• PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

    Some children may demonstrate developmental delays in one or more of the following areas: adaptive behavior, cognitive skills, communication skills, hearing, vision, gross or fine motor skills, and social-emotional skills. Through a detailed multifactored evaluation process, a child may be identified as having a disability as defined by state and federal law. Children with identified disabilities receive services according to their IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) as developed by a team consisting of parents, early childhood intervention specialists, general educators, and an administrator with related service staff such as speech therapist or other therapist participating as appropriate. 

    The following services are provided through Brunswick City Schools and the preschool program:

    • Center Based Services occur at Kidder Elementary as students attend the preschool program. Center based services consist of 2.75 hour classes Monday through Thursday for a total of eleven hours per week, in classrooms that include children without disabilities. If your child has an identified disability and an IEP (Individualized Education Plan), specially designed instruction and related services, as required by your child’s IEP, will be delivered within the school day. On Fridays, students do not attend school; however, professional staff conduct consultation among service providers and families, IEP meetings, assessments, professional development, observations, and other activities that support children’s needs on that day.
    • Itinerant Services for children with disabilities are provided by a licensed intervention specialist who may serve students at home or in a preschool/daycare within the Brunswick City School District. The itinerant teacher offers services as outlined on the child’s IEP.
    • Itinerant Related Services are provided by licensed therapists (OT, PT, SLP) for students not enrolled in the preschool program. These services are typically provided in a therapy room at Kidder Elementary or at a community site as determined by the student’s IEP.

     

    PRESCHOOL RELATED SERVICES

    Speech-Language Therapy: A speech language pathologist (SLP) works with children with identified communication needs in each classroom. Our program focuses on classroom based communication intervention and encourages teachers to embed students’ goals into the routines and activities of the preschool classroom. The SLPs provide service to the children in a variety of ways. The therapist provides many opportunities for practicing language within a class setting and with peer interaction while playing and working. Their presence in the classroom allows our teachers and aides to observe ways to encourage language in all settings. However, some students may need speech therapy services in a small group setting outside of the preschool classroom.

    Occupational Therapy: Our occupational therapist works both in the classroom and the OT/PT room. The OT helps students with self-help skills, correct posture, pre-writing skills, sensory calming, and awareness activities. The OT encourages correct posture during schoolwork, prewriting skills needed for future written communication skills, and sensory calming and spatial- awareness activities. The OT assists the team with promoting good self-regulation skills and uses multimodal stimulation strategies to help with learning.

    Physical Therapy: Our physical therapist and the PT assistant work with students who need help with gross motor activities in the school environment. PT helps students maneuver in all areas of the school and has them exercise to strengthen and tone muscles.