A bright, organized preschool classroom with yellow walls, wooden tables and chairs, shelves with educational toys, art supplies, and a wooden play structure in the corner—just like those found at early learning centres or preschools close to me. Artwork hangs on the wall.

CEFA’s New Westminster – Uptown Unlocking Every Child’s Potential

CEFA New Westminster – Uptown is a private early years school in New Westminster for children ages 1-5, with a proprietary curriculum designed to build strong foundations for kindergarten and beyond.

Address

#243 – 610 Sixth St, New Westminster, BC V3L 3C2 Canada

Hours of Operation

Monday–Friday: 7:30AM to 5:30PM

Hours subject to change with notice.

Admission Status

Accepting Applications for:

  • CEFA Baby
  • Junior Kindergarten 1
  • Junior Kindergarten 2
  • Junior Kindergarten 3

The CEFA Difference

Why Families Choose CEFA New Westminster – Uptown

At CEFA New Westminster – Uptown, we focus on the early years as a time for meaningful growth and development. Every experience is thoughtfully designed to support your child’s readiness for kindergarten while building confidence, curiosity, and essential life skills.

25+ Years of Trust

For over 25 years, families have chosen CEFA for an approach that combines purposeful early education, expert teacher guidance, and a deep understanding of early brain development.

A Proprietary Curriculum

Our four-pillared curriculum blends structured learning with child-led exploration, integrating academics, the arts, and life skills to support the whole child.

CEFA-Certified Teachers

Our teachers are trained in the CEFA methodology to deliver a consistent, engaging experience that balances guided learning with creativity and individualized support.

Our Curriculum

CEFA Four-Pillared Curriculum

Our CEFA curriculum supports your child’s development through four pillars that nurture language, creativity, and social skills. Together, they shape how your child learns, thinks, and grows.

Testimonials

Hear What CEFA Parents Say

My daughter joined CEFA Cornerstone when she was in the CEFA Baby program and had barely started walking and talking. In a short time, we saw a big difference in her confidence and development.

She is now in JK1 and absolutely loves going to school every day. She adores her teachers and friends, and the teachers have always been so caring and attentive to each child’s needs. Even now, when she sees her previous teachers, she runs to them with so much love and they greet her just as warmly.

We’re really glad we chose CEFA to begin her learning journey and are very grateful to the amazing teachers and staff for taking such wonderful care of her.

Vasundhara Ghil

Calgary – Cornerstone

I am so happy with CEFA Cornerstone, where my daughter attends! The staff is incredibly caring, professional, and truly dedicated to the children. My daughter loves going every day, and I can see how much she’s learning and growing in such a positive environment. A big thank you to the principal, Karina, and Gurmeet, who are both so approachable, warm, and always ensure everything runs smoothly. They truly care about the well-being of the children and foster an amazing environment for both the kids and parents. The facilities are clean, safe, and well-organized, and I appreciate the constant communication with the parents. I also love how they offer age-appropriate activities that engage and challenge my daughter. Highly recommend CEFA Cornerstone to any parent looking for a trustworthy, nurturing place for their little one!

Bruno Carlos Costa

Calgary – Cornerstone

Great location with plenty of parking at the mall. My child has so much fun here. There are lots of activities. The teachers and managers are very responsive and collaborative. My daughter is always excited to tell me about her day and her teachers. She always has lots to say about school and how much fun her day was. Highly recommend 🙂

Our daughter started at CEFA Early Learning Markham – Esna Park when she was just 5 months old, and now at 18 months, she has transitioned from the baby class to the toddler class. It has been such a wonderful journey watching her grow in such a caring and nurturing environment!

The teachers have been absolutely amazing—kind, patient, and genuinely dedicated to the children’s well-being. Her class teachers, in particular, are so friendly and attentive, making each day exciting and full of learning. The principal is also very approachable and warm, always creating a welcoming atmosphere for both parents and children.

We feel incredibly grateful for the love, support, and care our daughter receives every day at CEFA. It truly feels like a second home for her, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to her early learning journey. Highly recommended to any parent looking for a daycare that combines professional care with a family-like environment!

Trapa Chowdhury

Markham – Esna Park

We recently moved to a new city and were very nervous about enrolling our 2-year-old at CEFA Cottonwood, as she was deeply attached to her previous daycare. But the teachers here have been incredibly kind, patient, and welcoming, and she has adjusted so well in just two weeks! There are a few tears at drop-off, but her days go smoothly and happily.

A big and heartfelt thank you to the entire team for making her feel so comfortable and supported during this transition. I’d also like to give a special mention to Ashley, the owner, who has been wonderful to deal with, so approachable, understanding, and supportive.

