Pictou County getting two new pre-primary centres

Pictou County’s pre-schoolers stand to gain from two new pre-primary centres at the New Glasgow Academy and Trenton Elementary School. The two new centres, included as part of the province’s 201718 budget tabled in legislature Tuesday, will join the existing pre-school program at the academy. “We are only the third province in Canada to offer this important, life-changing program. We know that only 25 per cent of pre-school aged children now benefit from a regulated child care experience,” said Minister of Finance Karen Casey in her address to legislature Tuesday. The upcoming Trenton program is one of two extra pre-primary sites added by the province to its fall budget, an addition to the 50 sites first proposed by the governing Liberals in its April budget. The other upcoming centre in New Glasgow is just one on a list of 50 sites, which is due to open by the end of this week. However, the opposition Progressive Conservatives said the pre-primary program was a good idea whose implementation was bungled. “We are hearing stories about some of these pre-primary centres not even having desks or furniture or toilets for our kids,” said PC leader Jamie Baillie. He also said that pre-primary centres were also having trouble recruiting staff and that many centres were not inclusive towards children with special educational needs. “The government has rushed into this, they are spending a lot of money and they are messing up delivery of what could be, with some thought, a very good program,” said Baillie. The upcoming centres in Pictou County are two of several slated for Chignecto-Central Regional School Board properties. Other pre-primary sites include Bible Hill and the elementary schools at Hilden, Junction Road, North River, West Highlands and Shubenacadie District. A typical pre-primary program offers children age-appropriate activities such as art classes and playtime with toys, as well as healthy snacks. While adult educators lead activities, the day’s events are guided by the children in their care. “The early years of a child’s life are critical for their development,” said Baillie.