A Commitment to Best Practices in Early Learning and Child Care by the
Early Childhood Education Community in Peel.

Raising the Bar in Peel

Raising the Bar in Peel is a program designed to help families ensure their children are receiving high quality early learning and child care services.  The presence of a Raising the Bar in Peel certificate is a sign that the program is committed to maintaining provincial regulatory standards as well as local community standards.  Raising the Bar was developed and introduced in Hamilton, Ontario to promote and support observance of community standards.

Raising the Bar in Peel is endorsed and financially supported by the Region of Peel, Child Development Resource Connection Peel and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. 

The Raising the Bar model was designed to work with and to build upon community capacity.  Guiding principles were developed to guide this ongoing process;

• Achievable for a variety of programs
• Sustainable in a community over time
• Fair and objective review process
• Recognized locally as a community standard;  research based and evaluated
• Engagement and mentorship
• Annual and ongoing process

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Three Categories of Standards

Quality Assurance

• Quality is monitored through frequent on-site observations.
• Parent and/or Caretaker feedback is collected each year.
• Action plans are developed to address areas of need and to plan for improvement.
• In addition to annual licensing reviews and local public health inspections, Raising the Bar programs undergo site visits by Third Party Consultants.

Best Practices

• The program offers information for parents and promotes opportunities for community involvement.
• There are detailed policies, procedures and management practices to guide day-to-day operations.
• Specific strategies are in place to support optimal child health and development.  Resources and information about child development are provided to parents.

Professional Development

The team of Early Years professionals in Raising the Bar in Peel programs maintain credentials and commit to additional professional development each year.

• First aid and CPR are kept current.
• Cooks have Food Handlers' Certificate training
• All directors and staff attend workshops and conferences to enhance their understanding of early childhood education and care.
• Raising the Bar in Peel programs support teacher professional development through mentorship and by providing practical training opportunities for cooperative education students

Through the annual peer review process, a level of achievement is determined for each of the three categories.

Bronze level programs follow fundamental quality indicators and are also in full compliance with Ontario's Day Nurseries Act.

Silver level programs have additional strategies to enhance quality.

Gold level programs demonstrate a long-term commitment to high quality in early learning and care.

Other Communities Participating in Raising the Bar

• Brant County
• City of Peterborough
• County of Dufferin
• City of Kawartha Lakes
• Haldimand-Norfolk Region
• Hamilton (ASCY)
• Lanark County
• London & Middlesex, Elgin Huron, Oxford Perth Counties
• Region of Durham
• County of Lennox and Addington
• Timiskaming County