We’re so grateful to have found such a caring and nurturing environment for our little one!

The teachers genuinely care about each child and go above and beyond to support their emotional and educational development. The environment is clean, well-organized, and full of engaging activities.

Since joining, my son has become more confident, social, and happy. We couldn’t be more satisfied with our choice and highly recommend this daycare to any family looking for a nurturing and trustworthy environment.

We chose CEFA for our 17-month-old daughter, and we don’t regret it at all. The place is new, and everything was beautifully chosen to help the children learn and grow in a great environment. The staff are very professional and friendly, and our daughter felt comfortable and happy after a few days; that’s the most important aspect of it all.

The teacher does activities that help the kids develop new skills and provide opportunities to learn new things. They also have an app that lets you follow your child’s day with everything they did, and also some pictures. It’s a very nice feature.

We would recommend this place for every parent who wants to know that their child is in a safe environment with a lot of opportunities to develop and learn.

Eric Boisvert

Oakville – Eighth Line

Our daughter has been attending CEFA Oakville for almost 7 months, and we are so happy with our decision to send her there. Both the teachers and support staff are wonderful. As a parent, they are professional, communicative, and organized, and for our daughter, they are so kind and compassionate that she’s developed a strong bond with all her teachers. The facilities are beautiful, clean, well-organized, and thoughtfully designed to cater to the kids’ needs. I appreciate that there is a curriculum plan (that they communicate monthly) and that they engage the kids in activities designed to support skill development. It feels like my child will graduate from CEFA set up for success at school, instead of just having attended a supervised playground during these formative years. Overall, I would highly recommend CEFA to anyone interested in a more academic approach to early learning, and considering the quality of the care, facilities, and staff, I think CEFA is a great value.

Paloma Pontarini

Oakville – Eighth Line

A warm, welcoming environment with motivated teachers. The facility is very clean. Small class ratios make for good learning opportunities. I felt confident enrolling my toddler here after touring more than 5 to 6 schools in Oakville.

Amrita Dhanoa

Oakville – Eighth Line

We are so grateful for CEFA Capilano Mall. We have been parents of children at this location for almost 4 years and have the utmost respect for the instructors and staff. Everyone is so friendly, caring, and easy to communicate with. Our children have learned so much and are so interested in learning, even out of the classroom. Thank you so much to the administrators (Alexandra, Laura, and Alanna), the instructors, and the chef for running a wonderful learning facility for children.

If your child is asking to go to school… on a weekend, you know you’ve found something special.

That’s exactly what happened to us at CEFA Early Learning. From day one, our little one has been genuinely excited to go to school, and as parents, that says everything.

The growth we’ve seen has been incredible – not just academically, but in confidence, independence, and love for learning. It’s so reassuring to know your child is not only learning, but truly happy.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Crystal, Ms. Tina, and the baby class teachers for building that strong foundation, and to the amazing JK1 teachers Ms. Adhraa, Mr. Vincent, and Ms. Anisha for continuing to nurture and inspire her every single day.

To any parent considering this school, this is your sign. You’re not just enrolling your child in a program; you’re giving them a place where they feel excited, supported, and loved. And that is priceless.

We are extremely happy with our experience at CEFA. Moving our daughter here was one of the best decisions we’ve made. While the monthly cost may seem high at first, it includes meals and, when compared to daily food costs, time, and effort, it is very reasonable. More importantly, the value comes from the quality of care and education.

The program is well-structured and development-focused. Children participate in activities such as circle time, reading, and interactive discussions that truly help them grow. We’ve seen a huge improvement in our daughter’s confidence, communication, and overall happiness.

The staff are professional, kind, and maintain appropriate boundaries, which we really appreciate. The environment is clean, organized, and welcoming. We also receive regular updates, photos, and reports, which give us peace of mind.

Our daughter now has friends, feels included, and genuinely enjoys going to daycare every day.
I highly recommend CEFA to any parent looking for a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for their child.

Suzana Denisova

Kelowna – Spall

CEFA Early Learning centers from my perspective, are the sweetest on so many levels; they go above and beyond for the well-being of children who love going to daycare. After three grandsons, now growing into K-1 I thought it important for future children. The chaildcare is so clean, so organized and lots of beautiful memories. Thank You CEFA for amazing years. Romer boys are great!

Annemarie Romer

Kelowna – Spall

We couldn’t be happier with our experience at CEFA! From the very beginning, the team has been incredibly welcoming, caring, and attentive. It’s clear that they genuinely care about each child’s development and well-being.

The environment is clean, organized, and thoughtfully designed to support learning through play. The educators are not only knowledgeable but also kind, patient, and truly passionate about what they do. We’ve seen such wonderful growth in our child, both socially and developmentally since joining.

