OVER a hundred children between the ages of three and five, across four schools in Hanover, will enjoy improved educational standards thanks to the Tryall Fund’s successful model preschool programme.

The Success by Six programme, led by the fund, provides select schools with educational, literacy, nutritional information, and support, in addition to health screenings for preschoolers. The programme also focuses on teacher-training and caregiver workshops. The goal is to bring basic schools into compliance with the Early Childhood Commission’s (ECC) prescribed standards.

Montpelier Basic School, Chamber’s Pen Basic School and Hopewell Deliverance Centre basic school, all in Hanover — are the latest recipients under the programme.

Meanwhile, Tryall Fund’s model school, Sandy Bay Community Basic School, was less than 20 per cent compliant when the fund began its programme just over two years ago. Now it is hoped that by 2013, this school will be fully compliant with the Ministry of Education’s ECC standards for early learning.

The Tryall Fund is a non-profit organisation committed to supporting education and health initiatives in Hanover. Formed in the early 1960s as a vehicle through which the members and friends of Tryall could contribute to the community health, education and welfare activities, it works off the belief that early intervention will give the children of Jamaica the best chance for success and will make the greatest impact on Jamaica’s future.

The Tryall Fund also provides scholarships for high school, college and university programmes.