Our goal is to prepare each child for the next step in their developmental journey. In order to help meet the goals along the way, teachers assess each child as well as create individual goals. During these assessments, a child may fall below where they need to be. While there are many things we can do in the classroom as well as suggestions for help at home, we also have an important resource available.
We make referrals for additional help to Carolina Pediatric Therapy. Once we make a referral, a therapist will come to the center and do an evaluation. This will tell the therapist if the child qualifies for services and what services.
Once a child has qualified for services, the child is assigned to a therapist and put on the schedule. We try to keep all children assigned to the same speech, occupational or physical therapists. This helps keep fewer people in and out of the classrooms and allows children to be more familiar with the therapists.
Therapists work with the children in the classroom, allowing them to integrate their learned skills in their daily environment. It also allows for the child to have a friend join them and help them during their activities.
Therapists are great about communicating with parents about their child’s progress. Not only do they communicate with parents, but also with the classroom teachers. This allows the teachers to work on the child’s therapy goals in the classroom on a daily basis.
Children are assessed regularly, but referrals are also made if a parent has a concern or if a teacher feels the child could benefit from additional help.