Thank you to the entire CEFA team for creating such a nurturing and enriching environment. We highly recommend this school to any family looking for high-quality childcare and early education!

Our daughter Elise started as a student at CEFA when she was only 15 months old, and we absolutely love it! We have seen her flourish and grow leaps and bounds since she started. Her vocabulary has increased dramatically, and she is so much more inquisitive, and seems so mature compared to her friends!

We chose CEFA because they offer a curriculum program and not just play. Even though Elise has lots of play and exploration in her day, she also is learning to read, and to write, and she is loving the STEM curriculum.

The teachers are so warm, caring and welcoming, and really take a genuine interest in our daughter and our family. Daylene, the Principal, is always smiling and greeting students and parents in the morning – it’s such a great way to start the day!

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks are provided by their in-house chef who creates nutritious delicious meals all prepared according to the Canadian food guide, so I have no worries about her nutrition and I especially love that I don’t need to prepare anything for the day – CEFA takes care of everything, which means I have more time to spend with my daughter. Plus, she enjoys the meals so much that I’ve even asked for some recipes to make at home.

I love that I never have to worry about what Elise wears in the morning as she wears a uniform. I drop her off at school with the confidence that she will have a wonderful day and I never need to worry about her wellbeing while at work. She loves school so much that she doesn’t want to come home when I go to pick her up at the end of the day. I couldn’t ask for anything more – CEFA definitely exceeds my expectations!

Nagisa Hasegawa

It is with great pride and earnest thanks that I write this letter today. It is Bradley’s 4th birthday today and he was just accepted to Kindergarten at Mulgrave Independent School a whole year early.

When we first enrolled Bradley at CEFA it was for two reasons: to provide him with some social interaction skills and to give him a good start at an education. Our expectations were exceeded in every way.

The most telling trait of your school is his love of learning. Even on his days off he asks to be there. He’s excited about his class lessons, his friends, his teachers and about himself. He is confident, thoughtful, happy, and inquisitive. The program that you have put together fosters not just an understanding of the basic concepts such as the alphabet and numbers but problem solving, interest development, confidence building, and creativity.

The foundation that CEFA has given Bradley will benefit more than simply his academic career. It is the building blocks of exceptional character development. The preparation he has received is for more than just school, it is for life.

With confidence we recommend your school to all parents who want to develop their child’s complete potential.

Stephanie Chu

As her parents, we listened with much pride, joy and gratitude as our daughter Noelie recited the poem “An Epitome of the Triad” by Cleo Victoria Stewart at CEFA’s Holiday Event. Her ability to read the poem off the sheet that her JK3 teacher, Miss Forsythe was holding, was definitely a culmination of everyone’s hard work, working in tandem, just like the poem Noelie read “Day after day the teacher toiled, with a touch that was deft and sure. While the parent labored in support, and polished and smoothed it o’er.”

We feel blessed to have been able to give Noelie the opportunity to learn at CEFA since she was 21 months old, from CEFA baby through to JK3, and thankful to the teachers for their dedication and hard work. Her acceptance into York House for kindergarten is proof once again of the high educational standards CEFA has as a preparatory preschool.

We look forward to her graduation from CEFA with bittersweet joy, and so appreciative for the joy of learning now instilled in our daughter.

Alisa and Darren Darcy

In the two months he’s been at CEFA, Matthew’s progress has surprised us. We are especially surprised by our toddler suddenly developing into an independent, interactive little two-year-old who talks cheerfully and cogently about his day at school, bursts into little songs and stories he’s learned in the classroom, and who has learned to reason for himself. Some days ago he told mummy that he went to big boy school where no mummies were allowed because big boys did not need their mummies to help them do many things.

On a personal front, he has (it seems) almost overnight acquired a steady potty-going habit and a marked improvement in his self-feeding (no doubt encouraged by the clever, child-friendly, enticing food prepared by the chef).

Although we were apprehensive at first about leaving our little boy in the hands of strangers for the better part of the day, and although it was really hard in the first few weeks to separate from an anxious toddler who had never been away from mummy before, we now take him to CEFA these days quite comfortable in the knowledge that his physical needs are taken care of, his emotions considered, and his intellect encouraged.

We are also encouraged by the strong parent involvement in the school with parents contacting each other regularly to participate in field trips and other miscellaneous activities which really help to form a sense of community and involvement.

We thank you and all the teachers at CEFA for making Matthew’s first foray into schooling a fun, stimulating and nurturing one.

Rachelle and David Lau

My husband and I would like to thank you warmly for giving our family the opportunity to attend your school, Core Education & Fine Arts. CEFA has provided a fundamental environment for my two sons, which was especially necessary since they came from a non-Canadian environment and needed to settle in, having moved 3 countries in less than two years. This was crucial for them.

