Expanding early childhood education and care programming

We then examine the following five key issues in more detail: “school readiness” and child development outcomes in ECEC programs; parental preferences regarding ECEC programs; the inclusion of children from diverse cultural groups and with differing abilities; program expansion and integration of education and care; and issues related to the development of a comprehensive ECEC strategy. [...] The authors’ conclusions are that the development of programs for children with special needs at the early childhood level must include extensive consultation with stakeholders in the following key areas: • The definition of inclusion • Rationales for inclusive classrooms • Demographics on children in need of inclusion • Demographics on available staff • The kinds of classroom practices and activi [...] The ECEC community in BC is knowledgeable about and committed to the needs of children, families and communities; well-informed on research and policy issues, and; connected to researchers and academics across Canada and around the world. [...] On the other hand, integrating the public policy for community and school-based ECEC programs without limitations on the growth of the former may promote the expansion of corporatized child care. [...] Allison Preece of the Faculty of Education at the University of Victoria and to Denise Hodgins, a doctoral candidate at the University of Victoria for their major contributions of time, energy and knowledge to this report.