This Reader Friendly Guide to the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Early Childhood Development is a publication of the Information, Education and Communications Department of the Early Childhood Commission.
In 2004, principals from our partner schools — Bridgeport Infant School, Marlin Avenue Basic School, Portmore Daycare Centre, Silverstone Basic School and Sabina Basic Schools traveled to Toronto on a study tour. During the tour we began discussions along with members of the Early Childhood Commission and the Ministry of Education and Youth about the creation of a Best Practices document.
Early childhood describes the period in a child’s life between birth and eight years of age. It is the most rapid period of development in human life and a child’s experience during this period has an enormous impact on the health, cognitive development, educational attainment, socialisation and productivity of older children and adults.
This Act may be cited as the Child Care and Protection short title. Act. 2.--(I) In this Act- "adult" means a person who has attained the age of eighteen years; "adult correctional centre" has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Corrections Act; "child" means a person under the age of eighteen years; "Children's Advocate" means The Office of the Children's Advocate constituted under section 4;
In this Act – “basic school” means a school that offers a course of educational training for students under the age of six years; “Commission” means the Early Childhood Commission established under section 3 of the Early Childhood Commission Act; “day care centre” means any premises used for the provision of nonresidential day care service to more than four children up to six years of age for at least six hours per day and at least four days per week;
An Act to Establish a Commission to govern the administration of early childhood care, education and development in Jamaica, and to make provision for connected matters.
In exercise of the power conferred upon the Minister by section 22 of the Early Childhood Act, and of every other power hereunto enabling, the following Regulations are hereby made –
In this Act- Interpretation. “adopter” means a person who is proposing to adopt, or who has adopted a child in pursuance of an adoption order; “adoption order” means an order made under section 9; “child” means a person under the age of eighteen years who has never been married;
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “Court” means- (a) the Supreme Court; or (b) where the respondent, or any of the respondents, or the applicant, or the child to whom the application relates resides in the parish of Kingston or the parish of St. Andrew, the Family Court- Corporate Area Region (as respects any time on or after the 13th day of November, 1978);
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “aided educational institution” means any educational institution which the Minister assists in maintaining; “all-age school” means a school that offers a course of educational training for students of ages six to fifteen years;