What Factors Could Enhance The Long-Term Power Of Such Early Interventions?
What factors could enhance the long-term power of such early interventions? (1100)
Given these limitations, it is worth discussing some of the factors that may promote the long-term effectiveness of ECD programmes in the South African context.
Enhancing the long-term power of early interventions will require substantially improving the accessibility of the ECD programmes to the most vulnerable children, families and communities (Britto et al., 2013; Penn, 2004). Research has consistently shown that early intervention programmes aimed at younger and the most disadvantaged and high-risk children have far more beneficial effects, in the short and long-term, when compared with the effects shown with less vulnerable children or with later interventions …show more content…
This is because, although the ECD programme functions to set the vulnerable child up to fulfill their developmental potential, subsequent risk but also protective factors may respectively work to prevent or support the continuation of the beneficial effects of ECD programmes, and likewise negatively or positively affect their development, in the long-term (Britto et al., 2013; Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000). As such, interventions cannot only be focussed on early childhood if the long-term power of the early interventions is to be sustained and enhanced. For example, continued support provided during the transition to school may help to sustain and enhance cognitive gains resulting from ECD programmes (Gomby et al., …show more content…
Firstly, in order for the effects of ECD programmes to be sustained in the long-term, the programmes themselves need to be sustainable. To ensure sustainability and optimise long-term effectiveness, ECD policy and programmes must be contextualised, which requires taking into account factors such as community and familial priorities and risks, resource constraints, and cultural beliefs, norms and practices with regards childrearing; identifying and mobilising resources within the wider ecology (as opposed to being deficit-focused); and finally, being mother tongue-based (Britto et al., 2013; Engle et al., 2007; Garcia et al., 2008; Penn, 2004; Reynolds, 1998; Samuels et al., 2012; UNESCO, 2006). Within the South African context where significant challenges to service delivery negatively affect the long-term effectiveness of ECD programmes, a comprehensive and cohesive approach to ECD, which involves the collaboration of both different governmental departments and nongovernmental institutions that deal with different domains of child wellbeing, may be beneficial (Albino & Berry, 2013; Britto et al., 2013; DiGirolamo et al., 2014; Engle et al., 2007; Goduka, 1997; UNESCO, 2006). Capitalising on and improving existing services and facilities intended for the same population (for example, combining early education and care with primary health care and
Given these limitations, it is worth discussing some of the factors that may promote the long-term effectiveness of ECD programmes in the South African context.
Enhancing the long-term power of early interventions will require substantially improving the accessibility of the ECD programmes to the most vulnerable children, families and communities (Britto et al., 2013; Penn, 2004). Research has consistently shown that early intervention programmes aimed at younger and the most disadvantaged and high-risk children have far more beneficial effects, in the short and long-term, when compared with the effects shown with less vulnerable children or with later interventions …show more content…
This is because, although the ECD programme functions to set the vulnerable child up to fulfill their developmental potential, subsequent risk but also protective factors may respectively work to prevent or support the continuation of the beneficial effects of ECD programmes, and likewise negatively or positively affect their development, in the long-term (Britto et al., 2013; Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000). As such, interventions cannot only be focussed on early childhood if the long-term power of the early interventions is to be sustained and enhanced. For example, continued support provided during the transition to school may help to sustain and enhance cognitive gains resulting from ECD programmes (Gomby et al., …show more content…
Firstly, in order for the effects of ECD programmes to be sustained in the long-term, the programmes themselves need to be sustainable. To ensure sustainability and optimise long-term effectiveness, ECD policy and programmes must be contextualised, which requires taking into account factors such as community and familial priorities and risks, resource constraints, and cultural beliefs, norms and practices with regards childrearing; identifying and mobilising resources within the wider ecology (as opposed to being deficit-focused); and finally, being mother tongue-based (Britto et al., 2013; Engle et al., 2007; Garcia et al., 2008; Penn, 2004; Reynolds, 1998; Samuels et al., 2012; UNESCO, 2006). Within the South African context where significant challenges to service delivery negatively affect the long-term effectiveness of ECD programmes, a comprehensive and cohesive approach to ECD, which involves the collaboration of both different governmental departments and nongovernmental institutions that deal with different domains of child wellbeing, may be beneficial (Albino & Berry, 2013; Britto et al., 2013; DiGirolamo et al., 2014; Engle et al., 2007; Goduka, 1997; UNESCO, 2006). Capitalising on and improving existing services and facilities intended for the same population (for example, combining early education and care with primary health care and