Every Child Belongs
Northview Heights Early Learning Centre-North York is committed to providing fully inclusive early learning and child care programs that support the health and well-being of every child in our care by focusing on the individual child and family needs.
For children who may need extra supports the child care centre works closely with an Every Child Belongs Resource Consultant from Lumenus Community Services (formerly known as Adventure Place; changed their name this month) who provides support through service contracts to the centre and to the individual children. They use developmental screening tools, program and equipment adaptations, service coordination and referrals to support children and families. Resource Consultants work in conjunction with the parents, centre staff to develop and implement an individual plan to support the needs and development of the child. Our staff works with the families to determine the best way to support your child and family needs.
Our beliefs encourage positive attitudes towards diversity; allow opportunities for people to learn about, understand, and become comfortable with a variety of human differences; and benefit not only children with special needs, but also typically developing children, parents, siblings, teachers, other caregivers, and society in general. The exclusion of individuals based upon their physical or intellectual capabilities is discriminatory and segregating and would open our centre to the possibility of limiting every person's experiences, exposure to, and involvement with an important portion of our society. Our beliefs regarding integration and inclusion are embedded in all of our programs and provide further opportunities for the following:
We feel that it is incumbent upon us to strive towards providing all children with equal access to our educationally-based programs in a manner most appropriate to their needs and within the scope of our abilities.
For children who may need extra supports the child care centre works closely with an Every Child Belongs Resource Consultant from Lumenus Community Services (formerly known as Adventure Place; changed their name this month) who provides support through service contracts to the centre and to the individual children. They use developmental screening tools, program and equipment adaptations, service coordination and referrals to support children and families. Resource Consultants work in conjunction with the parents, centre staff to develop and implement an individual plan to support the needs and development of the child. Our staff works with the families to determine the best way to support your child and family needs.
Our beliefs encourage positive attitudes towards diversity; allow opportunities for people to learn about, understand, and become comfortable with a variety of human differences; and benefit not only children with special needs, but also typically developing children, parents, siblings, teachers, other caregivers, and society in general. The exclusion of individuals based upon their physical or intellectual capabilities is discriminatory and segregating and would open our centre to the possibility of limiting every person's experiences, exposure to, and involvement with an important portion of our society. Our beliefs regarding integration and inclusion are embedded in all of our programs and provide further opportunities for the following:
- exposure to people with a range of abilities;
- acceptance and the formation of relationships and respect for others;
- the participation of every child and family irrespective of current ability levels, which leads to the development of self-esteem, confidence, and capability;
- peer interactions and expectations which provide social incentives to implement or use "new" skills and knowledge;
- teaching staff to become more aware and focused on the strengths and needs of all the children, their own teaching style and methods, and on the program itself; and
- enrichment of our communities through direct experiences with people with diverse strengths and needs.
- part of our regular screening of each of the children in the centre the staff use the Looksee as a developmental screening and Early Abilities Speech and Language screening
We feel that it is incumbent upon us to strive towards providing all children with equal access to our educationally-based programs in a manner most appropriate to their needs and within the scope of our abilities.