The bright and lively atmosphere for learning has seen the boys develop independence and confidence in themselves, in a new place and a new country.

Having had one of my sons graduate from the CEFA program already, I have seen him achieve above and beyond the elementary curriculum he’s currently in. The transition to elementary school was very smooth.

Before CEFA, the boys had attended a year of pure Montessori, and it was found that for the self-starter student, the method had a bit more of an impact than for the child who needs more guidance and encouragement. I have two children, one of them who is quite the self-starter and did well in the Montessori environment, and the other, of a more cautious personality did not seem to progress as well.

At CEFA, they both progressed at admirable rates with both guidance and encouragement in the CEFA approach.

Having had both my sons go through the CEFA program, I definitely recommend it both for the avid student as well as for the average student. I find your method greatly benefits all children and develops them to their full potential.

Susan and Richard Gilbert

It is unbelievable that it is the end of the school year already. Nicole has completed JK3 and our time at CEFA has sadly come to an end. At this time, I feel I must write to you to express my thoughts.

Firstly, I must congratulate you on creating a first-class pre-school establishment. I know (from too much previous experience) that there is nothing else out there like it. I wish we had come to CEFA much sooner. It is a wonderful professional environment, and at the same time, one which has a very friendly, easy atmosphere, in which you feel immediately comfortable.

The JK3 teaching staff have been fabulous. With great gentleness and kindness, they fostered an environment of learning that was fun, stimulating and safe. At the same time, they helped guide the children towards an appreciation of higher social values – I find support in this area critical. I admired how the teacher’s, guided by the students’ interests, undauntedly tackled more advanced topics (e.g. the solar system) and achieved incredible success. Nicole’s retention of the facts was amazing, and she loved to recount at home what she had learned! We also very much appreciated the genuine interest the teachers displayed in Nicole’s progress.

We enjoyed the many “extras” CEFA provides, especially in the area of parental support. In particular, we appreciated the extended hours to accommodate working parents’ schedules, and providing meals for the children. Chef Tobin is to be commended on the child-friendly, yet nutritious food he prepares.

Last, but not least, let’s examine the product: Simply stated, Nicole has had a wonderful year. She was eager to get to school each day, and never failed to say “I had a great day” whenever I picked her up. She has made great strides intellectually and emotionally in the past year. Nicole will be a young, yet confident Kindergartener. We know she is well prepared.

Thank you for a very happy association with CEFA. We wish you and all your staff a wonderful summer, and much further success in the future.

Sabine Ritson

We are writing this letter to tell you how pleased we are that Eliscia is attending CEFA and to thank you for managing such a well organized and stimulating school. We have been very impressed with the quality of your teaching staff and couldn’t be happier with the choice we made to place Eliscia at your school.

Over the last nine months at CEFA, we have observed teachers excited about teaching and Eliscia having fun learning. You and your teachers have created a warm and supportive educational environment for our daughter and for that we are truly grateful.

A great big thank you to the teachers of Junior Kindergarten One – Mrs. Morris, Ms. Senang, Ms. Garania and Ms. Do – for teaching and respecting our daughter. You have all made and are continuing to make a positive mark on Eliscia’s personality and intellectual growth.

Shaun and Karen Sinclair

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About CEFA New Westminster – Uptown

What ages does CEFA New Westminster – Uptown serve?

CEFA New Westminster – Uptown welcomes children ages 1-5.

Where is CEFA New Westminster – Uptown located in New Westminster?

CEFA New Westminster – Uptown is located at #243 – 610 Sixth St, New Westminster, BC V3L 3C2, Canada.

What programs are offered at CEFA New Westminster – Uptown?

CEFA New Westminster – Uptown offers CB, JK1, JK2, JK3 programs.

What is the difference between CEFA Early Years School and daycare in New Westminster?

Unlike a traditional daycare in New Westminster, CEFA New Westminster – Uptown provides a structured, academic-based early education experience guided by our four-pillared curriculum, designed to nurture cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development through play-based learning.

Is CEFA New Westminster – Uptown a childcare option in New Westminster?

Yes. CEFA New Westminster – Uptown is a childcare option in New Westminster for children ages 1-5, offering an early learning environment that supports the whole child through structured activities, guided exploration, and age-appropriate development.

Does CEFA offer preschool programs in New Westminster?

Yes. CEFA New Westminster – Uptown includes preschool-age programs designed to support kindergarten readiness and whole-child development.

How do I book a tour at CEFA New Westminster – Uptown?

To book a tour, please fill out the inquiry form. A member of our school team will then contact you to arrange a tour based on available dates.

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