ne of the main purposes of UEY is to help determine the extent and nature of community influences on child development and how this might vary from child to child. It includes three independent but complementary data collection components that allows for more detailed monitoring and reporting at the community level. Together, this information will help fill in gaps in our understanding of the community factors that affect early child development and the ways a community can best support the needs of young children and their parents.

The focus of the Winnipeg UEY site is the Winnipeg School Division catchment area.    

For the purposes of this report the community refers to Winnipeg School Division boundaries. Winnipeg School Division community covers a large, urban area of 77.46 sq. km (comprising 16.4% of the city area) with a perimeter of 59 km. It is bordered by Mollard Rd, Carruthers Ave and Matheison Ave on the North, Panet Rd, Thomas Ave and the Red River on the East, Parker Ave and Wilkes Ave on the South, Edgeland Blvd, St James St, and Brookside Blvd on the West .

The focus of this report is on Winnipeg School Division and the programs within it. However, it should be noted that many programs exist for children outside of the division boundaries and many children and their families may be accessing services just beyond the division. Therefore, it is not know if families are taking part in the programs just beyond the division. This should also be considered when interpreting maps: programs may exist on the other side of the boundary but would not be represented on the map, making it appear that the area may not serviced as well as some other areas.

The total population of the division in 1996 was 220 602 with 20 181 children 6 years of age and under in 1999 (comprising 9.1% of the population). The Division provides educational programs and related services to 33 500 students in regular, special education, adult, summer and ESL programs.

Nursery programs have been offered in the division since 1965. Today all Winnipeg School Division schools have nursery classes, including a program at Mount Carmel Clinic. The Division funds the Nursery Program with no support from the province. The program runs for eight months of the school year. Kindergarten programs are also offered in each of the 59 elementary schools with instruction in the following areas: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education and health, music and art.