AN EXPLORATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE THAMES VALLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM, READY FOR SCHOOL, IN IMPROVING ATRISK STUDENTS’ SCHOOL READINESS

This study examined the influence of a program designed to promote school readiness for at risk children in the school year before entry to Junior Kindergarten. The program, the Thames Valley Neighbourhood Early Learning Program (TVNELP), is offered at selected uat risk1 schools throughout the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB). Students who attended and did not attend TVNELP were followed to Senior-Kindergarten (SK) and Grade 1. These two groups were compared on routinely administered tools that evaluate school readiness competencies and literacy-related skills; namely the Eariy Development Instrument (EDI) and the Phonological Awareness Screening Instrument (PASI) completed in SK, and the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) completed in Grade 1. Results of statistical analyses showed that attenders typically outperformed non-attenders on all three measures. The findings of this study support the effectiveness of TVNELP in improving the school readiness of at risk children within the TVDSB.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Ahrens, Michelle Jennifer

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Warr-Leeper, Genese

• children at risk
• school readiness
• phonological awareness
• reading comprehension

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/20286

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/20286