Pre-Primary Program at BRCS
What is the Pre-Primary Program (PPP)?
- PPP is a play-based program for 4 year olds taught by trained Early Childhood Educators (ECE). ECEs will use the Nova Scotia Early Learning Curriculum Framework and Educators Guide to deliver the program. This is a developmentally appropriate and approved curriculum model used in an early learning environment.
- The maximum group size per room is 24 children. The ratio of ECEs to children is 1:10. If the number of children exceeds 20 (up to a maximum of 24) three ECEs are required. If the maximum number of children attending exceeds 24, a second room will be required.
- The program has an ‘open entry’; families are welcome to register their child to attend anytime during the school year. The child can attend for one year only.
- The PPP is voluntary, families may choose to send their child a few days per week or every day.
Who can attend the Pre-Primary Program?
- Any child in your school’s catchment area who is 4 by December 31st of the year, is eligible.
- A child can only attend for one year.
Who is working in the PPP?
- Trained ECEs will be hired to implement the program.
- Each room will have a Lead ECE and Support ECE who have either a degree or diploma credentialed in Early Childhood Education.
If there is child/family that needs support, what resources are available for this?
- Children attending the PPP will have access to the same community-based resources/services they would have if they were at home or attending a licensed child care program. Some of these services include Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention (EIBI), Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech and Nova Scotia Early Childhood Developmental Services (Early Intervention). ECEs will discuss support needs with Amie DeLeavey, Pre-Primary Facilitator, and referrals will be made as determined by the ECE, Amie and family.
- Engagement with Student Services will only occur as part of school transition planning as a child transitions from the PPP into grade Primary. ECEs will use TIENET to ensure that all relevant documentation is stored and available as the child transitions into grade Primary.
The Schedule for PPP
- At this time we project the Pre Primary starting at 9:00am and finishing around 2:30pm.
How is drop off and pick up of Pre-Primary children managed?
- One of the key benefits to having a Pre-Primary Program within the school is to enable parents/guardians and children to be more comfortable in the school community/environment. Having parents/guardians come into the school to drop off/pick up their pre-primary child allows the children to transition into the program easier and allows the ECEs time to develop a relationship with families; this is a key cornerstone of the Nova Scotia Early Learning Curriculum and will benefit in the transition into the P-12 system. ECEs will work with families to ensure that school procedures are understood and respected.
How does registration happen for the Pre-Primary Program (PPP)?
- Pre-Primary (PP) children are to be registered following the same procedures and expectations of other children. Parents/Guardians will need to complete the registration form provided at the school, along with proof of identity, address, health card information – the same as your primary registration requirements.
- Pre-Primary children are to be registered in PowerSchool in the PP category.
Who registers the PPP child into PowerSchool and when?
- The school secretary will enter the information in PowerSchool as parents/guardians complete the registration form.
For questions not answered here, please contact Bill Reid at .
Volunteers in School
Volunteers at BRCS are required to complete a Criminal Records Check and a Child Abuse Registry Form prior to volunteering. All forms/checks must be approved prior to volunteering. Click here for the AVRSB Volunteers in School Policy. If you are transporting a student other than your own to any school activity you must have a “J” form completed. Please contact our school office to obtain the forms.