Early Childhood Development refers to that period in an individual’s life from zero to eight years during which the foundation for life is set. It is within these early years that character, confidence, values and resilience to name a few are formed.
The Ministry of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training and National Excellence through the Office for Early Childhood Education and guided by Statutory Rules and Regulations (S.R.O) No. 39 of 2003, is charged with the responsibility of regulating all Early Childhood Development facilities, both daycares and preschools, on the island. There is also a Council on Early Childhood Education a multidisciplinary team with its terms of Reference in Statutory Rules and Regulations (S.R.O) No. 14 of 2005, which advises the Minister on matters relating to Early Childhood Development (ECD).
In its quest to get it right from the start, the Government of Dominica undertook the initiative to implement Universal Access to Early Childhood Development beginning in 2012. This was expected to be rolled out through a phased approach, beginning with children of preschool age. Under this initiative, already existing private preschools were accommodated in the primary schools where there is available space with a view to providing learning environments that are developmentally appropriate. Also under this initiative, five new community preschools were also opened in communities where there were no preschools. They are the Belles, Campbell, Pichelin, Roseau, and Trafalgar Preschools which are also housed in the government primary schools.
Every term, the Ministry of Education provides a subvention ranging from $1500.00 to $2500.00 to each registered ECD facility on the island. To date there are 15 daycares and 68 preschools that are registered with the Ministry of Education. These ECD facilities provide early stimulation to our nation’s children. The daycares cater to the needs of children from three months to three years, while the preschool attends to children from three to five, before they enter primary school. Following is a list of the ECD facilities that are registered with the Ministry.
PRESCHOOLS
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NORTHERN DISTRICT (PORTSMOUTH) |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
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Bense Community |
Bense |
Cecile Joseph |
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Cottage Faith |
Cottage |
Sylvestia Ettienne |
|
Dublanc/Bioche |
Dublanc |
Ursula Peter |
|
Emerald |
Thibaud |
Catherine Timothy Francois |
|
God’s Family Academy |
Zicack, Portsmouth |
Marie Therese Ferrol |
|
Gospel Light |
Portsmouth |
Sharon Yarde |
|
Paix Bouche Social Centre |
Paix Bouche |
Shanna Felicite Seaman |
|
Penville Social Centre |
Penville |
Ernestine Francis |
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Portsmouth Social Centre |
Portsmouth |
Sonia Mitchell |
|
Sunflower |
Portsmouth |
Martha Mc Lawrence |
|
Testimonial |
Paix Bouche |
Edmund George/Rose Remy |
|
Vieille Case Pre-K |
Vieille Case |
Jean Marie Royer |
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NORTHERN DISTRICT (MARIGOT) |
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Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Destiny |
Marigot |
Helen Roselyn Charles Prescott |
|
Marigot Methodist |
Marigot |
Rev. Evans Dodds/Gayle Rolle |
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Wesley Community |
Wesley |
June Joseph |
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Woodford Hill Social Centre |
Woodford Hill |
Stelline Benjamine |
|
Word Revival |
Wesley |
Miranda Debra J.Honore |
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CASTLE BRUCE DISTRICT |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Belles Pre-K |
Belles |
Vyline Christopher |
|
Castle Bruce Pre - K |
Castle Bruce |
Jovin Joseph |
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Good Hope |
Good Hope |
Georgina Laurent |
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Isulukati |
Crayfish River |
Connie Williams |
|
Mahaut River |
Mahaut River |
Malister Jno Baptiste |
|
Petite Soufriere |
Petite Soufriere |
Cylma Prosper |
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Pilgrim Community |
Castle Bruce |
Avril Alexander |
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Sineku |
Sineku |
Clara Frederick |
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LA PLAINE DISTRICT |
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Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Delices Pre-K |
Delices |
