In May 2006, KDEB jointly with the Selangor State Government organised official visits to two children centres of excellence in England. Led by YAB Dato' Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Bin Toyo, the Dato' Menteri Besar Selangor, the delegation toured the Pen Green Centre, Northamptonshire and the Portman Early Childhood Centre, London. The purpose of these visits is to gain an insight into the English models of education with childcare and to adopt the best practice for our Malaysian model.
Early childhood education is a subject which is close to the heart of Dato' Menteri Besar and by the end of the year, Selangor will see the launch of the Children's Creative Centre (also known as the 3C). The 3C, to be managed by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council, will be a first for Selangor upon its commencement of operations.
Located about 72 miles off London, the Pen Green Centre is a place open to children under 5 years of age and their families. It is one of the first Early Excellence Centres ("EECs") designated by the British Government in 1997. EECs are a government initiative to provide the integration of quality education and childcare for children aged 0 – 5 years, support services for children, parents and carers, and access to adult education.
The main activities in Pen Green are the provision of education with care for children from their first birth day right through until they are ready to start school, family support and counseling for young parents and teenagers. For parents, there are courses accredited by North London University up to master's degree level located on site and parents attending courses can leave their children at the crèche. Children are treated with great respect in Pen Green where the staff believes that: "Children should feel strong; children should feel in control; children should feel able to question and children should feel able to choose". After a presentation by the Director of Research, Dr Margy Whalley, the delegation toured various facilities such as the Baby Nest, the Nursery Garden, the Nursery Beach Area, the Gallery, Messy Play and the Family Room. Other facilities include the Soft Room which is a water therapy room and the Snoezelen Room, a sensory room for children with special needs.
The delegation also toured a second EEC known as Portman Early Childhood Centre located in London. The centre caters for children in Westminster which is one of the most deprived districts in England. The Head Teacher, Ms Joanna White and her dedicated team of workers shared their experiences with the delegation and the visit was both inspiring and an eye-opener.
The visits to the two Early Excellence Centres were indeed fruitful as the delegation members brought back practical knowledge and insight which will be useful as we define and develop our own Malaysian model of early childhood education.
