Early Childhood Education

April 25-May 2, 2013

Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) is the first major study in the United Kingdom to focus specifically on the effectiveness of early years education. The large-scale, longitudinal study follows the progress and development of 4,000 children in various types of at home and pre-school settings.

It explores the characteristics of different kinds of early years settings and their influences on children’s early development and their later progress. It is now reporting at age 16. Dr. Melhuish’s work explores the effects of student variables (gender, EAL status), family (parental SES, qualifications, home learning ...

Source: Faculty of Education, University of New Brunswick, February 2013

Excerpt: "The Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick has partnered with the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation and the Jimmy Pratt Family Foundation to conduct a feasibility study into an online B.Ed. degree in early childhood education. UNB hopes the study will provide the foundational information to create a pathway for students to complete existing early childhood education diploma/certificate programs at the college level and then transfer into a UNB program and complete their education while continuing to work in their communities. The study ...

Merging education with child care and family supports is a proven formula for better outcomes for children and less stress for parents. Yet across Canada services, particularly for young children, are a disorganized patchwork. "This disadvantages families and taxpayers," says the Honourable Margaret McCain, who is here to co-host a workshop bringing Canadian and international experts together with government officials and front line children's service providers.

With the former Lieutenant Governor and philanthropist is June McLoughlin, Director of Family and Children's Services, Victoria, Australia and Lyse Brunet, Executive Director d'Avenir d'enfants, an initiative with the Quebec ...

Prince Edward Island takes another step to transform its patchwork of child and family services into an integrated early childhood system. The government of PEI announced further investment in Best Start, the provincial newborn screening and home-visiting program operated by CHANCES Family Centre in partnership with Public Heath Nursing and the provincial network of family resource centres.

The investment strengthens Smart Start Phase 2, aligning Best Start and Early Years Centres with the public education system demonstrating how to make early childhood education opportunities available for all preschool children.

For more information:

• read the PEI Government's news release
• watch ...

The CBC's Harry Forestell talks with Margaret McCain, early childhood education advocate.

Transcript: "Advocates of early childhood learning met with the Minister of Education today. They're trying to convince New Brunswick to expand publicly funded education and care to all 2- to 5-year-olds. Several pilot projects have already shown that preschoolers thrive in school-centred daycare programs and that they perform better in school later in life. Margaret Norrie McCain has been a relentless proponent of early education, spending her own money and time on research and pilot projects to prove the point. She joins me now from Fredericton ...