Short answer: In Surrey, a licensed part-day preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds costs about $90 to $184 a month through the City of Surrey’s 2026 to 2027 recreation-centre programs (two or three mornings or afternoons a week), and as little as $49 to $67 a month at the City’s two $10-a-Day sites in Cloverdale and Fraser Heights. Full-day early learning and Montessori programs at private centres are priced like daycare, but the province’s fee reduction takes up to $545 a month off full-day group care for children aged 3 to kindergarten. City preschool registration for 2026 to 2027 opened on February 3 to 5, 2026, so expect the 2027 to 2028 round in early February 2027. Children born in 2022 start kindergarten in September 2027.
This guide is for Surrey and White Rock parents of 2- to 4-year-olds. It explains preschool versus daycare versus Montessori, what each costs after subsidies, the free StrongStart option, how to choose a program, the 2026 to 2027 registration calendar, and the early learning centres listed on KidsServiceHub.
Preschool in Surrey at a glance (2026 to 2027)
| Option | Ages | Hours | Typical parent cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| StrongStart BC (school district) | Birth to 5, with a parent or caregiver | Drop-in mornings, Sept to June | Free |
| City of Surrey licensed preschool | 3 or 4 by Dec 31 | 2 to 3 hours, 2 or 3 days a week | About $90 to $184 a month |
| City of Surrey $10-a-Day preschool | 3 to 4 | 2.5 to 3 hours, 2 or 3 days a week | $49 to $67 a month |
| City of Surrey Pre-K (extended hours) | 4 by Dec 31 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 or 3 days a week | $199 to $273 a month |
| City of Surrey Pre-K licensed group care | 4 | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 or 3 days a week | $70 to $120 a month |
| Private full-day early learning or Montessori | About 2.5 to 5 | Full day, up to 5 days a week | Centre fee minus up to $545 a month in fee reduction |
City of Surrey fees are the average monthly fees published in its 2026 to 2027 preschool brochure. The fee reduction amounts come from the Province of BC’s Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative (CCFRI) guidelines for 2026 to 2027.
Preschool, daycare, Montessori or StrongStart: what is the difference?
Licensed preschool
In BC, a licensed preschool is a part-day program for children from 30 months to school age, usually 2 to 4 hours a day, two to five days a week, following the school calendar. It is about social skills, routines and play-based learning, and it does not cover a full workday. Preschools are licensed and inspected by the health authority, which is Fraser Health in Surrey and White Rock.
Full-day early learning (group child care, 30 months to school age)
Many Surrey daycares call their 3-to-5 room a “preschool program” even though it runs a full day. This is licensed group child care with a play-based or structured curriculum, and it covers working hours (often about 7 a.m. to 5:30 or 6 p.m.). It costs more than part-day preschool but gets the larger fee reduction.
Montessori
Montessori is a teaching approach, not a separate type of licence: a Montessori preschool in BC is still a licensed preschool or child care centre. Children choose from hands-on materials on low shelves, work at their own pace in mixed-age groups, and learn practical life skills alongside early literacy and numeracy. Because anyone can use the name, ask whether the lead teachers hold a recognized Montessori diploma as well as BC Early Childhood Educator certification.
StrongStart BC
StrongStart is a free drop-in early learning program run in Surrey elementary schools for children from birth to age 5, who attend with a parent or caregiver. It offers stories, music, art, play and a snack, and runs from September to June at about two dozen Surrey school sites. It is not child care, because you stay, but it is an excellent free way to prepare a child for kindergarten. Register through Surrey Schools.
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What preschool costs in Surrey after subsidies
City of Surrey programs (2026 to 2027)
The City runs licensed preschool at 17 locations, including recreation centres and several elementary schools. Published average monthly fees:
- Two days a week (Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 3 hours): about $90 to $134 a month.
- Three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday): about $119 to $184 a month.
- Pre-K extended hours (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at Clayton, Cloverdale, Don Christian, Guildford, Meridian and South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre: $199 for two days or $273 for three days.
- $10-a-Day sites at Cloverdale Mini Rec and Fraser Heights Recreation Centre: preschool $49 to $67 a month; Pre-K group care (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) $70 to $96.
- Pre-K group care with the fee reduction at Fleetwood Community Centre, David Brankin Elementary and Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre: $88 to $120 a month.
