FPFCB’s Update

Access to Early Leaning and Family Services

The FPFCB (Fédération des parents francophones de
Colombie-Britannique) has just finished compiling the data
from a survey of BC francophone families with children
under the age of 6. The survey was designed to identify the
parents’ priorities in terms of the French-language resources
and services to which they would like access. We received
330 surveys, representing a response rate of 16 %.

The majority of respondents identified priorities regarding
early learning services. 85% felt that access to activities for
2-5 year olds was important, or extremely important; 83%
listed access to reading awareness programs; 80% noted
summer camps; and 67% mentioned early detection of
learning difficulties. In terms of resources, families are
looking for access to professionals, such as speech-language
pathologists (54%), special education teachers (52%) and
psychologists (47%).

Families also listed other priority services and resources,
namely, support for intercultural families, opportunities for
discussions with other parents, information regarding
language development and support for crisis cases. Lastly,
51% of respondents indicated that they need daycare services,
and, of these, 60% said that they do not use French-language
daycare services because these facilities are unavailable.

The results confirm the relevance of the FPFCB project to
establish early learning and family services centres (CPEFs)
across the province. These centres will be housed in
francophone schools or community centres and feature
nursery school and daycare services. They will be designed
to promote access to French-language services and
resources in British Columbia and to provide a meeting place
for families and young children.

The FPFCB is currently running a pilot project in a
francophone school. The project is designed firstly to develop
a model CPEF by exploring various issues, including centre
management, financing, and programs and services to which
the families may have access. Secondly, we see this as a

demonstration project to be used to test and fine-tune the
model prior to its systematic insertion into francophone
schools throughout the province.

We are also cooperating closely with the Department of
Children and Family Development and with the Honourable
Linda Reid, Minister of State for Early Childhood Development
to ensure that our priorities are addressed and to obtain the
resources we need to complete our projects.

25" Anniversary Celebrations

With the end of the school year comes the conclusion of
activities marking the 25th anniversary of the francophone
program, celebrations that began in September 2004. We
are currently enjoying noon time broadcasts on Radio Canada
that feature capsules introducing each francophone school
in the province. The final activity on the celebration calendar
will be the publication of a souvenir brochure that will include
a portrait of each school and photos of the events that took
place during the year. As long as the school communities
respond to our request for information within a reasonable
timeframe, the brochure should be ready for distribution
before the end of the school year.

Strategic Planning

The FPFCB has initiated a process to determine its major
orientations for the coming five (5) years. These orientations
will be based on an analysis of the francophone educational
environment and the identified priorities regarding access to
French-language early learning and family services and
resources. We will also look closely at the needs of the parents’
associations and at development status and perspectives for
the francophone education system in general. The Council
will also take into consideration the comments received from
members during training and information sessions and
regional APE meetings. A consultation meeting in late May
with provincial education and early learning partners will
help the FPFCB to consider other views. The results will be
presented to members during the annual congress in
November 2005. More to follow...

Vous pensez a mettre sur pied une garderie en milieu familial ?

Communiquez dés maintenant avec la Fédération des parents pour recevoir votre Guide de démarrage d’une garderie
en milieu familial. Un outil pratique et complet pour vous aider étape par étape. Info : 1.800.905.5056 | www.fpfcb.bc.ca

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