The Early Childhood Pioneers:

Rev. Saunders later established her first school at Baileys Vale, Port Maria, and St. Mary and
appointed Mrs. Joyce Eccleston as a teacher. Her conviction was that children be given ideas
from the beginning in the early years, which led to the Rev. Madge Saunders, a contributor to
Early Childhood Education. She was travelling around Jamaica doing work for the United
Church, she saw untrained people acting as teachers. In 1950, she selected six young women
from six different parishes; three of the parishes were Westmoreland, Handover and St. Mary
to do a six week basic training course in English Language, Speech, the making of charts and
the art of Story Telling. The course was conducted in Kingston. These six young women
became the first schoolteacher in Jamaica. Their observation was taken place at the Central
Branch Primary School.

name basic school. Her guiding principle has been ‘’CARING MATTERS FIRST.’’

Later she began training teachers at the Kelly Lawson Training Centre. Rev. Saunders impact
on Jamaica’s educational landscape also includes the founding of several well-known basic,
preparatory and high schools including Mona, Iona Prep and Meadowbrook High School.
She is also credited with the creation and organization of programs for youth and homeless
children on the island.
 Reverend Henry Ward:
Rev. Henry Ward was not just a contributor to Early Childhood Education but he was the
founder. He was best known for changing the Jamaica school system. Up until Rev. Henry
Ward got involved with the government to change it the system was a flawed, failing system,
with hundreds, if not thousands of children unable to get educated because of the lack of
facilities. Although churches and infant centres tried their best to cater for as many children
as possible, there was simply too much demand. That was until Rev. Ward got involved in
the schooling system.
In 1938, Rev. Ward started researching primary education for young children and began to
campaign for children in Jamaica. After alerting the government of the desperate need for
schools, Rev. Ward developed a number of community schools that later became known as
‘’basic schools’’. He then went on to create schools in area that needed critical help. He once
said in an interview that he created a school for 3-6 years old after seeing them unprotected,
running about the streets unattended.
In 1941, Rev. Henry Ward held a presentation to the Jamaican Board of Education calling for
the creation of ‘play centres’. These centres were to include play stories, action songs,
lessons on pets, the caring of a garden, the teaching of reading, writing, numeracy, craft, and
handy work. This was dropped by the government, sadly, although they did then create more
‘’basic schools’’ in Ward’s name.
Without Rev. Henry Ward fighting every step of the way for basic, primary education,
Jamaican schools would still now be very far and few between.
Mr. Dudley Ransford Brandyce Grant (DRB Grant):

Mr. D.R.B Grant a contributor and the father of Early Childhood Education in Jamaica. Mr.
D.R.B. Grant developed the U.W.I. Institute of Education In-service course for untrained
teachers in the Eastern Caribbean and went on to organize the first training programmed for
teacher trainers in this same Caribbean area.
During the 1967-1968, while on the secondment to the Ministry of Education Jamaica, he
started the first teaching internship programme which has become a major component of the
teacher education programme in Jamaica. D.R.B. Grant also conceived and implemented the
Project for Early Children Education (P.E.C.E.) which was funded by the Van Leer
Foundation of Holland. He directed this project from 1966-1987. He became a highly
respected international authority in the field of early childhood education and occupied
various consulting and advisory roles. In 1972, D.R.B. Grant was appointed by the Ministry
to Education, Jamaica as a member of the Committee for an In-depth Study for Primary
Education. He also played a pivotal role in the design and organization of the Hope Valley
Experimental School.
In recognition of D.R.B. Grant‘s contribution to early childhood education, the University of
the West Indies, Mona has named the Early Childhood Resource Centre in his honour. In
addition, the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust (DGMT) was established in through the Bernard
van Leer Foundation in 1989 to commemorate his life and work.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, we would like to thank God for His never-ending grace, mercy and
strength. For wisdom, knowledge and understanding that He has given us to complete this
assignment.
We would like to thank our teacher Mrs. Patrice Leigh for giving us this assignment and for
encouraging us, it as enlighten us more on the history of Early Childhood Education. Also a
big thank you to our team members: Marcia Bryan, Faylette Thompson, Tenetha Greaves,
Daina Greaves, Danielle Daley and Satania Muir-Dormer for participating, for being
cooperative and being a great team player.
 TITLE PAGE

Early Childhood Sector Policies, Procedures and Regulations

NAMES: Marcia Bryan, Satania Muir-Dormer, Daina Greaves, Tenetha Greaves,

Faylette Thompson, Danielle Daley

TEACHER’S NAME: Miss Patrice Leigh

COURSE: Early Childhood Level 2
INSTITUTION: Buff Bay HEART Trust VCT
DUE DATE: May 10, 2017