Frequently Asked Questions
We know choosing childcare is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a family. Below are the questions we hear most often from parents just like you — about daily life, curriculum, health & safety, enrolment, and more.
Yes, Blüm Childcare Academy is open all year
As a licensed facility governed by Alberta Children’s Services, we follow the legislated ratios: 1:4 for Infants, 1:6 for Jr Preschool, 1:8 for Prechool and 1:10 for Jr Kindergarten
As a licensed facility governed by Alberta Health Services, we follow the legislative requirements, meaning any students with symptoms conducive to a communicable diseases (a persistent cough, fever, runny nose for more then 3 consecutive days, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.) is unable to attend or remain at the Academy until the symptoms have subsided
All of our classrooms follow a carefully designed daily routine, where Educator-led experiences guide the student-led outcomes. Our students participate in daily visual arts experience, Montessori learning time, social family-style meal service, and a rest period
Families are informed of the day through a daily report, and a Student Learning Journey is shared twice a year which details progress made on developmental milestones and Montessori practical life skills
The students at Blüm participate in outdoor learning every single day, weather permitting, for at least one hour.
Our Junior Kindergarten classroom is specifically designed to provide the necessary learning and Montessori practical life skills needed to thrive in school
As Blüm welcomes students from 12 months old, the Montessori-based toilet learning strategy is implemented and utilized to provide the support and materials needed. Our Educators work closely with registered families to support the transition from diaper to toilet
The Academy observes a daily rest period where all students are encouraged to calm their minds and have a daily nap. Older students who have dropped their nap are engaged in other mindful and quiet experiences during this time.
The only approved and research-backed method that is used at Blüm is redirection. Redirection is used to promote desirable behaviour, prevent injury, and promote learning and exploration.
Once your family has joined the Formal Waitlist, you will be informed at least two months prior to your requested start date if enrolment will be offered.
Our Academy follows a research-backed approach to transition, allowing families to accompany their child in their designated classroom one week before a confirmed first-day.
Please reach out to the specific campus to request the current tuition structure.
Our organization has signed on to the Canada-Alberta affordability agreement, which means that registered families benefit from the automatic Federal Affordability Grant and can choose to apply for the income-based Provincial Subsidy.
We believe that enrichment programs like music and movement, language classes, and special guest Educators are not considered ‘extra’, but instead compliment and enhance the scheduled programming. As such, our co-curricular offering has no extra cost to registered families.
The propriety program at Blüm is designed for a full-time, all-year enrolment and as such, part-time or half-day registration is not possible.
Blüm is proud to offer a menu to all registered students that is based on European standards of childcare. The meals feature whole foods and non-processed ingredients, and don’t feature food dyes. Prepackaged foods are never served to students.
Blüm is proud to offer freshly prepared nutritious breakfast, lunch, and afternoon refreshments.
The menu is updated every quarter, and features items like Wild Rice Bone Broth Soup, Mexican Rice Bowls with Sour Cream, or German Milchreis (cinnamon rice pudding).
This information is always included in the daily report.
We do not operate a nut-free facility. We serve Peanut Butter and use Almond Milk in many meals.
The kitchen at the Academy is happy to offer Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, or Vegetarian options for our registered students.
Everyone on the Blüm Team (Educators, Operations, Support, or Leadership) goes through a rigorous recruitment process which includes thorough vetting and requires an individual certification from the Government of Alberta. Apart from legislative requirements, our team is proud to hold a lot of additional certifications which can be found here.
We also encourage families to speak with our Educators as much as possible, and use whatever method is best suited. You can always email the campus, and speak at pick up or drop off, or schedule a meeting to discuss anything more.
Every single team member at any of our campus, including primary full-time Educators, support personnel, and even any type of volunteers, must request and present a current Police Clearance Check with Vulnerable Sector Search.
As a licenced facility, the legislative requirement is to ensure that at least half of all Educators hold CPR training, but at Blüm, every single team member holds valid and current First Aid and CPR training.
Our curriculum includes educational trips that enrich the learning theme, and frequent visits to the community.
We always invite Blüm parents to join our classrooms to volunteer and enrich our student experience more.
There is a family-led and volunteer-run Family Advisory Board which is a direct link between registered families and the leadership and administration team.
Kindergarten is an (optional) early learning year designed for students in the year before Grade 1, typically beginning around age five.
In Alberta, kindergarten is intended to support:
• Social and emotional development
• Early literacy and numeracy foundations
• Curiosity, inquiry, and play
• Confidence within a group learning environment
Kindergarten is not designed to replicate traditional “school.” It serves as a bridge between early childhood and formal academics, supporting readiness across emotional, cognitive, and social domains.
