Photo courtesy Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre.

Connecting Toronto's youngest newcomers to education
Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre's Ready for School Connects

Since 2002, Ready for School Connects (RfSC) has delivered school readiness programs for 350 recent newcomer families in downtown Toronto who have been in Canada less than 5 years. These families speak a first language that is not English, and have a child under 5 years old starting school for the first time. RfSC is expanding to reach newcomers in Toronto’s priority neighbourhoods. The transition from home to school is eased for newcomer families; newcomer children are able to access clinical care and supports; parents feel more comfortable in schools; and community partnerships are developed.

The Community Foundation has invested a Vital Ideas grant to help develop a comprehensive training model to build partnerships and expand the reach of the RfSC model in priority neighbourhoods. Crescent Town will be the first, with two new schools participating in the RfSC program in 2009.

More Information
Learn more about the Vital Toronto Fund's Vital Ideas granting program ››