Business Details
49 Years
experience
Trusted Early Childhood Education in Burlington, ON
Established in 1977, our nursery school has grown from a parent-led initiative into a cornerstone of early childhood education in Burlington. We combine play-based learning with structured activities to nurture children's social, cognitive, and physical development. Our unique co-op model fosters community engagement through parent participation in classrooms and governance. With a team of registered early childhood educators and a board of parent volunteers, we maintain high standards while adapting to evolving educational needs. Our partnership with Brant Hills Public School provides access to specialized resources and intergenerational interactions.Over four decades of experience inform our approach to creating safe, inclusive environments where children thrive. We emphasize collaboration between staff, parents, and children to create personalized learning experiences. Our facility overlooking Niagara's Escarpment offers bright, stimulating classrooms and outdoor play spaces. We maintain strict compliance with Ministry of Education regulations while preserving our founding principles of community involvement and educational excellence.
Services
Half-Day Morning Programs
Afternoon Ready-to-Learn
Parent Participation
STEAM Activities
Outdoor Playtime
Details
- Year established: 1977
Highlights and features
- We offer a unique parent cooperative model with active family involvement
- Our educators have decades of combined experience in early childhood development
- We provide specialized programs including STEAM activities and literacy focus
- Our facility integrates with Brant Hills Public School for intergenerational learning
- We maintain strict safety and quality standards under Ministry of Education licensing
Associations and certifications
- Ministry of Education
What people say
Wonderful staff
BEST start
Safe and happy place
Welcoming and friendliness
Positive and fun environment
Services
Half-Day Morning Programs
Our morning programs offer flexible 2, 3, or 5-day weekly options from 9:00-11:40am. Children engage in structured circle time, small group activities, and independent play with educator guidance. The sessions include art exploration, healthy snacks, and outdoor playtime, balancing teacher-led and child-initiated learning experiences.
Afternoon Ready-to-Learn
The Ready-to-Learn afternoon program provides structured preschool education with specialized components. Featuring STEAM activities from The Learning Tree, fitness programming, and Jolly Phonics literacy instruction, this program prepares children for formal schooling through focused learning blocks and music classes with specialized instructors.
Parent Participation
Our cooperative model requires parent involvement through classroom volunteering and committee work. Parents contribute twice monthly in classrooms after completing police checks and immunization documentation. Families also participate in governance through elected executive positions and committee memberships, maintaining our community-driven educational approach.
STEAM Activities
Specialized STEAM programming integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into early childhood education. Delivered by The Learning Tree specialists, these activities develop problem-solving skills through hands-on experiments and creative projects tailored to preschoolers' developmental needs and interests.
Outdoor Playtime
Daily outdoor play sessions utilize our school's natural setting overlooking Niagara's Escarpment. Children develop physical skills through playground equipment while learning social interaction and environmental awareness. The program provides structured play opportunities that complement indoor learning experiences and promote healthy development.
People
Allison Mackay
Director
Director with 20+ years of early childhood education experience, certified from Mohawk College. Leads with enthusiasm and creativity, maintaining strong family connections while overseeing program operations and staff development.
Jessica Garcia
RECE
Recent ECE graduate from Sheridan College with diverse experience in educational settings. Brings creativity from cake decorating background to classroom activities while building relationships with children and families.
Danielle Rostron
Child & Youth Counselor
BA holder with extensive co-op preschool experience since 2007. Combines academic background from McMaster University with practical expertise in nurturing child development through cooperative learning environments.
Taylor Koutoupis
RECE
ECE graduate from Mohawk College with firsthand co-op experience as both student and educator. Maintains strong connection to Pearson High School while developing engaging learning experiences for preschool children.
Erin Reed
Special Needs Specialist
MADS degree holder with 10+ years of autism support experience. Applies behavioral science expertise to create inclusive learning environments, combining academic credentials with practical classroom implementation.
Questions
What are the age requirements for enrollment?
Children must be 30 months old for morning/afternoon programs and 3 years old by December 31st for the RTL program.
What distinguishes your co-op model?
Parents actively participate in classrooms and governance, creating a collaborative community where families help shape educational experiences and operations.
What special programs do you offer?
Our RTL program includes STEAM activities, fitness programming, music classes, and Jolly Phonics literacy instruction in afternoon sessions.
How do I join the waitlist?
Families with children born in 2021-2023 can join the waitlist for the 2025-26 school year through our registration process.
What safety requirements exist for volunteers?
Duty parents must complete police checks with vulnerable sector screening and provide immunization documentation before classroom participation.
How does the school support special needs?
Our staff includes specialists with applied disability studies training who implement individualized support plans for neurodivergent children.
Reviews (4)
Hope & Love Handmade Rebecca C.
Sep 28, 2021
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My son just started at Pearson Co-Op Nursery School. They have been very organized and detailed in their registration process. The staff are very warm, welcoming, and kind! On a busy first morning, they took the time to send photos and notes to parents. In this pandemic climate they have a strong focus on cleanliness and policy. And within all the necessary COVID restrictions, they have made the effort to build relationships with children and families. Highly recommend!
Laura Speck
Dec 29, 2019
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My son attended this school 2016-2017, and now my daughter is starting this September. The teachers are amazing! This is a great community school!
Liz Woloshin
Aug 11, 2019
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All three of my kids went to this wonderful preschool. Caring teachers, beautiful facility, they provided an amazing experience for my kids and got them ready for JK. Loved being part of this preschool community. Highly recommend!!
Haley Barton
Jun 30, 2019
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Pearson is an INCREDIBLE preschool! Here's why:
- The teachers are welcoming, friendly, caring and fun!
- The facility is bright and CLEAN.
- The programming and activities provided are engaging and varied so no two days are the same. You will not be disappointed with this preschool!
- The teachers are welcoming, friendly, caring and fun!
- The facility is bright and CLEAN.
- The programming and activities provided are engaging and varied so no two days are the same. You will not be disappointed with this preschool!