No.
Kindergarten is optional in Calgary and throughout Alberta.
Families may choose to:
• Enroll in Kindergarten
• Skip Kindergarten and enrol into Grade 1
• Delay Kindergarten entry
• Explore public, private, or alternative models
Participation is a family decision and not a legal requirement.
All publicly funded Kindergarten programs in Alberta follow the provincial kindergarten framework established by Alberta Education.
This framework emphasizes:
• Play- and inquiry-based learning
• Language and early literacy development
• Foundational numeracy
• Social responsibility and cooperation
• Physical wellbeing and creativity
The provincial curriculum establishes minimum learning expectations, not a ceiling.
Blüm offers full-day, all-day Kindergarten within the Academy.
This is a continuous program, meaning:
• No half-day schedules
• No mid-day transitions
• No bussing between locations
Students remain in one prepared environment for the full day, supported by educators who know them deeply and plan intentionally across the entire rhythm of the day, and provided with the same nutritious meals that they enjoy four times a day.
For many families, this more closely resembles a private school model than a traditional half-day public kindergarten structure.
This is Blüm’s full-day Kindergarten program.
Designed as a continuous, all-day experience, Blüm Kindergarten offers a calm, prepared environment grounded in Montessori and Reggio principles, supporting academic readiness, emotional regulation, and independence.
Blüm’s Kindergarten program significantly exceeds Alberta’s baseline expectations.
Rather than treating the provincial framework as the defining structure, Blüm uses it as a starting point, layering a far more rigorous, intentional, and cohesive pedagogical model on top.
Blüm’s kindergarten is:
• Rooted in Montessori principles of independence, order, and mastery
• Informed by Reggio Emilia philosophy, emphasizing inquiry, observation, and meaning-making
• Delivered through Blüm’s own proprietary framework, refined across years of practice
In practice, this means:
• Academic foundations are developed through purposeful, real-world experiences
• Educators act as trained guides, observing, extending, and documenting learning
• Emotional regulation, autonomy, responsibility, and presence are explicitly cultivated
• Learning is continuous, not segmented into artificial subjects or time blocks
Blüm’s kindergarten is not designed to “meet requirements.” It is designed to develop capable, grounded, self-directed learners.
No.
Students who are already enrolled at Blüm are automatically placed into the Kindergarten classroom when eligible. There is no separate application process for registered families.
Placement, timelines, and transitions are communicated clearly in advance.
Families may choose to enroll their student in:
• A public kindergarten
• A charter or alternative program
• Another private or specialized kindergarten
In these cases, students may still attend Blüm outside of kindergarten hours, provided scheduling aligns and space is available.
Blüm does not require exclusivity for kindergarten participation, however, it is recommended for student stability and regulation to fully enrol.
No.
Blüm does not offer transportation to or from external schools or programs. Families who combine Blüm with another kindergarten arrangement are responsible for all transportation logistics.
Blüm’s kindergarten is intentionally designed for families seeking depth, continuity, and calm.
Key elements include:
• All-day programming with no disruption or fragmentation
• Continuity of educators and environment throughout the full day
• Meals included, shared intentionally as part of the learning experience
• Prepared, peaceful classrooms that support focus, independence, and care for materials
• A strong emphasis on emotional regulation, responsibility, and agency
• Holistic readiness, encompassing academic, emotional, and social development
Students leave Blüm kindergarten not only prepared for Grade 1, but equipped with confidence, self-awareness, and a strong internal foundation for learning.
Not necessarily — and alignment matters.
Blüm’s Kindergarten is best suited for families who value:
• Full-day, uninterrupted learning
• Calm, structured environments
• Strong educator continuity
• A pedagogically grounded, intentional approach
• A nutrition philosophy that prioritizes balanced meals
• A learning environment without screens or digital entertainment characters
• Extended work cycles that emphasize focus, independence, and depth, rather than constant high-stimulation or fast-paced movement
Families seeking:
• Frequent treats or celebratory foods
• Regular screen use as part of the day
• Highly energetic, continuously active programming
• A traditional half-day public kindergarten model
may prefer a different arrangement.
Clarity supports better outcomes for students, families, and educators alike.
Blüm environments are intentionally designed to support calm, focus, and independence.
Our classrooms feature natural materials, Montessori-aligned furnishings, and thoughtfully considered layouts that respect the child’s scale and rhythm. Rather than overstimulation, we prioritize clarity, beauty, and purpose — creating spaces where students can engage deeply and move with confidence.
