PUF Pre-K 24/25

Elk Island Catholic Schools invites and welcomes families of young learners into our faith-based, inclusive Pre-Kindergarten classrooms. EICS offers a variety of Pre-Kindergarten programs to support all of our little learners. We have programs to support both Pre-K PUF Supported Learners & Independent Learners: 

• PUF Supported Learners - Alberta Education provides Program Unit Funding (PUF) for children between 2.8 and 4.8 years of age who have been identified as needing early learning intervention. 
• Independent Learners - Children who are 4 by December 31, 2024,  in their year prior to Kindergarten. 

Registration for 2024-2025 is open here.

For inquiries and additional information, please contact prekpufinfo@eics.ab.ca

Our EICS Early Learning Team is here to help you and we are so excited to journey with your little one. Please do not hesitate to reach out!

Early Intervention in our Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms: PUF Supported Learners 

Through the Pre-Kindergarten Inquiry Form,  one of our Early Learning Consultants will contact you and help determine if your child would benefit from Early Intervention. 

This process helps determine if your child qualifies for early intervention :

• a funded placement by Alberta Education (PUF Supported Learner) to access additional specialized supports, or
• a non-funded placement (Independent Learner) (a monthly fee required).

Screenings from our EICS Speech and Language Pathologists will assist us with determining early intervention needs.  A child may be further assessed by a Speech-Language Pathologist for our Pre-K PUF Programs. Assessment results from other agencies such as Alberta Health Services or private agencies are also considered and reviewed for qualification by our Inclusive Learning Team. Parents do not have to apply for funding, school authorities will access this funding on the family's behalf. The goal is to provide early intervention services to students across the province, in the hopes of providing a successful transition into their early elementary years.

Learning Supports in our PUF Supported Pre-Kindergaten Classrooms: 

Depending on the EICS Pre-Kindergarten program best suited for your child and family's needs, our programs are either teacher instructed or led by a Program Assistant. 

Further learning supports may include:

Inclusive Learning Consultants
Speech and Language Pathologists
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapists
Educational Assistants
Divisional Psychologists 

EICS Pre-Kindergarten programs are faith infused and are rooted in the foundation that every child is created in the image of God, has unique gifts, and is loved.

Independence, initiative, decision making, creativity, the ability to learn, relationships and feelings of self-worth - all have their beginnings in early childhood. Together with families, we build upon children's natural curiosity and spontaneity, encouraging and supporting them as they take their first steps into school.

Kindergarten Readiness: Helping children become all they are called to be! 

The development of foundational skills in Pre-Kindergarten settings further develops a child’s skills in the areas of social interaction, play, language, emotional development, physical skills, early literacy and numeracy, and fine motor skills. The basic establishment of these skills in advance typically affords a child a more successful entry to their kindergarten environment.

These readiness skills can be reflected in: social interactions-making friends and peer connections, self care skills, social-emotional regulation to demonstrate age appropriate responses to frustration and excitement, language and communication skills, and physical and motor development. 

Early Intervention (PUF Supported Learners)

A child's early years (0-6 years) are an extremely important time for healthy growth and development. This is when a child’s brain and body are developing at a rapid rate. Children grow and develop at different rates, making each child unique. During this time, parents or other caregivers may notice delays or differences in children when compared to developmental milestone guidelines.

Research indicates that early intervention is very effective in supporting a child’s overall development in; learning, regulation, readiness for school, and play and social skills. Early intervention is a collaborative process aimed at helping children grow and develop along with their families and extended support systems.  Alberta Education provides Early Childhood PUF funding for children to support these formative years.