Early Development Instrument

Children who are ready to learn at school from their first day have a better chance of doing well in all their years of school. Yet, some children are more ready for formal learning in classrooms than others. The Early Development Instrument (EDI) helps to gather information regarding areas of strength and deficit for groups of children, and consequently, to mobilize communities into action at both the preschool and school level. Every three years, as part of its commitment to being accountable to Ontarians, the Province of Ontario asks regional school boards to use the EDI to gather information so that communities, educators and families can be better informed in their efforts to prepare young children for school.

The Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University developed the instrument, with the help of community stakeholders (including principals and teachers), and manages the project at the provincial and national levels. At a local level, Mothercraft is responsible for:

• Helping to coordinate EDI implementation across the various school boards in Toronto; and
• Summarizing Toronto results and disseminating the information to the community.