Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor announced Tuesday that local Niagara Region children and their families will benefit from an integrated day of learning and play when full-day early learning comes to this region this September.
Full-day early learning for four- and five-year-olds will be available at the following 21 elementary schools
DSB of Niagara
College Street Public School (Smithville)
James Morden Public School (Niagara Falls)
McKay Public School (Port Colbourne)
Memorial Public School St. Catharines)
Ontario Public School (Thorold)
Princess Margaret Public School (Niagara Falls)
Richmond Street Public School (Thorold)
Senator Gibson Public School Beamsville)
Stevensville Public School Fort Erie)
Valley Way Public School (Niagara Falls)
Westdale Public School (St. Catharines)
Niagara Catholic DSB
Father Hennepin Separate School (Niagara Falls)
Holy Name School (Welland)
Our Lady of Fatima Separate School (St Catharines)
St Denis Separate School (St Catharines
St Joseph Separate School (Grimsby)
St Mary School (Welland)
St Patrick Separate School (Niagara Falls)
St. Therese Separate School (Port Colbourne)
Also
École La Marsh (Niagara Falls)
ÉÉC Immaculée-Conception (St Catharines)
Parents who are interested in registration for full-day learning classes, including the before- and after-school program, should contact their local school or school board.
In full-day learning classrooms, teachers and registered early childhood educators will work together to help children learn and develop emotional, social and academic skills that are crucial for healthy development. Schools will also offer extended day programs led by early childhood educators. Parents can enrol their child in these integrated programs for a reasonable fee, giving children even more opportunities to learn, play and grow.
Ontario is investing in the education of our youngest students to better prepare them for future success. The goal is for all schools to offer full-day learning by 2015-16.
QUOTES
"Creating an integrated day of learning and play, full-day early learning will give our children more opportunities for success. It is a key part of the government’s plan to build a stronger school system and a well-educated workforce."
— MPP KimCraitor, Niagara Falls
"Those close to the educational system would know that families and children in Niagara need and want full-day learning. I’m pleased we’re taking the important first step towards giving all of our four- and five-year-olds a firmer foundation for learning – and for life."
— Jim Bradley, MPP St. Catharines
"By giving our four- and five-year-olds a stronger start in school, we’re giving them a stronger start in life. Full-day early learning will help more children, their families and Ontario’s communities thrive."
— Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Education
QUICK FACTS
Up to 35,000 four- and five-year-olds in nearly 600 Ontario schools will attend full-day early learning in September. The full list of schools is available at Ontario.ca/EarlyLearning.
As part of the full-day learning initiative, parents can choose to enrol their child in integrated before- and after-school programs for a reasonable fee. Subsidies will be available for some families, based on financial need.
Full-day early learning will help students with their reading, writing and math skills, provide a smoother transition to Grade 1, help more students achieve success at school, and help create a stronger economy for the future.
LEARN MORE
See how full-day learning is part of Ontario’s plan to reduce poverty.
Find out more about full-day learning.
Backgrounder
Phase One: Full-Day Learning for Four- and Five-Year-Olds
In September, full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds will be available in nearly 600 schools across every school board in Ontario. This means up to 35,000 kindergarten students across Ontario will be enrolled in full-day learning in September, 2010.
The list of schools is available at www.Ontario.ca/EarlyLearning . School boards will soon begin registering for the 2010-11 school year – including the integrated before- and after-school program.
The program will be phased in over time starting this September and will be expanded in stages with a goal of having it fully implemented by 2015-16.
Full-day learning is a key part of the government’s plan to create a stronger school system and a well-educated work force. By giving our kids an early start in school, we’re setting them on the road to success and building a stronger Ontario for us all.
Phase one recommendations
School boards worked with other local school boards and municipalities to make their recommendations. Together, they reviewed possible schools using ministry guidelines, including:
Available space – school boards looked at which schools had classroom space available and did not require new additions or renovations.
Impact on existing local child care – school boards and municipalities worked together to consider whether communities would be best served by selecting schools with existing child care programs, schools near existing licensed child care or schools in neighbourhoods where no child care is currently available for four- and five-year-olds.
Local need – school boards considered the various needs of all the communities that they serve and how early learning could meet those needs. A portion of the phase-one schools will serve low-income neighbourhoods.
An integrated day
Teachers and early childhood educators will work together to help children learn during the regular school day. Working side-by-side, these educators will create a welcoming environment where children can learn, play and grow.
Parents will also have the option to enrol their child in the school’s integrated extended day fee-based option that provides before- and after-school programming, (for example, 7– 9 a.m. and 3:30 – 6 p.m.). The extended-day program will be led by registered Early Childhood Educators who share the school day portion of the program and are available before and after school. Subsidies will be available to some families based on need. Fees will be determined locally by boards.
Extended programming
Boards that have the capacity and the parent demand are called upon to provide extended services at other times of the year for children age six to twelve years old. This could include PD days, holidays and the summer.
Where there is sufficient parent demand and capacity, school boards are called upon to provide extended services at other times of the year for