Outcomes for Children

The outcomes for children were identified using standardized development measures, including direct measures of child development; parent reports on changes in children's abilities and behaviour using feedback surveys and interviews; and structured observation by staff who recorded changes in children's language and cognition and associated developmental progress, such as social skills.

Because of the diversity of the sites, different developmental measures were used at each site. Taken together, however, children showed:

• improvement on direct tests and standardized measures of language and cognition.

In feedback surveys and interviews, parents reported that their children showed:

• increased knowledge and language skills;
• improved self-esteem and confidence; and
• increased social skills (e.g., cooperation, respect.

Based on staff and teacher reports, the children showed:

• more initiative for learning and literacy activities;
• improved problem-solving skills; and
• increased social connectedness and social skills.