Introducing: Blackbird Academy Opening in Nanaimo September 2017!

Hooray! We are thrilled to announce the opening of Blackbird Academy in Nanaimo this September!

We are busy renovating our new space (1713 Bowen Road). We will be ready to welcome families for tours starting in August. In the meantime, please read on to learn a little more about Blackbird Academy in anticipation of our opening!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Blackbird Academy Different?

Blackbird Academy is a part-time daycare with a preschool curriculum. Every time your child attends, he or she will participate in a range of fun, developmentally-appropriate lessons from a range of preschool curriculum areas.

Blackbird Academy is also extremely convenient for busy families! You can book anywhere from 0 to 40 hours per month, with as much range and variation month-to-month as you like.

It's a perfect choice for parents who work part-time, have errands to run, are looking for some 'me' time, are seeking a flexibly-scheduled educational and social opportunity for their little one... or all of the above!

At what age can children attend Blackbird?

Blackbird Academy is for children aged 18 months to 6 years.

What will an average day look like at Blackbird?

Children attending Blackbird will have the opportunity to try out many activities typical of a preschool environment. In a 3 hour period, children will typically participate in an art, literacy, numeracy, and music/movement activity. We are proud to provide a range of activities appropriate to the ages of all of the children we serve.

Our daily schedule is not 'set in stone'; rather, our teachers will have about 20 activities planned each week and will select the most appropriate activity for the group of children booked in each hour. For example, the teachers might choose fingerpainting for a group of children who are mostly under 2 years old, but when a group of mostly 4-5 year olds is attending, the teachers might choose a clay figurine building activity instead.

This flexibility allows our teachers to best serve the attending children. If your child has a special interest, you may wish to enroll him/her in one of our Classes! Enrolling your child in a Class will guarantee they receive a full hour of fun instruction in the chosen subject area. Classes will occur at the same time each week for a one-month period. Classes will begin later this fall - check out our website for updates!

Pssst: the pictures you are seeing here are from our sister centre - the original Blackbird Academy, which has been operating in downtown Vancouver since 2015. You can expect to see many cool activities like these ones at Blackbird Academy Nanaimo!

What are the fees?

The base rate for Blackbird time is $15 per hour. We will always have discount packages available on our website, meaning you will be able to save quite a bit (up to $5/hour!) if you buy a package of hours in advance. We will have lots of introductory specials in our first few months - keep checking back on our website!

We also have a $50, one-time registration fee (one fee per family). However, if your child begins attending Blackbird before October 1st, 2017, that fee will be waived.

How do I book time at Blackbird?

All bookings will be made through our online booking system, which will be available to use starting mid-August. Payments are accepted via PayPal account or Credit Card.

If you need to change or cancel hours, you will receive full credit for re-booking those hours if you give at least 24 hours notice of the cancellation.

You can book as little as 1 hour in advance (as long as space is available) or as far as 1 year in advance.

Can my child nap at Blackbird?

Naps are not part of our daily schedule. Most children who are still napping attend before or after their nap. However, if your child needs to attend during their usual naptime, we can provide them with a quiet, dim place to rest, with a cozy mat, pillow, and blanket.

Does my child need to be toilet trained to attend?

No, your child needn't be toilet trained to attend Blackbird. Please send diapers, wipes, and a change of clothes each time.

Is food provided?

No, we will not be providing food. Please send a snack and water bottle with your child. We will schedule snack time at 10:30am and 2:30pm each day (and lunch at noon). No peanuts, please!

Is there a recommended schedule for attendance?

We encourage families to book hours however they like! You are welcome to use anywhere from 1 to 8 hours per day (as long as you don't book over 40 hours per month in total, which is a limit from childcare licensing).

If Blackbird will be your child's first experience in a care setting, we strongly recommend booking him/her in for a few short and frequent visits (i.e., 1 to 2 hours for about 3 days per week). Lots of quick visits help children adjust easily.

Can children with special needs attend?

Yes! We are pleased to provide an inclusive environment. If your child has special needs, please let us know at the time of application so we can work with your family to best serve your little one.

What will the hours of operation be?

We will be open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. We will be closed on stat holidays. Occasionally, we will be open until 8pm for special pajama party evenings - stay tuned!

We will periodically survey our attending families to find out whether extending our hours (i.e., opening at 8:00am or closing at 6:00pm, and/or adding Saturday service) is preferred.

What's the next step?

If you're interested in registering your child, please come and join us for a tour soon! Ensure you have entered your email address on our website (click where it says 'Sign Up for Updates'), and we will get back to you with some options for times to visit us. Tours will begin mid-August, so please expect to hear from us then. We look forward to meeting you!

If you have any questions in the meantime, please email us at info@blackbirdnanaimo.com

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