Dmarche Passage lcole

1) Category:
Tool

2) Issues:
The transition to preschool is an important event in a childs life. The collaboration and active involvement of everyone in the childs environment is conducive to his/her successful initiation to school and for continuity in the support provided. The parents of immigrant children do not necessarily speak French fluently. This means that communication between the family and the school or childcare service may be difficult.

3) Objectives:
Produce a comprehensive descriptive portrait of the childs development. Ensure action continuity in early childhood educational services so as to better meet family needs. Foster exchange among parents, childcare services and the school. Share information about the childs strengths and weaknesses.

4) Environment:
Early childhood educational services

5) Target Group:
5-year-olds Parents Early childhood educators Preschool teachers

6) Key Words:
Dmarche passage lcole, curaction, school-family-community partnership, tool, prevention, observation, comprehensive portrait, communication, transfer, immigration, starting school, preschool, early childhood, childcare

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

Page 1 of 4

7) Description:
Passage lcole is a tool for observing children in their childcare setting. The tool makes it possible to quickly produce a comprehensive portrait of the child before he/she enters the school system. Passage lcole consists of a questionnaire completed by the childcare worker and the parent. The latter forwards the completed questionnaire to the preschool teacher. The tool is divided into sections which each correspond to a specific aspect of the childs development (motor; cognitive; language and social/emotional/moral). For each component, various elements must be observed and rated under the following headings: o o o o Its easy for me With support, Im moving ahead Even with support, its a challenge for me Not observed

The visual interface is user-friendly even for parents who are not fluent in French (see an example [in French]).

8) Steps:
The tool is part of a neighborhood approach that calls for collaboration and joint action between childcare services and the school*: I. II. III. IV. Early childhood educators and preschool teachers commit to the process and name a liaison (individual or committee); The early childhood educator completes the questionnaire with the parent and gives him/her a copy; The parent brings the copy to the school and gives it to the preschool teacher; The teacher uses the tool in preparing for the start of school.

Passage lcole can be used in environments where there are no neighborhood projects. * Training is available in order to foster matching of the milieus concerned and appropriation of the tool. Early childhood educators and preschool teachers are given the option of training by CASIOPE. For information about content and registration fees, go to www.casiope.org.

9) Activities/Actions:
The idea here is prevention by identifying the childs needs and tapping into his/her strengths in order to foster his/her optimal development. Throughout the process, parents are seen as central partners because they are the providers of information. They see to it that their childs comprehensive portrait is forwarded to the school. Exchange and collaboration among the partners (parents, childcare and school) is crucial. The tool can be used to break the ice even before the child enters the school system.

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

Page 2 of 4

10) Resources Required:

Human resources: o o o o o Passage lcole neighborhood representative (CSSS community organizer, school board development officer, etc.) Early childhood educators Parents Preschool teachers Budget for purchasing the tool ($2.47 per child) and, if required, for attending training

Financial resources:

11) Roles of the Participants:

Neighborhood representatives: o o o organize the annual distribution of the documents; see that ordering, storage and payment occur on schedule; are responsible for annual meeting reminders, invitations, moderating and followup. observe the child and fill in the questionnaire; meet the parents to brief them on what has been observed and to give them a copy of the completed questionnaire. forward the document to the preschool teacher; initiate contact with the teacher. take note of and work with the childs strengths and challenges; if required, contact the early childhood educator for more information; begin collaboration with the parents; can also receive training on support for the childs development.

Early childhood educators: o o

Parents: o o

Teachers: o o o o

12) Scientific Basis or Validity:

The disconnect that may exist between early childcare and the school system hinders sharing of information and the childs transition to school (Boudreault, Moreau and Kalubi, 2001). Insufficient communication between childcare, preschool, the family and other child development workers can be a risk factor (Miron, 2004). Communication and transfer of information between childcare and the school, along with family involvement, are aspects that favor educational continuity (Fowler, Schwartz and Atwater, 1991). Passage lcole is founded on the Programme ducatif des services de garde du Qubec and on preschool competencies (Qubec Education Program).

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

Page 3 of 4

13) Material:
Passage lcole document (parent copy and school copy) Explanatory brochure o o o Appendix A - Passage lcole collaboration agreement Appendix B Early childhood compilation Appendix C School compilation

14) Additional Information

Passage lcole is an initiative of Table de concertation Ville-mard Cte-Saint-Paul (VECSP). The information contained in this factsheet was taken from interviews with Passage lcole leaders and from: http://www.casiope.org/?ADD58C03-13AE-449D-B954-EA47A34B9F66.

15) Contacts:
Loriana Giuliani Centre d'aide et de soutien aux intervenants et organismes en petite enfance (CASIOPE) 75, square Sir-Georges-tienne-Cartier Montral (Qubec) H4C 3A1 Tel.: 514 523-6628, extension 810 Email: loriana@casiope.org Website: www.casiope.org

This factsheet was taken from the following website: http://rire.ctreq.qc.ca/.

Page 4 of 4