OTHER

Winnipeg School Division #1 offers half-day programs for 4-year-olds, which are referred to as nurseries but not licensed as nursery schools.

Staffing includes a teacher and sometimes an assistant, with an average class size of 20. Since funding for the nursery program comes from the school district with no funding from the province, the program is often under review.

Children attending the nursery program who are identified as likely to need intervention services cannot be referred to these until they have reached kindergarten; however, 4-year-old children in licensed nursery schools/child care programs are often referred for assessment/intervention by the program.

Taking Charge, administered by the Employment and Income Assistance Division of Manitoba Family Services, uses a storefront approach to provide coordinated services to single parents receiving income assistance. It includes temporary drop-in child care literacy upgrading and transition to employment.

The Children and Youth Secretariat recently began Children First: Early Start, an early intervention program for children 2-5 years aimed at increasing school readiness and decreasing the need for specialized education, health and social service interventions in the future. Designed to support the emotional, social, intellectual, mental and physical development of children. All sites are licensed non-profit child care centres. Key program elements include:

• providing outreach to parents, including home visits;
• ensuring active parental involvement in the program;
• child development activities at least two years before school starts;
• helping children and their families access health, education and social services within their community; and
• providing health and nutrition information, and links to other health supports.