Schools at the centre

The Waterloo Region District School Board, the Children’s Services Division of the Region of Waterloo, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, the Halton District Public School Board and the Halton District Catholic School Board provided significant assistance in data gathering and the coordination of research activities. [...] Unique to the Ontario model of FDK is the “seamless day,” an extension of the school day to accommodate child care needs, and the educator team, where teachers and early childhood educators share responsibility for the planning and delivery of the program. [...] The report cited the benefits of early intervention and recommended an integrated early years’ system in Ontario through the amalgamation of education, family support and child care under an early learning division of the education ministry. [...] The researchers partnered with the WRDSB and the Children’s Services Division of the Region of Waterloo to develop a case study of that region’s school-based programs, community planning initiatives and systems created to ensure families experience fewer access hurdles. [...] Key Findings The Schools at the Centre study explored the impact of FDK and EDP operated by school boards and community agencies on administrators, educators and parents, and investigated how different boards responded to FDK and the requirement to provide EDP in their community.