For 3-year-old programs, your child must turn 3 by December 31 of the school year; for 4-year-old programs, 4 by December 31.
Private centres and Montessori schools
Private centres set their own base fees, so call for current rates. What you actually pay depends on two provincial programs:
| Program | Who gets it | Maximum per month (2026 to 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| CCFRI fee reduction, group care, 3 years to kindergarten | Every family at a participating centre, automatically | $545 (family child care $500) |
| CCFRI fee reduction, licensed preschool | Every family at a participating preschool | $95 |
| Affordable Child Care Benefit, group care 37 months to school age | Income-tested; you apply | $550 |
| Affordable Child Care Benefit, licensed preschool | Income-tested; you apply | $225 |
Two rules worth knowing: CCFRI will not reduce a full-time parent fee below $200 a month, and for programs of 4 hours a day or less, including preschool, the minimum parent fee is $140 a month or $7 a day. The Affordable Child Care Benefit is applied on top of CCFRI, so lower- and middle-income families can pay very little. Check what you qualify for with the province’s estimator before you assume a centre is out of reach. Our best daycares in Surrey guide and daycare checklist explain the $10-a-Day program and waitlists in more detail.
Surrey and White Rock early learning and Montessori programs on KidsServiceHub
Surrey City Centre and Whalley
- Raja Montessori Academy (10928 132 Street): a Montessori preschool and early learning centre for ages 2.5 to 6, with hands-on, self-paced learning in a calm, child-centred classroom.
- The Grand Childcare (10745 King George Boulevard): a new centre opening October 2026 with infant care from birth to 2.5 years and play-based early years programs from 2.5 to 5 through Pre-K. Pre-registration and tours are open.
- Kids & Company Surrey (13737 96 Avenue): a national provider offering a preschool program and kindergarten readiness, plus infant, toddler and before- and after-school care.
Clayton Heights
- BrightPath Clayton Hills (7239 192 Street): a purpose-built centre with infant, toddler and preschool programs and before- and after-school care, a single solution for families with a preschooler and a school-age child.
South Surrey
- B Kids Daycare (3060 148 Street): play-based learning with Montessori structure and Reggio Emilia influence; preschool program for ages 3 to 5.
- CEFA Early Learning South Surrey (Morgan Crossing): a private early years school with junior preschool (2 to 3), senior preschool (3 to 4) and junior kindergarten (4 to 5), and a structured curriculum that includes French, music and yoga.
- Tiny Hoppers South Surrey (15045 32 Avenue): an award-winning early learning centre with a preschool program from 30 months to school age.
- Little Footprints Academy (2355 King George Boulevard): a licensed daycare with preschool and school-readiness programs.
- Willowbrae Academy South Surrey (3211 152 Street): an inquiry-driven, play-based curriculum for intentional early education before kindergarten.
- Alex House Children’s Centre (South Surrey and White Rock): group 3-to-5 and Pre-Kindergarten programs, with several sites in BC’s $10-a-Day program.
- Creative Kids Learning Centers Rosemary Heights (15350 34 Avenue): Junior Kindergarten and full-day child care for ages 3 and up, plus a school-age program.
White Rock
- Rothewood Academy: a nature-based licensed daycare and preschool founded in 2015, serving White Rock, South Surrey and Semiahmoo.
- Pebble Lane Early Learning (15670 Columbia Avenue): a full-day early learning program for ages 3 to 5, from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., with a class size of 16.
See every centre in the Daycare & Child Care directory.
How to choose a preschool: a tour checklist
- Check the licence and inspection reports. Every licensed program in Surrey is inspected by Fraser Health, and recent inspection reports are public.
- Ask about ratios and group size. BC’s licensing rules allow one educator for every 10 children in a preschool (groups of up to 20) and one for every 8 in full-day group care for ages 30 months to school age (groups of up to 25). Smaller is better.
- Ask about the educators. Who holds BC Early Childhood Educator certification, and for Montessori programs, who holds a Montessori diploma? How long have the lead educators been there?
- Watch a real session. Look for children who are busy and relaxed, educators at child height, and lots of outdoor time in all weather.
- Confirm the money. Is the centre in CCFRI, and is the reduction shown on the invoice? Is there a registration fee or deposit? How much notice is needed to withdraw (the City of Surrey charges one month’s fee without a full calendar month’s notice)?
