Kindergarten Registration for 2026-27: Dates and Steps
Written by Grace Dawson • Published August 28, 2026 • Last verified August 28, 2026
What you need to know:
UGDSB kindergarten registration for 2026-27 runs from January 12 to February 6, 2026.
French immersion application window is the same: January 12 to February 6, 2026.
Children turning four by December 31, 2026, can register for Junior Kindergarten; five-year-olds for Senior Kindergarten.
Late registration is accepted but processed after on-time applications, so your school choice may not be guaranteed.
For daycare, join the City of Guelph Child Care Registry online; waitlists are long.
Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year in Guelph opens in January 2026. The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) runs the public schools here, and its online registration window starts on January 12, 2026. That window stays open until February 6, 2026. If your child turns four by December 31, 2026, they're eligible for Junior Kindergarten. If they turn five by that date, they're eligible for Senior Kindergarten.
Registration is done online through the UGDSB website. You'll need to create an account or log in, then fill out the form and upload proof of address and your child's birth certificate. The board asks that you register during the window even if you're not sure which school your child will attend. You can list your home school as a preference, but the board assigns based on your address. Catchment areas matter, so check the school finder tool on the UGDSB site before you register.
French immersion is a separate process. The UGDSB runs a French immersion program, and the application window for that also opens in January. For the 2026-27 school year, the French immersion application period runs from January 12 to February 6, 2026, the same as regular registration. You apply online, and the board uses a lottery if there are more applicants than spots. The lottery happens in February, and you'll get a decision by late February. If your child gets a spot, you'll need to accept it by a specific date, usually within a week or two.
What if you miss the window? Late registrations are accepted, but they're processed after on-time ones. That means your child might not get a spot at their home school if it's full. The board says late registration can also delay transportation arrangements. So mark the dates now. The window is short, and it's the same for both regular and French immersion.
The Wellington Catholic District School Board runs the Catholic schools in Guelph. Their kindergarten registration also opens in January, but the exact dates are set separately. Check their website in December for the 2026-27 registration details. Catholic school registration often requires baptismal records, so gather those early.
For daycare, there's no central registration. Licensed daycare centres and home child care providers have their own waitlists. Many start taking names years in advance. If you're looking for care for a child starting school in 2026, get on waitlists now. The City of Guelph runs a centralized waitlist for licensed child care called the Child Care Registry. You can add your child to it online, and it covers many centres in the city. But it's not a guarantee; you still need to contact individual providers.
One more thing: if your child has special needs, contact the school board's special education team before registration. They can help with transitions and support plans. The UGDSB has a page on their website for kindergarten registration with FAQs and contact info.
So, here's the short version. January 12 to February 6, 2026, is the registration window for UGDSB kindergarten and French immersion. Apply online during that time. Check your catchment school first. And if you're also looking for daycare, get on the City's Child Care Registry now. The earlier you act, the smoother it goes.
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- 2026 School Board Election: Candidate List Now Official
- Back to School 2026: UGDSB Dates and What Families Should Do
- UGDSB 2026-27 School Year: Key Dates and Registration
- UGDSB Report Card Changes for Kindergarten to Grade 8
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