Grand Erie personnel ensuring the successful admission or transfer of students from one program to another may include one or a combination of the following:

• Teacher Consultant-Specialized Services
• School Administrator
• Classroom Teacher
• Learning Resource Teacher (LRT)
• System support personnel such as Teacher Consultants for alternative programming, Social Workers, Child and Youth Workers, Behaviour Counsellors, Behaviour Analysts, Speech-Language Pathologists, Psychological Associates/Psycho-Educational Consultants and/or Lead Educational Assistant

Successful transitions will also require parent(s)/caregiver(s)commitment, collaboration, and support.

Transitions Supported by Lansdowne Children’s Centre and REACH

New Kindergarten Students Receiving Services from Lansdowne Children’s Centre or REACH

Grand Erie is expanding its “Kickstart to Kindergarten” program. These school-based events provide parents/caregivers of all new kindergarten students an opportunity to visit the school. Community service providers are invited to participate and introduce themselves to parents/caregivers. In some instances, student referrals are initiated.

At the end of February each year, with parental/caregiver consent, Lansdowne Children’s Centre and REACH share overviews of children accessing community services that are transitioning to Grand Erie. Overviews are provided using the “All About Me” document. This information is shared with the Learning Resource Teachers through the Teacher Consultants-Specialized Services. For students entering school in September, case conferences are arranged by the Learning Resource Teacher of the receiving school in late May or June. The case conferences provide an opportunity for parents/caregivers, community agency staff, and Grand Erie staff to discuss the strengths, needs, and interests of the student and plan for a smooth transition to school. If there are special equipment needs recommended by the community based Occupational Therapist and/or Physiotherapist, these are discussed at the case conference and shared with the Program Coordinator to review inventory.

When a new kindergarten student receives Speech and/or Language support through Lansdowne’s community service providers, the student’s name and profile is shared with the Program Coordinator-Specialized Services in April. These names are shared with the receiving school Learning Resource Teacher through the Teacher Consultant – Specialized Services. A case conference may be arranged depending upon the needs of the student. This is determined on an individual basis. The names of students receiving these services are shared with the Grand Erie Speech and Language Pathologists by the community agency to ensure the continuation of services.
 

Transitions from a Care or Treatment Centre, Correctional Facility or other Board

• Care and Treatment Facility staff contacts schools Learning Resource Teachers of Administrator, who notify their Teacher Consultant-Special Education.
• Schools obtain signed parent(s)/caregiver(s)consent using the Grand Erie Authorization for Exchange of information form to contact the care or treatment center, correctional facility or other board.
• A case conference is initiated by Grand Erie staff or a referral agency. It may include the following board personnel: Teacher Consultant-Special Education, School Administrator and Special Education staff or classroom teacher and other appropriate system personnel. Parent(s)/caregiver(s)and agency personnel may also be in attendance. Information which is relevant to the student’s successful transition to school will be discussed including essential supports, Special Equipment Amount (SEA) claims, the Individual Education Plan (IEP), medical or health/safety concerns and other relevant information. A transition plan is developed by Grand Erie staff. Minutes of the case conference will be taken and forwarded to the parent(s)/caregiver(s)and a representative from the agency or board.
• Further case conferences may be appropriate to monitor the student’s transition to school.

Community Agencies

Grand Erie also works closely with various community agencies (e.g., Contact Brant, Contact Haldimand-Norfolk, Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H., St. Leonard’s, Woodview), regarding students transitioning to or from schools.

Protocols have been developed with the following outside agencies to clarify roles and responsibilities:

• Child Welfare Agencies Autism Support Services
• Hamilton-Niagara Regional Autism Intervention Program
• Six Nations Tragic Events Response Team
• Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol
• Police and School Board Protocol
• Partnering Together for Healthy Schools Protocol
• The Board’s Procedure addressing partnership development (SO108: “Community Service

Providers and Schools Working Together”) continues to be implemented with community partners annually.

Outside Assessment Reports

Reports prepared by professionals outside the Grand Erie District School Board and shared by parent(s)/caregiver(s) are reviewed to determine what provided information is useful to create a clearer understanding of the learning profile of the student and how to provide appropriate instruction within a school context and in accordance with the Education Act, (R.S.O. 1990, S.226(2)). Where this information differs from data collected at the school, collaboration with the Resource Team determines how best to proceed. There is no requirement that assessments or reassessments must be conducted by Board personnel (i.e., reports are "transportable"). Allocation of educational resources and educational programming decisions remain the responsibility of school/system staff.

Community Partnership Planning

Grand Erie staff represents the board at several community planning committees and initiatives including Children’s Services Committee (Brant); Child and Youth Planning Network (Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk); Joint Protocol for Student Achievement; Brant Suicide Prevention Committee; Suicide Prevention Network of Haldimand-Norfolk, which bring together agencies, ministries, and school boards to consider common interests.

Grand Erie continues to implement SO108 Community Service Providers and Schools Working Together. This allows for a better understanding of community services, facilitates communication and collaboration between community agencies and the school board, and increases access to mental health services within a school setting. Partnerships continue to be reviewed annually with the community partner.