Ancaster Small Fry Co-Op Preschool Inc - Ancaster, Ontario

Jen C.

Ancaster Small Fry Preschool is truly exceptional.

From the bottom of our hearts…thank you. The educators at Small Fry have been such a steady, nurturing presence in our family’s life. Watching our children grow up under their gentle guidance, with so much patience, kindness, and care, has been an absolute gift that we will always cherish.

As parents of a non-verbal autistic child, it was incredibly hard to trust anyone outside our family. But from the very beginning, Small Fry welcomed her with open arms. They saw her for who she is. That kind of acceptance and understanding is rare, and it meant everything to us.

They have been more than teachers. They have been partners in our children’s development. Whether it was during transitions or tougher days, they offered a calm anchor and constant reassurance. Their support didn’t just help our kids—it supported our whole family in ways we can't fully express.

We are especially grateful for how they celebrate each child just as they are. Our kids have thrived in their own unique ways thanks to the environment of inclusion and love cultivated here.

We feel ever so lucky to have found Small Fry and to be a part of such an amazing, supportive community.

Thank you, Ancaster Small Fry, for everything.

—Jen C.

Chelsey L.

Ancaster Small Fry Preschool has been such a gift to our family. We enrolled our son not because I couldn’t be home with him, but because we wanted him to grow, learn, and experience new environments—and this school exceeded all our expectations.

Over the past two years, we’ve watched him thrive socially, emotionally, and academically. The teachers and staff create such a nurturing, engaging atmosphere that truly brings out the best in each child. What makes this preschool extra special is the cooperative model, which allowed me to be hands-on in the classroom. As a parent, I’ve learned so much about how to better support my child through challenges and milestones.

We’re walking away from this chapter not only with a confident little graduate but also with lifelong memories and so much gratitude. Highly recommend this preschool to any family looking for a warm, enriching start to their child’s learning journey.

CloneMazing

It's hard to put into words the amazing gift Ancaster Small Fry has been to our family. Our first attened 10 years ago and our youngest just finished this year. Both experienced such a fantastic envrionment for their first interaction with a school setting and although they are completely different in personalities etc, the staff at Small Fry helped them learn to love going everyday through kindness, challenge and inclusion. Thank you!

shahin S.

I have my 3 year old daughter attend the toddler program here at Small Fry. I must say, since she started, she never said she does not want to go to school! not even once! she always makes sure at night that she is going to school the next day. She loves everyone there and always involves all the staff there in her plays at home :). We had attended many other schools when trying to select one. We just LOVED the energy and the atmosphere of Small Fry, but more importantly, the lovely staff! We love you all and looking forward to bringing my son in a year! 😀

Maggie O.

Words cannot express how much I highly recommend this absolutely incredible preschool! Originally, my husband and I only intended to send our son to Small Fry for four months as we were waiting for a full-day daycare spot that was available as of January. Immediately, we knew that we had found an incredible gem that we could not leave and I am so grateful we kept my son at Small Fry for the entire school year. EVERY teacher at Small Fry is beyond exceptional because they treat the children like their own and they work with the parents so closely. My son has always adored being home and didn’t necessarily prefer any form of child care that we previously had him in. Verbally, he had some speech delays and socially he did not prefer to be around other children unless myself or husband were around. After the first few weeks at Small Fry, due to the grace and care the teachers consistently provided to him, he immediately developed into a confident, social child who thrived more and more based on the time he spent there. I rarely write google reviews but I would happily endorse and encourage anyone looking to send their child here to sign up ASAP!

Sarah H.

I am finding it quite difficult to find the words to express how great the preschool has been for my son.
My son was a proper ‘COVID baby’ and hadn’t been apart from me for 2 years, he also had a speech delay so I was worried about how he would adjust to preschool life. He was very shy when he started and it took a little while for him to settle but Ms Mitzie took him under her wing and it was the start of a wonderful nurturing experience.
When he went up to the preschool class with Ms O and Ms Barb his confidence continued to grow and he has become super social and a real chatter box. He has made some wonderful friends and looked forward to attending, in fact he even wanted to go at the weekend!
I really feel that this is an exceptional preschool and feel really lucky that my son had the privilege of having this experience. He is definitely ready for JK and this is thanks to the amazing staff at Ancaster Small Fry.

Emma H.

We are blessed daily by the educators from Small Fry. We chose this school upon moving to Ancaster and could not be happier. The school is clean, well-run, organized and the co-op community is so wonderful. We love Small Fry!

Angenita D.

Fantastic school with amazing teachers! I instantly felt the good vibes when I went for a tour of the class room in June 2021. My daughter was with me and she immediately connected with the teachers.

During the school year the teachers keep parents well informed about what will be going on daily through the “calendar of events” they send out via email one month in advance. Everything is very well organized including the activities, field trips, fundraisers and snacks for the kids. The activities are engaging and meant to encourage the children to explore, build cognitive development, refine their gross and fine motor skills, build their social and emotional skills with peers and to have fun while doing it. My daughter had a blast! She always came home excited about what she did at school and could hardly wait to go back the next day. They also use an app where they post pictures of the day to day activities your child participated. This was a nice touch meant to
keep you informed.
Overall, just an amazing experience! I think it really prepares the children for kindergarten! My daughter will miss her teachers so much! Much thanks to Ms. O, Ms Bard and Ms. Mitzi!