KIDSUP blog
Ontario’s new Kindergarten curriculum is in classrooms: what changed in 2026
Since September 2026, every Kindergarten class in Ontario follows a new curriculum. The Ontario Curriculum, Kindergarten, 2026 replaced The Kindergarten Program, 2016, which stayed in effect for 2025–26. According to the Ministry of Education, it adds “new mandatory learning in reading, writing, math, and science and technology” and aims to give children the skills they need to succeed in Grade 1 (Kindergarten: an overview for parents (2026)).
Published November 6, 2026. Sources: Ontario Ministry of Education, linked in each section.
What changed at a glance
- New name and status. The program is now a curriculum policy: “Starting in the 2026-27 school year, all kindergarten programs will be based on the expectations outlined in the 2026 curriculum policy” (ontario.ca).
- Four strands. Learning is organized in four areas, and the Kindergarten report card now follows them.
- Reading and writing. Word reading and spelling, vocabulary, reading fluency and comprehension are named foundational skills.
- Math. Counting and number relationships to 20, adding to 10 with related subtraction, and sharing equally.
- Science and technology. Scientific investigations, engineering design and coding.
- How it is taught. Kindergarten teachers and Early Childhood Educators work together through “evidence-based explicit instruction in play- and inquiry-based learning environments.”
The Ministry says the update was informed in part by the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read inquiry report (Ministry overview for parents).
The four strands
| Strand | What your child learns, in the Ministry’s words (abridged) |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Language and Mathematics | Listening and speaking; the relationship between sounds and letters to read, understand and create simple texts; counting, estimating, adding, subtracting and sharing equally; shapes, objects and patterns; simple data and graphs |
| Problem Solving and Innovating | Exploring the world through curiosity, asking questions, trying things out, designing or making something new |
| Self-Regulation and Well-Being | Managing feelings and emotions, dealing with distractions, respecting differences, physical activity and movement skills |
| Belonging and Contributing | A positive sense of self, connection to others and the community, social problem solving |
Language, math, science: the key skills
The Ministry’s guide for parents lists these foundational knowledge and skills (source):
Language
- speaking, listening, and using facial expressions, gestures and body language to communicate
- word reading and spelling
- vocabulary
- reading fluency and comprehension
- applying knowledge of letters, words and sentences to create simple texts
Math
- understanding numbers, including counting and exploring number relationships to 20
- adding numbers to 10 and related subtraction
- sharing equally
Science and technology
- performing scientific investigations to learn about the world
- using engineering design to create something new or different
- using innovative thinking to solve problems
- using coding to think in different ways, solve problems and create
A new section on the Kindergarten report
The Kindergarten Communication of Learning (the Kindergarten report card, form 3046E, 2026 edition) now describes learning in the four strands, with comments under “Key Learning / Growth in Learning / Next Steps in Learning.” It also adds a box titled Early Reading Screening (ERS) for Year 2 of Kindergarten Only, which records whether the screening was completed, the date and whether the benchmark was met (Ministry form 3046E, PDF).
The form also notes that the original or an exact copy goes into the student’s Ontario Student Record and is kept for five years after the student leaves school, so parents are asked to keep their copy for reference.
What the Ministry suggests families do
The parent guide calls parents a child’s “first teacher” and suggests simple everyday habits (source):
- talk about daily situations and ask “What if?” and “How did you know?” questions;
- read and share stories together at regular times;
- keep using your child’s first language at home, because “skills learned in one language transfer to others”;
- play puzzles, dice and card games, dominoes, sorting and board games, crafts and building;
- count and sort toys or collections, read signs and food labels, write shopping lists and cards together.
The same advice applies to every family that speaks Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic or any other language at home.
Who starts Kindergarten
Kindergarten in Ontario is “a free 2-year program for 4- and 5-year-old children,” and children who turn 6 must attend school in September of that year (ontario.ca/page/kindergarten).
For a practical list of skills to build at home before school, see our kindergarten readiness checklist for Ontario parents. For what happens three years later, read how to read your child’s EQAO Grade 3 report.
KIDSUP in Kanata today. KIDSUP runs day camps, PD Day camps, an after-school program, workshops and birthday parties. A preschool program may return in the future: join the early learning interest list to hear first.
FAQ: Ontario Kindergarten curriculum 2026
When did the new Kindergarten curriculum start in Ontario?
Starting in the 2026–27 school year, all Kindergarten programs in Ontario follow The Ontario Curriculum, Kindergarten, 2026. The Kindergarten Program, 2016 remained in effect for 2025–26.
What are the four strands of the 2026 Kindergarten curriculum?
Foundations of Language and Mathematics; Problem Solving and Innovating; Self-Regulation and Well-Being; Belonging and Contributing.
What math does the new Kindergarten curriculum cover?
Counting and exploring number relationships to 20, adding numbers to 10 and related subtraction, and sharing equally, according to the Ministry’s guide for parents.
What is the Early Reading Screening on the Kindergarten report?
The 2026 Kindergarten Communication of Learning has a section for Year 2 only that records whether the Early Reading Screening was completed, the date, and whether the benchmark was met.
At what age do children start Kindergarten in Ontario?
Kindergarten is a free two-year program for 4- and 5-year-old children. Children who turn 6 must attend school in September of that year.