System Process/Organization Includes:

Entry and Transition Processes

• The "Fair Start" pre-school screening tool is administered at junior kindergarten registration in all schools in Thunder Bay, and results are shared with partner and community agencies for intervention as needed. When a child is registered for JK, parents are given a "Fair Start" screening booklet to complete and return to the school. The screening booklet asks questions about six areas of development: vision, hearing, social development, speech and language development, gross and fine motor skills, and nutrition. The booklet helps both the parent and the school identify any concerns which may interfere with learning. Booklets are scored by the school and the results are returned to the parent. If a child requires follow-up in any area, parents are given the information so that they may make contact with the appropriate agency. If the agency has not heard from the parent in thirty days, the agency will call parents to see if they would like to make an appointment. [Final CODE Report, p. 27]
• 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. For students entering school with special education needs, many boards in the region arrange visits to the home or childcare setting to gather further information. The visits often include parents/guardians, system resource staff and staff from community agencies. [Barrie Region Final Report]
• Upper Grand District School Board involves senior administration, principals, resource teachers, and classroom teachers in the system-wide implementation of the Nipissing Scale as part of the kindergarten registration process. [Final CODE Report, p. 27]
• Boards in the Barrie Region have protocols in place for specific transitions for students. Some boards create transition binders, photos, videos, and social scripts to assist with the transition to school. [Barrie Region Final Report]