Our Early Education (EE) program provides extensive play-based learning, enriched with specialized supports, for young children identified as having a moderate to severe delay or diagnosis.
Early Education Classrooms
Universal, targeted and individual programming is delivered in high-quality early education settings throughout the school division. These schools include:
Early education classrooms operate four mornings or afternoons per week. Fridays are operational days focusing on family connection and learning together with parent learning sessions, family-oriented sessions and parent cafés.
The program has teams of professionals dedicated to meeting the individual needs of each child within an inclusive, play-based environment. Along with a teacher and educational assistant, EE teams may include a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist and/or physical therapist, among other available supports. Each classroom includes a mix of children: those with identified delays, and their peers from the community, who participate as Play Partners.
Early Education Programming
- Early education supports brain development and significantly impacts a child’s future success in school.
- Each child has a Personal Learning Profile, which is developed in collaboration with the team and parents to support a child’s specific learning needs.
- Supporting a child’s strengths and interests encourages the development of a child’s curiosity and a lifelong love for learning.
- Children learn best through play experiences, which allow them to develop skills, confidence and positive attitudes towards learning while exploring and manipulating different materials. They do not even know how hard they are working!
Programming includes all domains:
Program Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for special needs grants are outlined by Alberta Education and are based on information and assessments provided by a family physician/developmental pediatrician, speech-language pathologist and/or a registered psychologist.
To qualify for EE, as of August 31 of the current school year, children must:
- Be a minimum age of 2 years 8 months and less than 4 years 8 months; and,
- Have a moderate to severe developmental delay or diagnosis OR
- Have a moderate to severe speech and language delay.
When qualifications are met, there is no cost for programming, as it is covered by Alberta Education Program Unit Funding.
Upon request, assessments may be available to those attending the EE program. A child may be assessed by a PSD speech-language pathologist or educational psychologist. Assessment results from other agencies (e.g. Alberta Health Services or private agencies) will also be considered and reviewed for program eligibility.
If your child has not yet been professionally assessed and you are unsure if they may be eligible for the EE program, please refer to the Developmental Milestones chart for more information. If you still have questions regarding developmental concerns and eligibility for program placements, please contact Early Childhood Services at the Division Office in Stony Plain (see contact information below).
Registration
To apply for Early Education, you need to complete and submit an online registration form once registration for the upcoming school year opens (typically in early February). For registration information and to access the online form, please visit the Registration page. When your registration form is processed, Early Childhood Services will reach out to let you know if your child has been accepted into the program
Play Partners
Transportation
For more information contact:
Early Childhood Services
Phone: 780-963-8429
Email: earlychildhoodservices@psd.ca