Best Start is a comprehensive evidence-based early learning and care strategy. Its aim is to create a system of services that seamlessly support families and children from birth through their transition into Grade one.

Best Start 2007-2008 Community Plan (260 KB)

The Best Start vision is for Ontario’s children to be "ready and eager to achieve success in school by the time they start Grade one. Ontario will be an international leader in helping all children realize their social, intellectual, economic and physical potential."

Best Start is a partnership with parents and families, created in response to the clear message that Ontario’s young children and their families need more integrated and accessible services, more high quality, regulated child care spaces, and more subsidies so that more families can access those spaces. It is a long-term strategy that was to be implemented over 10 years, beginning with an immediate expansion of child care spaces. At this time, current funding allows for a 5 year plan.

Best Start Components

• An expansion of quality and affordable child care, in accessible locations for parents predominantly within their neighbourhood schools.
• Improved access for all children and families to community neighbourhood hubs that provide services for families with children from 0-6 years in communities, increasing access to a variety of early identification and intervention services.
• Bring together a variety of children’s programs and services and make them more accessible, such as screening, assessment, treatment, child-care and parenting program,s mental health services and speech and language resources.

The County of Lanark is working with various partners in the community to develop and implement plans to achieve the Best Start vision in ways that make sense in our communities. The County has taken the lead in this local planning and has assembled a Best Start Network to ensure strong community input and participation.

Best Start is is designed to provide all Lanark County children with the best possible start in life and to help them achieve success in school.

More information is available from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Best Start Network Membership List by Agency

• Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Public Health Unit
• Upper Canada District School Board
• Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario
• Conseil Des Ecoles Catholiques de Langue Francaise du Centre Est
• County of Lanark
• Ontario Early Years Centre
• Connections
• Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth
• Lanark Child Care Service Providers Network
• Language Express, Preschool Speech and Language
• Behaviour Development Program
• Lanark Early Integration Program
• Infant Development Program
• Infant Hearing Program
• Children’s Aid Society
• Parents
• Public Library Services

 
 Programs that have been supported by Best Start:

• Chimo School, Smiths Falls, operated by Smiths Falls Child Development Centre- a Before and After School program
• Nursery Rhyme Child Care Centre, SmithsFalls - A Junior Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten program
• Day by Day Child Learning Centre, Carleton Place
• Linda Lowe Daycare, Pakenham - Infant program, and Junior Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten program
• Licensed Home Day Care/CROW - 5 new licensed homes
• St. Gregory’s Catholic School, Carleton Place – Junior Kindergarten/ Senior Kindergarten program operated by Town of Carleton Place
• St. James the Greater Catholic School, SmithsFalls -an expanded Before and After school program operated by the Town of Smiths Falls
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, Lanark Village - a Before and After school program operated by CROW
• TayCare Senior Centre, Perth- a Junior Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten program
• Maple Grove Public School, Lanark Village - a Junior Kindergarten/Senior Kindergarten program operated by CROW
• St. John Catholic School, Perth - a Before and After school program operated by Tayside Community Options