Early childhood educators in Jamaica now have a document to guide them concerning best practices in that level of the learning process.

George Brown College in Toronto, Canada last Friday launched the publication "Best Practices for Early Childhood Development" at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.

The best practices document is result of a five year project between the Toronto institution and five early childhood schools in Portmore, St. Catherine - Bridge-port Infant, Marlin Avenue Basic, Portmore Day Care Centre, Silverstone Basic and Sabina Basic schools.

Jamaica, leader in early childhood development

Patricia Chorney Rubin, chair of the Early Childhood Department at George Brown College said Jamaica is an international leader in early childhood development.

"And we have been fortunate in coming together to play a small role in moving some of these initiatives forward," she said.

Mrs. Chorney Rubin noted that the document points to good and poor practices. The document has five sections for best practices and also outlines inappropriate practices.

They are best practices for working with families, interactions and relationships, schedule, routine and transitions, environments and best practices for curriculum.

Mrs. Chorney Rubin said the document is to be distributed to early childhood institutions across the island.

In 2004, principals from the partner schools went on a study tour to Canada, where the discussions on a best practice document began. Student teachers from George Brown also visited Jamaica and were placed in these local institutions for a month.

Margaret Campbell, principal of Marlin Avenue Basic School said it was one of the best experiences she has ever had. The exposure was indeed a "landmark event," she said.

She also noted that the pilot project took education to another level. Ms. Campbell said the aim was to maintain and pass on this legacy. "We will continue until every school is affected with the virus of best practices," said the principal.

Evadne Venor, Assistant Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, in her remarks, lauded members of the George Brown College for compiling the document.

"We consider the best practices as a uniform approach to early childhood education which will ensure quality and excellence," Ms. Venor told the gathering.

Lorna Golding, wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding congratulated the institution on this initiative.

"I have no doubt that their recipe on best practice will produce more student-friendly institutions, that will create and influence the growth and development of our children at the most crucial years of their lives,' Mrs. Golding said.