Kindergarten or Daycare at Age 4-5? How to Decide in Saskatchewan | Daisy Days Guide

When your child approaches age 4-5 in Saskatchewan, a key question emerges: when do they move from Daisy Days Daycare to Kindergarten — and what does the transition plan look like? Understanding Saskatchewan’s Kindergarten entry age, CWELCC implications, and what makes the transition successful helps families plan with confidence.

Saskatchewan Kindergarten Entry Age

In Saskatchewan, the Kindergarten entry rule is:

Children are eligible for Kindergarten in the school year (September-June) in which they turn 5 years old by December 31.

Practical examples:

• Child born January 10, 2021 → turns 5 in January 2026 → starts Kindergarten September 2026
• Child born December 15, 2021 → turns 5 in December 2026 → starts Kindergarten September 2026 (the same year as the January child)
• Child born January 5, 2022 → turns 5 in January 2027 → starts Kindergarten September 2027

Saskatchewan Kindergarten is a half-day or full-day program depending on the school division and school — check with your specific Regina Public Schools or RCSD school for whether Kindergarten is full-day or half-day at your child’s assigned school.

The Year Before Kindergarten — 4-Year-Olds and CWELCC

In the year before Kindergarten (when your child is 4), most Saskatchewan families continue full enrollment at their licensed CWELCC-enrolled daycare. The reasons:

• CWELCC continues at approximately $10/day until Kindergarten entry — no financial reason to leave early
• Quality licensed daycare at Daisy Days Daycare provides the best Kindergarten readiness programming available in the year before entry
• Full-day care covers working parents’ full workday — Kindergarten (if half-day) does not

What Happens to CWELCC When Your Child Starts Kindergarten?

CWELCC ends at school entry — specifically when your child begins Kindergarten. After Kindergarten entry:

• The CWELCC daily fee benefit no longer applies to full-day daycare enrollment
• Before and after school care (BASC) at licensed daycares like Daisy Days Daycare IS CWELCC-eligible for school-age children — so your Kindergartener’s before/after school care at Daisy Days Daycare may still qualify for approximately $10/day

Half-Day Kindergarten and Licensed Before/After School Care

If your child’s Regina SK school offers half-day Kindergarten, you’ll need before and/or after school care to cover your full workday. Daisy Days Daycare’s before and after school care (BASC) program handles:

• Morning care before school — drop at our centre, we transport to school (contact us for current transport details) or parents transport to school from our morning program
• After-school care — children return to Daisy Days Daycare after school for programming until parent pickup at up to 6:00 PM
• PD days and school holidays — coverage for school days when school is not in session

CWELCC applies to BASC enrollment — approximately $10/day for your Kindergartener’s before and after school hours. Full details on our before and after school program.

Should My Child Have an Extra Year Before Kindergarten?

Some parents consider delaying Kindergarten entry (“redshirting”) for children who are among the youngest in their cohort (summer or fall birthdays) or who seem less developmentally ready. This decision should be made in consultation with:

• Your child’s ECE educators at Daisy Days Daycare (their daily developmental observations)
• Your pediatrician
• The receiving school’s Kindergarten teacher or principal

Research on Kindergarten redshirting has mixed conclusions — in some contexts it provides advantage; in others, it produces minimal benefit. It is not a universal recommendation. The research base for the Daisy Days Daycare preschool program building Kindergarten readiness is strong.

→ Kindergarten readiness guide for Regina SK 2026
→ Daycare to school transition tips for Regina SK families
→ Before and after school care at Daisy Days Daycare

Contact Daisy Days Daycare to plan your child’s Kindergarten transition.
306-807-3233 | info@daisydaysdaycare.com | 2007 Potts Crescent East, Regina SK S4V 2E5