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Son's Preschool reduced his time in class, I'm disappointed

tamaratodaytamaratoday member
in Special Needs

My 3 year old started the special education preschool program at our local elementary school this year. He was going for 2.5 hours/5 days a week. She spoke to me last week about reducing his days as he's having a problem with following the routine. I don't think it's that he can't follow, it's just that wd. I'm going along with her suggestion as she's the professional, but I'm somewhat disappointed.

A bit of background. Our son was diagnosed with a significant speech delay at the age of 2. We have other issues with him, ranging between simply not listening to us to agression when he's frustrated. They told us he was definitely not autistic so we're assuming that's ruled out. He qualified for the govt program of speech therapy two days a week for about an hour. He made some progress, though the majority of his progress has happened over the summer without the therapy. While most of his words are still very difficult to understand. He tries to repeat nearly everything now

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Re: Son's Preschool reduced his time in class, I'm disappointed

  • tamaratodaytamaratoday member

    Sorry about this. My computer is acting up and posted this before I could even finish or proof read! I can't delete it so I guess I'll just try to continue...

     ...and this was something he never tried before. He seems to enjoy going to his classes, but of course, I'm not there so I don't know everything that happens during his day. His teacher told me that in his frustration with the routine, he tends to get angry and throws things or resists doing activities all together. This isn't surprising to me at all. To say he's extremely stubborn is putting it lightly. If it's something he wants to do, great, if not, he tends to resist. She suggested that he only come on the days he gets the speech and occupational therapy which is 3 of the 5 days. Basically my concern is that I'm wondering if it's more helpful to reduce my son's hours of preschool/therapy or should I push for him to stick it out? His teacher is more than willing to increase his hours again should he show improvement. I'm also wondering if there's anything else I can do for him? Activities at home? Take him to his doctor? Take him to some kind of specialist? I'm kind of at a loss.

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  • MaxandRubyMaxandRuby member
    If he is having a problem following a routine 5 days a week, how do they think reducing his hours is going to help him?  Does he have an IEP? Does the IEP stipulate X amount of hours/days a week? If so, I would assume there would need to be an IEP meeting to make the change - Auntie may be able to help out with that one though (I'm fairly new to the IEP process).  Are you doing private speech as well as what they are providing in the school system?
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  • Princess_LilyPrincess_Lily member

     I would just give him time at home, and really focus on the Speech & OT.

    DS is very head strong too, and I'd like to think of him as a leader, not a follower.  He has to be guided by positive encouragement and reward systems.  He responds to be spoken to as an adult - he understands what your telling him.  Its it puppies and rainbows every day?  No, but 90% of the time I could say its pretty good.

     

    Prior to any evaluations, we were told that he was just "too much" for our local preschool - they tried reducing hours, etc.  However he was just "too much" for them to handle.

    We spent the summer getting an evaluation for Speech & Occupational for him.  It was found that he has a minor speech delay and sensory issues relating to tactile. Since OT & ST (6mo mark for ST ~ 1mo mark for OT) there has become a massive improvement in his ability not only to complete tasks, but to now speak and people understand him!  

    We have decided to keep him out until PreK4, just to give him time to mature and get the help he needs, he is also in a gymnastics class.  

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  • tamaratodaytamaratoday member

    MaxandRuby - Sorry, I'm not sure what an IEP is. We are currently just doing what the local preschool provides. That's what was recomended to us by the speech therapist he went to before.

    "A five day week is an awful lot for a three. Many sped preschool programs for people his age are 2-3 days. If he's acting out, it could be that he isn't ready to access this sort of class. If he's not getting specialized instruction- OT and speech- every day, he may do better home on those days with a plan to increase as he matures a bit."

    Auntie, this is precisely what my mother told me. It's nice to hear it from a pro :) As to the "they" you asked about. This was through the MIPP program where we had his hearing, speech and motor skills evaluated. They did mention that sometimes children like my son were diagnosed with ADHD later on. So if I wanted someone else to evaluate him, who would you suggest I contact? Would I go to his regular Dr. first for a rec? Sorry, I'm not sure what a deb pediatrician is, this is all a bit new to me.

    Princess_L - May I ask who gave your son his evaluation over the Summer? My son's doctor recomended we go through the school system when he was 2 since it was a free govt. program, but is that not enough?

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  • Princess_LilyPrincess_Lily member
    imagetamaratoday:

    Princess_L - May I ask who gave your son his evaluation over the Summer? My son's doctor recomended we go through the school system when he was 2 since it was a free govt. program, but is that not enough?

     

    At DSs 3yr check up his pedi ordered ST & OT evals.  We went to an in network therapist location for the evals.  The ST is not covered by insurance, but OT is.

    Speech is:  50.00/session

    OT is:         25.00/session

     

    Now, yes its nice to go to a program which is "free", but we chose to do what we can afford and pay out of pocket.  Does DS get the recommended hours per week?  No.  We do what we can afford, however there are great improvements - and I watch him during these sessions, so I could take what he does at the session and follow through at home too...every day.


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  • tamaratodaytamaratoday member
    image-auntie-:

    So this was a school district or Birth to Three program? I was more interested in the qualifications of the people doing the assessments and evals. Typically you'd see a SLP, an audiologist and an OT for these issues. And perhaps a developmental teacher, school psychologist or case manager to tie the ends up. This approach can lead to the 10 blind men and the elephant- everybody's got a handle on one part of an issue, but nobody is seeing the bigger picture. 

    Yes, it was done through the school district and he was evaluated by several people. The SLP, Audiologist, OT and Psychologist as I recall.

    You can't assume they R/O autism, ADHD or ODD if they didn't evaluate for it. This matters because the cause of the behavior is a big part of how to address it. If he had autism, and the behaviors you mention are common in young kids on spectrum, ABA might address the behavior. If he has ODD, a BIP for home and school may be what helps him most.

    As far as I know, they evaluated him for it as they mentioned that he didn't show signs of being on spectrum.

    They did mention that sometimes children like my son were diagnosed with ADHD later on. So if I wanted someone else to evaluate him, who would you suggest I contact? Would I go to his regular Dr. first for a rec? Sorry, I'm not sure what a deb pediatrician is, this is all a bit new to me.

    Deb ped is a typo. Sorry. My eye's been jacked up for a couple weeks and my vision isn't great. Developmental pediatrician = dev pedi. This is a clinician who will take a more holistic approach and typically works with a team of professionals. Your son's PCP can refer you or you can ask around or check local pediatric hospitals.

    Thank you, I'll talk to his pediatrician and see if I can get a recomendation.

     

    Thanks for the replies ladies. I'll probably be back with more questions as I go. :)

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