Encouraging Progress
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive. Our Preschool Special Education programs make sure children with special needs and development delays get that opportunity, too.
We create a warm, trusting environment where children feel comfortable to explore the world around them and develop social and emotional skills so they can thrive and grow. Children in our Preschool Special Education programs have varied challenges, including speech impairments, learning disabilities, neurological impairments, developmental disabilities, emotional/behavioral challenges and autism.
Setting and Achieving Goals
No matter what the challenge, we help children progress toward their personal goals, such as learning to make eye contact, controlling aggressive behaviors and communicating through sign language. We meet each child’s specific developmental and learning objectives through play, individual instruction time, and classroom activities. Trained teachers tailor classroom activities to each child’s unique learning style, personality, strengths and challenges.
Whether in integrated classes alongside their typically developing peers or in small, specialized classes, students also receive individual or group occupational, physical, and speech therapy and the counseling needed to support their development.
For those with more significant needs, specialized preschool classes – with six, eight or ten children and a teacher and two teaching assistants – provide the intensive services children need.
40% of our special-education preschoolers in integrated settings move onto Kindergarten needing less intensive or no special education services.
Supporting Parents
Because supporting a child with special needs brings unique challenges, we help parents learn too. Through conversations with teachers about daily activities and approaches to meet their children’s particular needs, we give parents the tools they need to continue supports at home so every child can achieve his or her potential. Parent support groups offer a safe space in which parents can discuss the challenges they face with other parents and share solutions.
Program Features
- New York State Certified Teachers
- Teacher assistants in every classroom
- Small, specialized classes for children with more significant needs
- Spacious, well equipped, modern facility
- Indoor and outdoor play areas
- Nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks
Family and Parent Support
- Support and training for parents and families in how to support children with special needs.
- All services available to children and families in English and Spanish.
- Bilingual classrooms.
- Serving children from New York City and Westchester County.
Therapeutic and Clinical Supportive Services
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Individual and group counseling