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The Early Childhood Commission

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) was established by the Early Childhood Commission Act (2003), in keeping with the strategic goal of the Government of Jamaica to improve the quality of early childhood care, education and development within the early childhood sector.

The ECC, which is an agency of the Ministry of Education, coordinates all activities, development plans and programmes within the early childhood sector. This integrated approach is critical, as it serves to reduce fragmentation and duplication and has placed under one institutional umbrella, the regulations, standards and policies which govern the sector.

The operations of the ECC are primarily undertaken by three departments – Regulation and Monitoring, Sector Support Services and Cross Sectoral Coordination, which seek to ensure the effective implementation of policies and programmes within the early childhood sector.

The Regulation and Monitoring department has responsibility for the registration of early childhood institutions (ECIs), and monitors their operations, to ensure compliance with the regulations and standards governing the sector. The Sector Support Services department provides developmental support to ECIs and early childhood practitioners (ECPs). The Cross Sectoral Coordination department collaborates with Government ministries and sector partners to coordinate early childhood development programmes, as well as to provide support for community intervention initiatives.
The ECC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, other stakeholders and partners, has developed two National Strategic Plans; (NSP) 2008-2013 and (NSP) 2013-2018 which outline the guidelines for ensuring that children at the early childhood level are provided with the requisite support, in order for them to realize their full potential.

The National Strategic Plan (NSP)

The National Strategic Plan (NSP) includes five areas of focus which serve to assist stakeholders in providing the relevant support and services that are required for the proper growth and development of our children.

These areas are:

  1. Effective parenting education and support
  2. Effective preventative health care
  3. Early and effective screening, diagnosis and intervention for ‘at risk’ children
  4. The provision of safe, learner-centred, well-maintained ECI facilities
  5. Effective curriculum delivery

In order to achieve these goals, the right working environment must be in place to ensure the success of the NSP. This means that:

  • All persons and organizations who work with children, or provide programmes and services for them, must work together to promote the established targets.
  • Decisions on how to improve the quality of early childhood development in Jamaica must be based on timely, clear, current and accurate information.

Meet the Team

The team at the Early Childhood Commission is a dedicated group of professionals committed to advancing a unified system of high-quality early childhood development across Jamaica. Guided by our vision of “All children having access to high quality early childhood development services enabling the realization of their full potential,” we work collaboratively to ensure that every child from birth to eight years benefits from equitable, safe, and nurturing environments. Our multidisciplinary team integrates policy development, regulatory oversight, monitoring, and technical support to strengthen early childhood institutions and practitioners nationwide.

Tanisha Miller

Senior Director Corporate Services

Andrea Edwards Brown

Senior Director, Cross Sectoral Coordination

Dr TracyAnn Morgan Smith

Senior Director, Regulation & Monitoring

Simone Ellis Dixon

Senior Director, Sector Support Services

Chardia Facey

Director, Human Resources & Administration

Joleesa Courts

Director, Public Procurement

Stephen Innerarity

Manager, Information Technology

Chardia Facey

Director, Human Resources & Administration

Chardia Facey

Director, Human Resources & Administration

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