All done with his evaluation

DS will be 3 the end of May, which means his EI services will end. We live in NJ so the Learning Center in our town has a Special Ed Preschool program.
He was just tested last week. I thought it went well. DS did a great job, but of course was pretty distracted. new room and new faces. Lots of toys to stare at too. He even did well in the classroom where they observed how he'd behave with other kids. I knew he'd be fine since he's been going to daycare since he was 3 months.
Of course I knew he knew a lot more that he lead on.
Anyway, we got our copy of the overall evaluation and I guess it's weird to see in writing for his age he's below average in most categories and average for fine motor skills.
Now the question is what's the next step?
The meeting with the school's team that evaluated him is next month. I'm sure he will qualify for their Special Ed program that is also mixed in with other kids who got in by lottery. THey have a preschool teacher and some aides in the class. Including a Speech Teacher and there's an OT classroom as well that they take the children to.
I WFT. DS goes to daycare with the baby. He's really smart and it's a great daycare where they also work with him a lot independently.
IF he does go to preschool it's a half day, which means he'd still have to go to daycare for the 2nd half. Just seems like so much.
Just wish I had a job with LESS hours.
So much to think about.
Also, the Director at the daycare said their Preschool Teacher went to school to be a Special Ed teacher.

Re: All done with his evaluation

I also live in NJ. We had the same issue with our school's integrated program. I also work ft.

The program in the morning was for 3 yo's and the afternoon was 4 yo's. Each session was only 2.5 hours long.

Last year (when he was 3), I drove him to daycare at 8. The bus picked him at a little before 9 to go to the district's program. He was dropped off back at daycare at noon. Ate lunch. Took a nap. Had a snack. And then played until I got there before 6.

When we did his IEP for his 4 yo year I expressed my concern that the program wasn't long enough for him, especially when he was also getting pulled for PT, OT and speech while he was there. He has a PDD diagnosis so I was able to convince them to give him an SEIT AND take him for both sessions.

So now he still gets dropped off at daycare at 8, picked up at 9 by the bus, stays at preschool all day, gets dropped off back at daycare at 4 and I pick up before 6. Between the two sessions he eats lunch with the kindergarten classes and does recess with them and hangs out with his aid and rests.

It is a LONG day no matter how you slice it. Last year wasn't as bad because at least he got to nap when he got back to daycare. In terms of his being bounced around I think he just got used to it. This year is tough because he gets really tired by the end of the day. And by the end of the week he is a mess.

I couldn't see not putting him in their program. That is where he is getting therapy. And while our daycare is pretty good at handling DS, they just aren't equipped to handle his needs full time. There are just too many kids and they are not mandated to follow an IEP.

Not ideal but it works.

Good luck!

Re: All done with his evaluation

Thanks for the responce
Seems like that's exactly what he'll have to do. It'll be a long day, but he's used to a long day at daycare.
I may just have the bus pick up DS at my parent's (around the corner) since i go to work early, but can get the boys close to 5.
I'll drop off the baby in the morning at daycare.

Re: All done with his evaluation

My son has been in an integrated PreK for a year,and it has been great for him. On his current evaluation, his development is pretty much on target in most areas. I would take this opportunity if it's offered. I WFT too, and my son is bused to his old daycare after his ReK let's out until I leave work. He goes there school holiday weeks too. Is this a possibility? You can also get a babysitter, but the extra socialization was good for my son.

I am sorry about the report, they are hard to read since there is so much focus on a child's deficiencies, not on his strengths.