The encouragement and development of reflective practice of early childhood educators is the focus of the Partners in Practice project. It will compare the effect of mentoring on protégés at different stages in their career development. The three programs will examine mentoring applied through a post secondary E.C.E program (College of the North Atlantic) with E.C.E first and second year students (St. John's); Post Secondary E.C.E Program (Niagara College) and The Early Childhood Development Centre and novice E.C.E (Niagara Region); and Child Care Connection-NS, the Certification Council of Early Childhood Educators of Nova Scotia and child care practitioners with an E.C.E certificate, diploma or degree who are at a transition in their career and moving toward voluntary certification (Halifax). Each program will be unique, providing rich sources of data regarding reflective practice across the programs.

Partners In Practice is funded through Child Care Visions, Employability and Social Partnerships of Human Resources Development Canada.

Early Childhood Mentoring Alliance (USA) is an information and technical assistance network for mentors and mentoring programs in United States. It is coordinated by the National Centre for the Early Childhood Work Force NCECW. Information: NCECW, 733 15th St., N.W., Suite 1037, Washington DC, USA 20005-2112.