Preschool

PreSchool Screening Service

As part of the special education preschool identification service, Regional School District No. 1 encourages parents of children between the ages of three and five years, especially those who might have special education needs, to contact their town’s elementary school to make an appointment for a brief screening. The screening process helps determine if your child is eligible to participate in the preschool program as a tuition student. We work with students with AND without identified special needs. Region 1 serves children residing in Canaan (Falls Village), Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon. The screenings are free and take place throughout the school year.

Parents with concerns about the development of children under the age of three years should contact their physician or the Pupil Services Center for information about the Birth-to-Three referral process. Health and childcare, nursery schools, daycare centers, community/family and social service providers may also have contact with children who might be eligible for evaluation. Those who are caring for a child or know of a child who might benefit from such services are asked to share this information with the child’s parents.

New PreSchool Screening APP:

The CT Office of Early Childhood has released a free mobile app to help parents support their children’s growth from 0–5 years of age.  To learn more and download “Sparkler,” go to https://www.playsparkler.org/sparkler-ct-family-resources/. 

Early childhood experiences and learning are important in the educational growth of children. This period is particularly important for children who have developmental delays or other learning challenges. Assessments and monitoring examine hearing, vision, speech, and language, as well as motor, cognitive, and social skills. Timely intervention can dramatically influence future success.  If necessary, Region 1 provides preschool programs and services for children who are identified as having special education needs.

..The Overview:

Region 1 conducts free preschool screenings for any child living in Canaan (Falls Village), Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon. Screenings are usually conducted on the first Friday of each month. However, exceptions can be made.

Scheduling:

We recommend parents sign their child up for screening when their child is three, but we screen both three and four-year-olds. The chart below provides contact information for each school.

The Importance of Having Your Child Screened:

A preschool screening provides parents with important information regarding their child’s development. Therefore, we recommend screening even if you do not have concerns about their development. Our screening teams include a preschool teacher, a speech-language clinician, a school psychologist, and a school nurse. We use the Battelle Development Screening, which focuses on physical and social development plus adaptive, communication, and cognitive skills.

Our Region 1 Preschool program aligns curriculum and instructional frameworks to the CT Early Learning and Development Standards.

Click HERE for the CT Office of Early Childhood website that provides more information!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Does Region 1 have a preschool program?
A. Yes, Region 1 maintains preschool programs for its towns within three of its elementary schools.

Q. What ages may participate?
A. Our preschool programs are for children ages three and four.

Q. Are they for children with disabilities?
A. Region 1 preschools try to provide an inclusive environment that includes children with and without special needs.

Q. How would my child or children get into preschool?
A. The first step is for the child to be screened. Region 1 offers a free preschool screening on the first Friday of each month. Any child who has turned three may be screened for the development in the following areas: personal-social, adaptive, fine and gross motor, communication (language and speech), and cognitive/reasoning.

For additional information regarding early childhood screening or services, please get in touch with Rebecca Gaschel-Clark, Director of Pupil Services, at (860) 824-5639 and press #4.