When I thought of what I wanted to say about Courtleigh Place, I found myself at an immediate loss for words; there was just so much to say and I wanted to take the time to really articulate it properly. We so often go through the motions of life, perceptively without having the opportunity to address those things that we appreciate, so thank you for giving me this opportunity. This is an under-valued profession!! Working with arguably one of the most vulnerable and most important populations, clearly calls upon persons who see this job as a vocation. The brevity of handling other people’s children is enormous and one can see that Courtleigh not only understands this, but puts this main principle into practice into the care given to all facets of childcare some of which are: nutrition, sleep hygiene, structured and predictable routines, attention to emotional awareness and the importance of imaginative play. It is clear that this dedication is not a result of governmental guidelines but rather the convictions of the individuals who work there. The outpouring of love and attention and absence of favouritism shown from the very first moments of placement within the program is very clear. Children are encouraged to become little people, with personalities all their own and to practice social interactions of all kinds. My husband and I feel truly blessed to have had care for our children at Courtleigh Place. Raising the bar for excellence in practice is something we should all continue doing and again is evident from the detail that goes into the daily activity plans developed by the staff. The knowledge of developmental psychology is a must in this environment and I am aware that the ECE program does provide training in this area and some staff as I understand have more advanced knowledge, which is key to developing stimulating and creative programs for both the children and the staff. Kudos to you for supporting this further personal development of your staff. In case I have not been clear on the main point of this short note, here goes: I am grateful for the good work you all do and you should be proud of the establishment you have in place. Thank you for supporting your staff which in turn support and care for our children. Clear and dedicated leadership with stated values and an equitable environment will always lead one in the right direction and Courtleigh is there. Thank You.

Faye Verveniotis
Parent