Frequently Asked Questions
What are your monthly tuition fees?
Tuition Fees for 2024/2025 School Year (.pdf)
We charge a $100.00 CAD non-refundable registration fee for all new enrollments.
Do you accept government subsidies?
Yes! Every child receives an automatic discount on their monthly tuition as part of the Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI). No additional paperwork is required on your part.
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and your combined family income is less than $111,000 per year you may also be eligible for the Affordable Child Care Benefit subsidy, which may reduce your monthly fees even further. Once enrolled you may request an arrangement form for the subsidy from our director, which includes our facility’s licensing information and your child’s enrollment details. You will need to complete your portion of the form (sections 5-8) and submit it to the Child Care Service Centre for approval. Approval typically takes anywhere from 1-2 months, and is specific to our facility. If you change facilities you will need to reapply.
If you’re approved, the ministry will provide the funding directly to us and you’ll simply pay the reduced rate each month. While you’ll be expected to pay full tuition until approval, you will be reimbursed for any subsidy payments for months where full tuition has been paid.
For more information on the CCFRI and Affordable Child Care Benefit subsidy please view our Fees, Subsidies, and Discounts page.
What age group do you accept?
Most of our students are 3 to 5 years old. However, we do occasionally enroll up to two children 30-36 months old per class. If your child is at least 30 months old and will turn 3 before the end of the calendar year, then your child is eligible to begin classes anytime, pending available spaces.
Do you offer full day care?
No. Unfortunately, if you require full day care you will need to find a daycare. All preschools within British Columbia are only allowed to keep children for a maximum of 4 hours each day. While some daycares call themselves preschools, the two are different with respect to licensing. If you need full day care we recommend searching the West Coast Child Care Resource Centre vacancy list. It’s updated every Friday afternoon.
Can my child attend both morning & afternoon class on the same day?
No. We cannot keep a child for more than 4 hours each day.
Can I add my child to your waiting list?
Once the registration fee is paid we will gladly add your child to our waiting list if your child is not yet eligible or your desired starting date is more than 30 days away. We will always inform you of the exact number of families ahead of you on the waiting list, and provide an estimate regarding an expected starting date prior to any commitment on your part.
Are you fully licensed?
Yes, we are fully licensed under the B.C. Community Care & Assisted Living Act and maintain an operating permit from the City of Vancouver. We are also subject to regular inspections by Vancouver Coastal Health.
What are your business hours?
We are open Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. We’re closed Saturday and Sunday.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
No. We will not disqualify a child for not being adequately potty trained. We understand many children simply aren’t ready at 3 years of age, and we don’t want to force potty training on a child who isn’t yet ready. Our teachers are willing to change diapers if necessary, and will assist you with potty training once your little monster is ready.
While we’re willing to help, there is only so much we can do in 4 hours each day, so the responsibility of potty training will still rest primarily on the shoulders of parents.
Are you open during the summer?
Yes! While our main curriculum runs from September to June we also have a special Summer Program for July & August with more active and outdoor play activities. The enrollment fees, drop-off and pick-up schedules are the same.
What should I do if my child is feeling ill?
If your child is experiencing flu-like symptoms please help us keep everyone safe and healthy by staying home, and refrain from sending your child to school until they are feeling better.
Are you Montessori?
Our program is not strictly Montessori inspired, but we’re not shy about adopting their best ideas. Montessori education advocates hands-on learning and collaborative play and we strongly support these two approaches. We also discourage traditional testing and grading methods.
We believe our curriculum offers enough variety and stimulation that each child will naturally find what interest them, and we intend to keep tabs on those interests and nurture them as we go.
Are you Reggio Emilia?
We agree with the assumption that a child’s personality is formed in the early years of development, and that every child should be given the opportunity to express their personality through arts, crafts, stories, conversations and music. Every day at Little Monsters Academy will provide the opportunity to learn through a hands on approach. However, unlike Reggio Emilia, it is our belief the teacher should be firmly in control of the classroom. We present a teacher prescribed curriculum rather than a child-led emergent one.
What if I can’t find what I’m looking for at Little Monsters Academy?
We recommend searching the West Coast Child Care Resource Centre vacancy list. It’s updated every Friday afternoon.
How do I proceed with enrolling my child?
The first step in our enrollment process is to schedule a tour. We recommend reading our Scheduling a Tour page to ensure our program is right for your child. If you’d like to proceed, contact us via email at info@littlemonsters.ca or visit our Contact Us page to fill out an online form. Our director will contact you if/when we have space for your child.