Barbara C Wilson v Little Village

Our daughter will be 3 later this year and was approved by our school district for a full day program starting this fall (less than 30 days away). After reading various posts on this blog I was shocked to find that Barbara C Wilson had a full day slot available for her. We had the screening Thursday and liked them and felt our cons were sadness our little girl would be away all day and that it wod mean we would have to lose our nanny. The next day we had tour and screening at Little Village and they have half day slot for her and would wait list her for FT in
Jan (and candidly admit she has essentially no chance).

So we love LV. If they had FT, there would be Probably no question, but it is just 2 1/2 hrs/day, not the FT recommended for our little girl. LV had a great presentation, we had full tour and is a better funded school so just seems better and promised a structured schedule that appealed to us. We thought we would fill in gaps with private prompt therapist, but then we lose socialization

I am desperately looking for feedback re both schools. LV wants to put her in 9:1 which made me a little nervous since the summer class we viewed was lower functioning and my daughter has speech delay, so I need talking kids she can model. (at least 2 kids of fall 9 in LV won't have spoken at all). It would be 10:1 at BCW.

We gave to make decision by Mon am and were encouraged to make decision via VM this weekend. Please advise re your impressions of both schools.

Re: Barbara C Wilson v Little Village

My DS goes to LV and is in a FT class. I love the school and the staff and really only have good things to say about them.

All I really know about Barbara C. wilson is what I saw on their tour and what I have heard about the school. I had a good impression when I visited and would have been willing to send my DS there if he had a spot.

I think one of the things I would consider most are FT vs. PT. I was considering taking a PT spot for him if I was only offered FT in a school I had no interest in placing him in. I was willing to fight with the district over it because I did not think the class in question was a good fit for him at all. Is she getting any pull out services? My DS gets Speech, OT and PT, so I think that is one of the reasons they want him in FT - so he can get all his services at one location and the teachers and therapists all communicate regularly on his progress and what they are working on.

This brings me to the second thing I would think hard about - is one of the classes a better fit? My DS had a few kids in his class this year that weren't really talkers, but there were some that were very verbal. I don't think having a couple of kids who don't speak really hindered him in any way. And often at LV, they have one overenrollment spot, so the 9:1:3s become 10:1:4s.

Last year, I think my DS had the best of both - he got ABA in daycare and a half day preschool class, but that was still in EI and I don't think a district would give you the same number of services we had then.

Good luck - I know it is a nervewracking decision.

Re: Barbara C Wilson v Little Village

LV does not take any kids FT that does not come from their PT program first. There is no opening for anyone just looking for FT.

Re: Barbara C Wilson v Little Village

My daughter went to BCW and I can't say it enough how happy I was with her education. She progressed unbelievably this year. Her teachers were so kind but firm, which she really needed. They still call me to see how she is doing! She was in the integrated program, which I hear is no longer. But regardless, I think the program and the staff are amazing.

Re: Barbara C Wilson v Little Village

just a little inside scoop... i just heard that a little girl accepted the 5 day 1/2 day program at LV.. a full day spot opened and she got it...

it happens... also last year DS was accepted into the 5 day full day program (was never there before) and when we declined a child who was in the 1/2 day program got the spot.

so if LV is where you really want to go, take the 1/2 day program.

Re: Barbara C Wilson v Little Village

We picked BCW after agonizing over it all weekend. LV was straight with us and said we would not get full day until, at best, Fall 2012 and we were concerned re the class they chose for her. My mom loved school but was at screening and thought they were choosing class based on what was needed for LV, I.e., another girl, not maybe best for our DD. Our EI speech therapist felt full day would make all the difference and went to ped neurologist today who said treatment is speech, speech and more speech. Always second guessing, but think we made right decision for this child at this time. Thanks for all your feedback?