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Early Learning
What strategies are in place to address the needs identified in Early Learning?
Early Learning Goal: To reduce the vulnerability rates of children ages zero to six.
EDI Data and Partnerships
SD48 is currently implementing an Early Learning Profile (ELP) as an assessment tool for Kindergarten and K/1. This tool helps our staff target early literacy intervention. Kindergarten teachers also complete the Early Development Index (EDI) annually for each of their students.
As a review of previous EDI results, SD48 has a vulnerability rate of 31% as compared to the provincial vulnerability rate of 32.5%. District-wide, the highest level of vulnerability is ‘emotional maturity; at 18%. The smallest proportion of children vulnerable is on the ‘Language and Cognitive Development’ scale at 7%. More information can be found here http://earlylearning.ubc.ca/maps/edi/sd/48/
We also uses zonal and school EDI results to collaborate with Kindergarten teachers and Principals, each school year. Meetings are held to discuss the information in detail. As previously mentioned, these conversations then translate into planning for differentiated strategies within the classrooms and community programs, to meet the needs of different communities.
Specific strategies to address the vulnerability in ‘Physical Health and Well Being’ and ‘Social Competence’ were put in place in all SD48 StrongStart Centres and Day Care Centres. For example, SD48 continues to support 3 ‘High Scope’ Pre-Schools and several ‘High Scope’ inspired Pre- Schools continue to operate with high levels of attendance and demand. Three of these programs are housed in SD48 schools.
High Scope: The philosophy of the High Scope Program features active learning that is planned both by parents and children. The children learn through direct hands on experiences with objects, events and ideas. Trained adults provide guidance, support and scaffolding.
In 2018 SD48 along with Sea to Sky Community Services and other partner groups started S.P.A.R.K. with the focus on decreasing vulnerability, and creating community connection for families. The S.P.A.R.K. program is founded on a philosophy that learning happens naturally through the experiences, relationships and joy that families share with their children.
Kindergarten Early Development Instrument (EDI) Results
The Early Development Instrument (EDI) is a questionnaire developed by Dr. Dan Offord and Dr. Magdalena Janus at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University.
The questionnaire has 104 questions and measures five core areas of early child development that are known to be good predictors of adult health, education and social outcomes:
Physical Health & Well-Being
Sample EDI questions: Can the child hold a pencil, pen or crayons? Is the child on time for school each day?
Language & Cognitive Development
Sample EDI questions: Is the child interested in reading and writing? Can the child count and recognize numbers?
Social Competence
Sample EDI questions: Does the child share with others? Is the child self-confident? Will he/she invite bystanders to join in a game?
Emotional Maturity
Sample EDI questions: Is the child able to concentrate? Is the child aggressive or angry? Is the child impulsive (does he/she act without thinking)?
Communication Skills & General Knowledge
Sample EDI questions: Can the child tell a short story? Can the child communicate with adults and children?
EDI questionnaires are completed by kindergarten teachers from across British Columbia for all children in their classes. They are filled out in February, after teachers have had the chance to get to know their students. This ensures that teachers are able to answer the questions knowledgeably.
Supporting Parents Along the Road to Kindergarten (S.P.A.R.K.)
S.P.A.R.K. (Supporting Parents Along the Road to Kindergarten) is for parents whose children are newborn to age 5. Caregivers learn important strategies and fun activities that offer vital support to their child’s early learning in a 90-minute session every fall, winter and spring until their children enter kindergarten.
S.P.A.R.K. is based on the British Columbia Early Learning Framework. Parents attend classes with other parents who have children the same age and free childminding is offered for children over 12 months. It offers families time to reflect on how children learn and grow.
The S.P.A.R.K. program is founded on a philosophy that learning happens naturally through the experiences, relationships and joy that families share with their children.
Families are provided with materials and toys when they attend the program. Parents can also register for the Imagination Library, which mails a free, age-appropriate book to their children every month until their fifth birthday.
This program is funded by British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Development and Sea to Sky School District #48.
Strong Start
StrongStart Centers for three to four year olds operated in partnership with “Sea to Sky Community Services” at Squamish Elementary (Squamish), Valleycliffe Elementary (Squamish), and Signal Hill Elementary (Pemberton) Schools. The StrongStart initiative is in place to help promote positive early childhood development.
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