Afterschool Program

University Settlement’s Afterschool program offers a fun and enriching way for children (JK/SK to Grade 8) to end their school day.

Afterschool Program 2023-2024

Led by our HIGH FIVE™ trained staff, University Settlement’s Afterschool program offers a fun and enriching way for children in downtown Toronto to end their school day.

We have been listening to requests from local parents to extend programming to grade 8 students. This school year, we are excited to offer a pilot project and have our Afterschool Activities open to children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 for 2023-2024!

New Afterschool Activities for the Winter Term

  • Kid’s Multisports: Volleyball, Badminton, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Hockey
  • Afterschool Arts & Crafts: Drawing & Cartooning, Builder’s Club, Painting & Sculpting
  • Kid’s Coding Classes
  • Hands on Science (4 to 6 years old) and STEM (7 to 10 years old)
  • Little Chef and Junior Chef

Daily Program Overview

  • Safe Walking Escort: We offer a safe walking escort from Orde Street, Ogden and Lord Lansdowne Public Schools every school day. Note: If your child attends a school other than the three schools we currently have pick-up from, if we have 10 or more children from the new school, we would be able to set up school pick up for your children.
  • Snacks: Children receive a nutritious snack when they arrive
  • Engaging Activities: Children participate in activities from 4:15 pm to 5:30 pm. We offer on-site group swim lessons once a week and a variety of activities such as: arts and crafts, active games, STEM, Builder’s Club, Reading Club, computers, Mixed Media, Advanced Arts, drama, storytelling, cooking & baking programs and more!
  • Parent Pick-up from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Winter Swim Schedule

  • Students JK to Grade 1: Tuesdays
  • Grades 2 to 8: Thursdays

Please note: There is an instructor-to-participant ratio for safety during the swim lesson, so your swim schedule is not guaranteed with registration if you register after the month starts.

Choose Between Flexible or Full Registration

Starting January 2024, we are introducing monthly registrations by the school location with two types of registration options:

  • Flexible Registration: Parents can opt to register for after-school care for one to five days a week, by the month.
  • Full Registration: Families registering for 5 days a week, will receive an additional 5% discount.

The program runs from the first to the last day of the school year and the program time starts from school dismissal to 6:00 pm.

2023-2024 Term Dates

2023-2024 School Year: Tuesday, September 6, 2023 to Friday, June 28, 2024

The Afterschool Program does not run on TDSB PA days, March Break, or on Statutory Holidays and Observances (October 6, October 9, November 17, December 8, December 22, January 19, February 16, February 19, March 29, April 1, April 8, May 20, June 7). We offer full day camps for PA Days, March Break and Summer Camp, please check out our program information.

Program Fees, Policies, and Financial Assistance

  • Winter Term 2023: $25 per day
  • Multiperson Discount: We are offering a discount to families who have three or more children registered with our Afterschool Program. A 5% discount will be applied to the child care fees of the third and subsequent children.

Late Pick-up Fee

Please note, there is a Late Pick-up fee after 6:00 PM.

Late Pick-up Policy: $1 per minute for the first 30 minutes, $2 per minute after 30 minutes. The fine will be added to your account.

Payment Policy

Program registration is not confirmed until you check out and process the full payment. Fees are set based on the TDSB school year. A 30% non-refundable deposit is due upon registration. The remaining 70% payment is due on the first of the month.

*January and September are the exceptions with full payment upon registration

Refund Policy

Once a child is registered for programs, there are no refunds except for exceptional circumstances. If a child misses a swim class within the Afterschool Program time, there is no make-up lesson.

Refunds will not be issued for the following:

  • Occasional absences by your child due to illness
  • Registration fees or deposits
  • Vacations
  • Cancellations from the program made with less than 10 business days notice prior to your next payment

Cancellation Policy

Families must notify the Program Coordinator at least 10 business days prior to the next pre-authorized payment date. To ensure cost-effective operations and reasonable fees, it is important for parents to give the required notification to allow enough time to fill vacancies.

Notifications through email must be sent by these dates:

  • For September: Friday August 18, 2023
  • For October: Monday, September 18, 2023
  • For November: Wednesday, October 18, 2023
  • For December: Friday, November 17, 2023

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance may be available for children aged 18 years and younger, whose families qualify for support. Eligibility is based on the total household income, and the number of people in the family. A copy of your latest Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is required to process your eligibility. Subsidies are available on a first come, first-serve basis. There is a limit to our subsidy funding, therefore, the subsidy is not guaranteed.

Contact the Children’s Program Coordinator at kidsprograms@universitysettlement.ca to determine eligibility before enrolling in the program. Please ensure payment is made within 5 days of when the subsidy is applied to your account.

Annual Agency Membership

Annual Agency Membership is required for all families participating in programs/activities at University Settlement (this includes one adult and up to 5 children; if your spouse is interested in registering in programs for themselves, they will need to sign up for their own membership).

Registration is now closed

If you have any questions, please contact the Children’s Program Coordinator at kidsprograms@universitysettlement.ca or call 416‑598‑3444 ext. 229.

PA Day Camps

Field trips, swimming, crafts, games, sports, and more!

Register Now for Summer Camp 2024

Field trips, swimming, sports, arts & crafts, and more!

Dana & Tom’s Story —“Our boys come home beaming with pride as they share the various life skills they have learned, ranging from swimming to cooking…”

[Dana & Tom are parents of children attending our afterschool program]

“We wanted to express our heartfelt appreciation for the afterschool program at University Settlement. As parents, it’s wonderful to see our children thrive in such a nurturing and engaging environment. From the very beginning, we have been amazed by the exceptional management team who consistently go above and beyond their call of duty. They have not only provided a high level of care for our children but have also accommodated last-minute emergency changes, including bus cancellations and school strikes, with unwavering support and understanding. This level of flexibility has been invaluable to our family.

The programming at University Settlement is nothing short of excellent. Our boys come home beaming with pride as they share the various life skills they have learned, ranging from swimming to cooking. The program’s dedication to fostering a holistic educational experience is truly commendable.

One of the most rewarding aspects of University Settlement’s aftercare program is the strong sense of community it fosters. Our children have forged special friendships with their peers, and they often speak of the educators and lifeguards in high regard.

As working parents, the safe walk escort from nearby schools and bus stops is of utmost importance to us. The peace of mind that comes with knowing our children are well taken care of during their busy downtown commute is immeasurable.

The dedication, passion, and commitment to providing a safe, enriching, and enjoyable experience for our children has not gone unnoticed. We are truly fortunate to have found a program that not only meets but exceeds our expectations. University Settlement has become an integral part of our family’s journey, and we eagerly look forward to many more wonderful years with University Settlement.”

– Dana and Tom

Help Us Make A Difference

When you give to University Settlement, you make it possible for us to provide nurturing and engaging programs for more children like Dana & Tom’s.

Make a donation. Make a difference.

High Five

Proudly HIGH FIVE™ Accredited

HIGH FIVE™ is Canada’s only comprehensive quality standard for children’s programs. Based on a holistic approach to healthy child development, it’s quality framework addresses Staff Training and Development, Program Assessments, Policies/Procedures, and Awareness.