Pre-schoolers and their families living in vibrant, multicultural areas of Surrey will have access to two new StrongStart BC early learning programs this September that will work hand-in-hand with existing programs to support families new to B.C.

The Surrey school district will open two StrongStart BC programs, one at Senator Reid Elementary and the other at James Ardiel Elementary, where local families can take their children to learn through play while interacting with each other and a licensed early learning educator.

The school district will receive $52,000 for the new program. This includes $20,000 to prepare in-school space, including renovations and the purchase of new equipment and learning materials, and $32,000 to fund the year's operating costs, including staff, professional development, supplies and healthy snacks.

Quick Facts:

• The first StrongStart BC centre opened at Mountain View Elementary school in Revelstoke in 2006 and, as of September 2011, there will be 326 operating across B.C. The centres also provide valuable referrals to community resources for parents, grandparents and caregivers.
• In 2009-2010, there were nearly half a million visits to StrongStart BC programs across the province (476,000) with more than 24,000 children participating.
• Since 2001, the Province has invested $1.4 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs.

Learn More:

Learn more about StrongStart BC programs: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/strongstart_bc/

Learn more about full-day kindergarten programs: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/early_learning/fdk/

Resources for parents: www.learnnowbc.ca/LearningResources.aspx

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963