Your Child Was Referred to the Northbridge Public Schools Special Education Department. What Next?
After a review of the referral packet provided by early intervention and communication with the early intervention coordinator and/or parent, the school will propose an evaluation.
An evaluation consent form will be sent home for your signature.
Upon receipt of the signed consent form, the team chairperson will contact specialists and they will contact you to arrange a convenient time to evaluate your child.
Please see the information below to enroll your child in a weekly drop off playgroup that will help us get a better picture of your child in a school setting during the evaluation process.
Evaluations will be completed within 30 school days of the receipt of the signed consent form.
The team chairperson will schedule a team meeting .
The team meeting will be held within 45 school days of the receipt of the signed consent form.
At the team meeting, evaluations will be reviewed and eligibility for special education services will be determined by the team at the meeting.
Determining Eligibility
At the team meeting, we will review the evaluations and answer any questions you have. Following that, we will work together to determine if your child demonstrates an educational disability and requires specialized instruction to access the preschool curriculum.
If you need to access disability definitions, please use the link below.
The eligibility flowchart that we will use is available using the second link.
The program is language based and incorporates developmentally appropriate practices. Children learn through play and hands-on activities. A strong emphasis is placed on language development. Each integrated preschool classroom is staffed with a Massachusetts certified teacher and teaching assistant(s).
In order to improve the evaluation and transition process of early intervention children into the Northbridge Elementary School preschool, the preschool staff will provide the current early intervention students who will be turning three during the 2022-2023 school year an opportunity to attend a four to five week introduction to preschool on a weekly basis for 45 minutes.
Early Intervention referrals will be used as a basis for observations and activities that will be provided during the preschool session. The preschool session will allow the evaluators a chance to observe your child in a natural school setting.
Who? Children who have been referred for special education services through Early Intervention or parent referral.
What? Four to five week introduction to preschool drop off program weekly for 45 minutes
Where? Northbridge Elementary School Integrated Preschool
Why? To help improve the transition from Early Intervention homes services to the integrated preschool program.
Wednesdays from 9:30-10:15
The 45 minute drop off session will allow the children to experience large group literacy activities, speech and language activities, free play and art projects. The schedule will developed to meet the developmental needs of students enrolled.
9:30 Arrival: Parents will be met at the preschool entrance by either a preschool teacher or instructional assistant who will take the students to the preschool classroom. The morning will include the following activities: Circle Time, Songs, Story, Motor Activity; Speech Therapist Activity; Art Activity; Exploration and Facilitated Play in Learning Centers.
10:15 Get Ready to Go Home. Parents will meet their child at the preschool entrance.
After the consent to evaluate has been signed and returned, please download the attached registration forms and return them to the school so that your child can participate in the weekly group. Contact Jill Redding at jredding@nps.org to secure a spot in the group.
Once the registration is complete, you will be contacted as to when your child can begin attending our play group as part of the evaluation process.