- Plan the whole day. If your child does a 2.5-hour preschool, who covers the rest of the day? A full-day centre may be simpler for working parents.
- Potty training. Ask whether children need to be toilet trained, since some part-day preschools require it.
Preschool and kindergarten registration calendar
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now (fall 2026) | Tour private centres and Montessori programs and join waitlists for September 2027. Many centres fill spots from waitlists in the spring. |
| Any time | Register for StrongStart with Surrey Schools; it is free and runs September to June. |
| January 2027 | Kindergarten registration for September 2027 (children born in 2022). In 2026 it opened on January 12, online at your catchment school. |
| Late January to February 2027 | Kindergarten Programs of Choice lottery (Early French Immersion, Montessori, Fine Arts, Traditional and outdoor learning). The 2026 window ran February 2 to 20, and you must register at your catchment school first. |
| Early February 2027 | City of Surrey preschool registration for 2027 to 2028. In 2026 it opened at 7:30 a.m. on February 3 (Fleetwood, Guildford, Fraser Heights), February 4 (Cloverdale, Whalley) and February 5 (South Surrey, Newton). Spots go fast, so register online at surrey.ca/register or by phone at 604-501-5100. |
| September 2027 | Preschool and kindergarten start. |
Surrey Schools also runs Montessori as a public kindergarten Program of Choice through the lottery, at Douglas Elementary and Mountainview Montessori, so a Montessori preschool child can continue the approach in a free public school.
After preschool: kindergarten and before- and after-school care
Every Surrey and White Rock elementary school offers full-day kindergarten, which starts the September of the year your child turns 5. Once your child is in school, you may need care around the school day. Several centres above, including Kids & Company, BrightPath Clayton Hills, Alex House and Creative Kids Learning Centers, run before- and after-school programs, and Edgewood Home After School in South Surrey runs a CCFRI-approved after-school program for ages 5 to 12. Our after-school programs guide covers every option, and our camps guide covers the school breaks.
Frequently asked questions
What age can a child start preschool in BC?
Licensed preschools in BC take children from 30 months (2.5 years) to school age. City of Surrey programs require children to be 3 by December 31 for 3-year-old classes and 4 by December 31 for 4-year-old classes.
How much does preschool cost in Surrey?
City of Surrey licensed preschool costs about $90 to $184 a month in 2026 to 2027 for two or three part-day sessions a week, and $49 to $67 a month at its $10-a-Day sites. Full-day private early learning programs cost more, but the province reduces fees by up to $545 a month for ages 3 to kindergarten.
Is preschool free in BC?
No, licensed preschool is not free, but the StrongStart BC drop-in program is free for children up to age 5 who attend with a parent or caregiver. $10-a-Day preschool spaces cost about $7 a day, and the Affordable Child Care Benefit can cover up to $225 a month of preschool fees for eligible families.
What is the difference between preschool and daycare?
Preschool is a part-day program, usually 2 to 4 hours a day, focused on play-based learning and social skills. Daycare (group child care) covers a full working day. Many Surrey daycares call their 3-to-5 room a preschool program even though it runs all day.
Is Montessori better than a play-based preschool?
Neither is better for every child. Montessori suits children who like order, independence and hands-on materials; play-based and Reggio-inspired programs suit children who learn through open-ended play and projects. The quality of the educators and the classroom matters more than the label, so tour both.
When do I register for preschool in Surrey for September 2027?
Join private centre waitlists now. City of Surrey preschool registration for the 2027 to 2028 year is expected in early February 2027, following the February 3 to 5 schedule used in 2026.
Does CCFRI apply to preschool?
Yes. Participating licensed preschools reduce fees by up to $95 a month, and participating full-day group care programs for ages 3 to kindergarten reduce fees by up to $545 a month. Families do not apply; the centre applies the reduction to your bill.
When does kindergarten registration open in Surrey for 2027?
Kindergarten registration for September 2027, for children born in 2022, is expected to open in January 2027. For September 2026 it opened on January 12, 2026, with the Programs of Choice lottery running February 2 to 20.
Related guides
- The 10 Best Daycares in Surrey, BC
- How to Choose a Daycare in Surrey, BC
- After-School Programs for Kids in Surrey, BC
- Daycare in Langley, BC (2026)
- Daycare in Burnaby, BC (2026)
- Kids Camps in Surrey, BC (2026-27)
