Parent Engagement and Community Collaboration are:

Supported by Inclusive Partnerships

• School boards in the Barrie Region work in collaboration with community partners during the kindergarten entry process. Some boards offer sessions where families can complete an initial screening process with health care professionals (Public Health, dental, speech and language, hearing, vision, etc.). The sessions also support families who want to investigate other pre-school services. [Barrie Region Final Report]
• Public confidence is increased through effective communication and the involvement of parents, educators and community service providers in the transition planning from preschool to kindergarten. The creation of a DVD through an Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) project demonstrates best practices in transition planning. This DVD was created by Upper Grand District School Board, Wellington Catholic District School Board, and parents and community service providers. [Toronto and Area Region Final Report]
• Boards in the London Region have membership on various community and planning tables. Boards have partnership agreements and established protocols for working with the community. They connect parents and families with appropriate agencies. Community agencies provide support as necessary—e.g., Settlement and Immigration services. Community partners collaborate to support children and families with pre-school intake and other transition processes. A strong multi-disciplinary approach is promoted, with collaboration in the choice of assessment tools; combined meetings for families; and wrap-around expertise and programs for students and families. [London Region Final Report]
• Bluewater District School Board collaborated with community agency partners to review the assessment and observation tool used in the "Let's Learn Clinics" which support school-entry planning. The team worked collaboratively to select a more norm-based tool for early identification of at-risk students. The selected assessment and observation tool is intended to assist in matching students and families to existing community services for additional support. [Bluewater District School Board Final Report]
• The Grey Bruce Children's Alliance coordinates a variety of services for children, including the "Let's Learn Clinics", through which numerous local agencies and support services collaborate in school-entry planning. This partnership involves the two coterminous district school boards, Bluewater District School Board and Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board; Grey Bruce Health Unit; Community Living Associations; Early Years Centres; Social Services from both Bruce and Grey Counties; and numerous other local agencies and support services. The project provides for an extensive pre-school screening process in conjunction with early registration for junior kindergarten and kindergarten. A speech-language pathologist, a pre-school resource teacher, a public health nurse and OEYC and child care centre staff are available at the clinics to answer questions and conduct pre-school assessments. School staff members are also present to share information. These clinics are now offered throughout both school boards. Evaluation data indicate that parents, school staff and community agency representatives are extremely pleased with the outcomes of the project. Some positive outcomes include enhanced school readiness; earlier and more intensive intervention; and the development of far more reliable statistics about the type and number of pre-school services that are required for children and families. The Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board uses a similar process. [Final CODE Report, p. 21]