AT the start of the new school term, the Sandals Foundation initiative, Project Sprout, was further advanced with the hiring and training of eight early childhood education teachers and social workers to work at the foundation’s adopted schools — Culloden Early Childhood Institute (Westmoreland), Seville Golden Pre-school (St Ann) and Leanora Morris Basic School (St James).

The second phase of the three-year pilot also includes the retrofitting of the schools to accommodate early intervention for children in need of more than average support.

This phase, which was rolled out during the first month of the new school term in September, began with the orientation and training of teachers and social workers to develop among them a common understanding of the expected outcomes and strategic approaches to be taken to secure its success. These outcomes include:

* Improved readiness of children to advance to the grade one level.

* Increased parental involvement both at home and in school.

* An enhanced teaching and learning environment for children that is better able to support physical, nutritional and cognitive development.

Between the academic years 2014 to September 2015, the Sandals Foundation will spend over $50 million to ensure that there is an institutional framework that is strengthened in the administrative and managerial capacity in the schools, adequate and relevant pedagogical skills, and a more informed and involved parent body that is supportive of the needs of children at this level.

In 2013, the Sandals Foundation signed memoranda of understanding with the Early Childhood Commission, National Parent Teachers’ Association, Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning, as well as RADA to integrate resources in a public/private partnership that is in support of national development objectives in the education sector.

Sydney Henry, project manager of the foundation, noted that the intervention is not designed to promote private sector interest.

“Rather, it is to provide support to developmental goals in education which will not be met without the collective input of all citizens, especially the private sector, through philanthropy and partnerships that create sustainable outcomes.

Project Sprout is a targeted intervention programme at the early childhood level that helps children to better achieve their developmental milestones. At present the project is tracking the progress of its first cohort of graduates to the primary level in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, even as preparations are made to build a contemporary facility to replace the Westend Basic School in Negril, home to more than 200 children. The other schools have been provided with upgrades to their infrastructure as well as teaching and learning aids such as books, computers and educational toys that will enhance the learning environment.