Priscilla Darroux |
|
Grand Fond Social Ctr |
Grand Fond |
Jannice De Jean |
|
Jones Beaupierre Pre-K |
La Plaine |
Martha Stephenson |
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Morne Riviere Pre-K |
Morne Jaune |
Verna Frederick |
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St JOSEPH DISTRICT |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Colihaut Pre-K |
Colihaut |
Jane George |
|
Coulibistrie |
Coulibistrie |
Marilyn Isaac |
|
Kelleb John Laurent Pre-K |
St. Joseph |
Francis Jno. Lewis |
|
Salisbury |
Salisbury |
Darnie Vidal |
|
ROSEAU CENTRAL DISTRICT |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
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B.Js |
Kings Lane |
Cornelia Mahandra Grove |
|
Bright Beginning Centre |
10 Upper Lane |
Joycelyne Graham-Laronde |
|
Little Gems |
PSU Building, Valley Rd |
Maydina Defoe |
|
Roseau Pre-K |
Bath Estate |
Greta Roberts |
|
Sacred Heart |
37 Virgin Lane |
Linda Vigilante Joseph |
|
Shalom |
50 Field’s Lane |
Tricia Henry |
|
Social Centre Model |
14 Turkey Lane |
Norma Cyrille/Sheron Samuel |
|
The S.P.I.C.E.S Centre |
64 B Cork Street |
Constance Norris |
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ROSEAU NORTH DISTRICT |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Campbell Pre-K |
Campbell |
June Maxwell |
|
Canefield Social Centre |
1st Street, Canefield |
Norma Cyrille/ Delia Winston |
|
Christian Union Church |
1 Rose Street, Goodwill |
Joan Paul |
|
Fond Cole |
Fond Cole |
Malisha Common |
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Mahaut Preschool |
Mahaut |
Josette Jno. Baptiste |
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Massacre Preschool |
Massacre |
Daphney Lafond |
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Oasis |
Cnr of Charles Ave & Watty’s Lane |
Elizabeth Dailey/ Cynthia barber |
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St. Alphonsus Church |
Goodwill |
Fr. Eustace Thomas/ Jasmine Christmas |
|
T. C. Sunbeam |
28 Benjamin’s Lane, Goodwill |
Patsy Emmanuel |
|
Yam Piece Community |
Yam Piece |
Andra Nanthan |
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ROSEAU SOUTH DISTRICT |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Beau Bois |
Beau Bois,Castle Comfort |
Doreen John |
|
Blossom |
Eggleston |
Cyrillia Xavier |
|
Charlotte Nursery |
Newtown |
Glenda Bertrand |
|
Happy Day |
Loubiere |
Una Lewis |
|
Jinja (Social Centre) |
Newtown |
Rose Caprice |
|
Morne Prosper |
Morne Prosper |
Angela Deschamps |
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Seedlings |
Soufriere |
Irmin Alfred |
|
St. Luke’s Pre-K |
Pointe Michel |
Sr. Annita Peter |
|
Trafalgar Pre-K |
Trafalgar |
Ms Doreen Pharoah Watt |
|
Wotten Waven Pre-K |
Wotten Waven |
Pastora Mills |
|
GRAND BAY DISTRICT |
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|
Preschool |
Address |
Proprietor/Principal |
|
Bagatelle Pre-K |
Bagatelle |
Angela Gregoire |
|
Grand Bay Pre-K |
Grand Bay |
Evans James |
|
Le Chelle |
Grand Bay |
Chris Patrick |
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Petite Savanne |
Petite Savanne |
Oliver Samuel |
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Pichelin Pre-K |
Pichelin |
Marilyn Leatham |
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S.W.O.R.D |
Grand Bay |
Patricia Noel |
|
Tete Start |
Tete Morne |
Welbourne Hector/ Vilma Abraham-Jules |
DAYCARES
|
Day Care |
Address |
Proprietor/Administrator |
|
Belle’s Day & Night |
Stockfarm |
Isabella Robinson |
|
CALLS |
Portsmouth |
Olivia Douglas |
|
D’s |
Apt 2 Bath Estate |
Debra Grell |
|
Dominica Save the Children Fund |
Mahaut |
Doreen Francis |
|
Early Child Development Centre |
31 Hillsborough Street |
Virginia Cuffy |
|
Early Child Development Centre |
Canefield |
Virginia Cuffy |
|
Future Generation for Christ |
Halifax St., Portsmouth |
Brenda Walter |
|
Hibiscus |
Citronier |
Cheryl Dangleben |
|
Laura’s Day & Night Nurse |
7 Terrel Lane, Goodwill |
Laura George |
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Lisa’s Kiddies Land |
Turkey Lane |
Lisa Grell |
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Lissia”s |
Chance, Portsmouth |
Lissia Walter |
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Mother’s Love |
61 Field’s Lane |
Theresa De Jean |
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Sally’s |
17 Victoria Street |
Agnes Le Blanc |
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Shining Stars |
Lower Morne Daniel |
Reber Hamlet |
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St. Ann’s Day Nursery |
Turkey Lane |
Norma Cyrille/ Judith Dover |