part-time spot.
Does your daycare take children on field trips?
We sure do. And one of the perks of being located so close to Assiniboine Park is we can go there for exploration and play. We also like to visit our furry neighbours at Assiniboine Park Zoo! All this is covered in your child's yearly supply fee!
Why do you not charge a yearly registration fee?
We charge families a one time registration fee. That money goes towards inputing your family's information into our system. We don't see the need to charge your family year after year for a service that we have already provided.
Does your daycare provide snacks/lunches?
You can either provide your child's lunch or order from our catered lunch menu. Either way you will need to provide snacks.
What if I need to get ahold of someone and no one is answering the phone in the office?
Sometimes our admin team steps out of the office. For this reason, all of our families have Mrs. H's personal cell number and know that she is lightning quick to respond to parent text messages while your child is in our care. She will text you, FaceTime you, or phone you, right away to ensure your important questions are answered or your messages are relayed to our caring and hard working staff.
What is your staff/student ratio?
We proudly exceed Manitoba requirements in terms of staff/student ratios. Having said this, Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) requirements are 1:4 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers and 1:8 for preschoolers. Even on a day when we have staff members missing due to illness, we are well above ratio in all of our classrooms.
Can my child be bussed to The Prep?
Yes. You can arrange for your school-aged child to be bussed to and from The Prep. You will need to phone Transportation at Pembina Trails School Division to make these arrangements. Once arrangements have been made, simply notify us and we will designate a staff member to escort your child on or off the bus!
How long is your wait list?
Like most established licensed and regulated childcare centres in Manitoba, we have a fairly long wait list. Having said this, we may have a space become available during this calendar year depending on the days/times you are looking for and your child's age. So please do not hesitate to apply!
Why can you only take 80 children at a time?
We are listed as a licensed and regulated child care centre on our province's online Manitoba Child Care Search. This means we are regulated by Manitoba Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC). As such, we follow ELCC's licensing regulations as it pertains to the amount of students in the building at one time, staff/student ratios and the amount of trained staff per student in the building. We currently have over 100 children enrolled in our programs but only 80 are allowed to attend at one time. What that means is some students attend Monday through Friday (full-time), while others attend 2 or 3 days of the week, sharing a spot (part-time).
I heard you are expanding, and creating new classrooms. What can you tell me about this?
We are pleased to announce that The Prep is currently building 2 new infant classrooms to serve our Charleswood community! We are anticipating that our spaces will be ready in September 2025. Keep an eye on our website for exciting updates, or fill in an early admission form here!