SUCCESS by Six, an educational, literacy, health, and nutrition programme developed by the Tryall Fund and implemented in eight basic schools in Hanover, has been reaping success.

“The fund believes early intervention will give the children of Hanover the best chance for success and will make the greatest impact on our larger community,” said Jacqueline Smith, programme administrator at the Tryall Fund.

Recognising that many basic schools islandwide, including those in Hanover, were not certified by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), one of the objectives of the fund was to help administrators meet the requirements of ECC to obtain certification. Today, participating basic schools in the Success by Six Programme are ECC-certified or have achieved 85 per cent of the commission’s standards, Smith disclosed.

The programme, established in 2010, is a holistic approach to early learning at the basic school level. The programme has four components and develops parents, children, and teachers in academics, movement and coordination, nutrition and health, and parenting and development workshops.

The educator explained that the academic stream has a successful Process Phonics Programme, which applies a phonetic approach to teaching and reading.

In 2012 the team conducted an assessment which revealed that only five per cent, one out of 20 students, were ready for grade one. After a year, the readiness of students to enter grade one increased by 26 per cent, which is five of 16 students.

Within three years the level of students ready to advance to grade one increased to 72 per cent, which is 13 of 18. The feeder schools reported that these students were also in the top 10 in their respective grade one classes.

The Play and Stay Programme further supports the children’s overall advancement. The programme is certified by the International Tennis Federation and supports the children’s physical development while having fun playing tennis.

Smith said that the Tryall Fund formed a partnership with the Wooster School in Danbury, Connecticut, United States, which has given visibility to the programme and exposed teachers to hands-on practical operations in an international environment.

“They introduced a math concepts programme to our curriculum and gave workshops both in person and virtually to help familiarise our teachers with the new material,” she said.

The programme also boasts a nutrition component, which assists the schools in providing menu guidelines and conducting workshops for all stakeholders in meal preparation.

Parents are given practical training, including preparing a balanced meal on a low budget.

“Children were coming to school without having a healthy breakfast. With the introduction of this nutritional programme, children were now coming to school early, regularly, and are now able to function throughout the day,” she said, noting that the programme has not only helped with their educational success but also improved their health.

The Tryall Fund administrator said that the programme identifies issues in children that would often go undetected. She referenced a child whose hearing was negatively impacted and benefited from the programme.

To ensure the sustainability of the programme, workshops targeting parents are held six times annually to reinforce, at home, the lessons taught in school under the supervision of parents and caregivers. Staff members are also trained in team-building skills and receive academic training from experts in various fields.

Bamboo Missionary Basic School in Hanover, a beneficiary of the programme, has high commendations for the intervention.

“The programme has been beneficial to our students. It has helped us as teachers, and our parents. We have workshops with them, so when the students go home with homework our parents can assist them,” said Elaine Henry, principal of Bamboo Missionary Basic School.

Henry said the school population of 43 students is in the programme and that the students have been excelling and doing well.

A member of the Council for Voluntary Social Services (CVSS), the Tryall Fund was formed in the early 1960s as a vehicle through which members and friends of the Tryall Club can contribute to the community health, education, and welfare activities in the parish of Hanover.

Smith said that because the programme is successful other schools are approaching Tryall for assistance.

The Success by Six is one of several initiatives implemented by the Tryall Fund. Recently the fund collaborated with the CVSS; the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission; and RISE Life Management Service to host a workshop for parents, caregivers, and trainers about underage gambling. The Christian Deliverance Centre Church Hall in Hopewell was the venue.

Smith said the workshop was a success and was an eye-opener for the participants.

“The parents who participated in the workshop said they didn’t realise the addictive nature of gambling. They thought it fun but did not know that it was prevalent in schools and a dangerous practice. That programme needs to be introduced in more places to benefit persons, to alert them to the pitfalls of irresponsible gambling,” she said.