Understanding The Early Years

Niagara College ECE Program October 2007Glory Ressler, B.A., Dip. GIT

Coordinator, Understanding the Early Years Niagara RegionEarly Childhood Community Development Centre905-646-7311 or eccdc@eccdc.org

The Understanding the Early Years initiative is funded by Human Resources and Social Development Canada.  For further information, visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca

AGENDA

Overview of UEY

Local Research

Products and Activities

Impacts to-date

Discussion

Evaluations

INTRODUCTION TO UEYFunder: HRSDC (36 sites across Canada)Sponsoring agency: ECCDCHistory: Niagara Falls from 2001-2007, Niagara Region from 2005-2008Community Coalition: Early Years Niagara Planning CouncilPartners: Region of Niagara, Ontario Early Years Centres, DSBN, NCDSB, various early years service providers, community groups, businesses and service clubs

PURPOSE OF UEYPromote awareness and understanding concerning the importance of the early years

Examine the relationship between community factors and early learning and development outcomes in Niagara

Report on local and national findings

Support evidence-based decision making and planning in the community (capacity building)

UEY KNOWLEDGE GATHERING

COMMUNITY

ASSETS

Community Resource

Inventory Survey

CHILDDEVELOPMENT,

FAMILY & COMMUNITYEXPERIENCEReadiness to learn (EDI)

Parent Interviews &

Direct Assessments

(NLSCY, PIDACS)COMMUNITY

FACTORS

Socioeconomic Conditions and

Social Risk Index (Census)

UEY Timeline• 2001 EDI – UEY Niagara Falls• 2002 National Longitudinal Study of Children & Youth (NLSCY) • 2001 Census/Statistics Canada - UEY Niagara Falls, UEY Niagara Region• 2002 EDI – UEY Niagara Falls/Ontario Early Years Niagara Region• 2003 EDI – UEY Niagara Falls• 2003 Community Resources Inventory Survey – Ontario Early Years Niagara Region/UEY Niagara Falls• 2005 EDI - UEY Niagara Falls/Ontario Early Years Niagara Region• 2005 NLSCY – UEY Niagara Falls• 2006 EDI – UEY Niagara Region• 2007 Community Resources Inventory Survey – UEY Niagara Region• 2007 PIDACS – UEY Niagara Region

EARLY DEVELOPMENT INSTRUMENT (EDI)An important part of the picture for

the community, as well as early years service providers and

decision makers.

Population-based measure,Developmentally grounded, andLinks to community factors, literacy levels, school performance, health outcomes, and curriculum.

EDI CONT’D

Measures ‘readiness to learn at school’ –which refers to 4-6 year olds’ ability

to meet task demands, such as:Being comfortable exploring and asking questions,Listening to the teacher,

Playing and working with other children,

Remembering and following rules, and

Benefiting from the educational activities provided.

EDI CONT’D

SK teacher recorded measure on five domains of early child development:

Physical Health & Well-being,Social Competence,

Emotional Maturity,

Language & Cognitive Development,

Communication Skills & General Knowledge.

EDI ANALYSISThere are inequalities in outcomesData at the domain, sub-domain and neighbourhood levels reveals more informationVulnerability measures have strongest predictive value re: future success in education, employment and well-beingLargest %s of children with vulnerabilities found among low income familiesLargest #s of children with vulnerabilities found among middle/upper income familiesGood predictor of grade 1 achievement, accounting for 33.8% of varianceSmall changes for large proportions of the population will have most impact

LOCAL EDI RESULTS

In early 2006, Senior Kindergarten teachers

from across the Niagara Region and both School Boards

implemented the EDI with over 3,000 Niagara students.

What follows are some of the results…

We scored significantly higher than the national averages on all five of the school

readiness to learn domains in 2006!

77% of SK children in 2006 were on track for learning in school!

34%

33%33%

32%31%

29%

28%26%

25%21%

20%

16%

0 10 20 30 40 50

Precentage of Children

Vulne

rable

Niagara Region's Municipalities 2006: % of Vulnerable Children N = 2921

Grimsby

Pelham

Wainfleet

Lincoln

West Lincoln

Niagara Falls

Port Colborne

Niagara-On-The-Lake

St. Catharines

Thorold

Welland

Fort Erie

National Average = 26%

COMMUNITY CONDITIONS

Low income, lone parenting and education level of parents are factors that seem to increase vulnerability scores on the EDI Access to resources also seems to impact early development and readiness to learn in school

UEY PRODUCTS / ACTIVITIES

Maps & Mapping Studies, EDI Reports, Community Studies

Community Updates, School Board Reports, Parent Brochures

Research Communiques, Articles, Specific Requested Reports

Custom Presentations, Workshops, Community Forums, Conference Session, and Event Displays

Website where all of the above can be downloaded (www.uey.eccdc.org)

UEY IMPACTS TO DATEProfessional development sessions providedSchool Board and service delivery planning influencedRegional and neighbourhood needs identified and used in community plans

New programs developed, existing revised

New resources allocated, existing re-allocated

Successful proposals, grants, and reports written

Research, event, training, and product development partnerships formed

Community action inspired

Resources provided to parents and early years professionals

Local and national knowledge enhanced

DISCUSSIONDo you anticipate being able to use the local data and knowledge in your practice with young children?How might ECE’s, JK/SK/Resource teachers and other early years professionals use the data to improve programs and services?

Please complete an evaluation.

Thank you for your time and attention!

~ Glory