Children with Challenges

Oliver Centre is a licensed Early Childhood Services Program (ECS) through Alberta Education. The program for children with challenges is offered in all of the listed programs. As a licensed preschool program the Alberta Education Kindergarten Program Statement is the guide to curriculum development for the children.

Upon entering our program educators observe and gather information about each child to gain information about how well he or she functions from day to day and where he or she is experiencing difficulties. Preschool Screens help us to determine the areas of strengths and needs of each child. Children who need further testing are referred to specialists such as Speech and Language Pathologist and Occupational Therapists. The results of these assessments determine the type of funding they will receive through Albert Education. Alberta Education provides funding for children with mild to severe challenges. 2/3 of our funded children are severe and 1/3 have mild to moderate needs.

The Program Unit Funding (PUF) provides children with severe challenges an assigned staff member for approximately 3.5 hours per day to meet each child’s educational goals. Depending on the needs of each child; speech and language, occupational and physical therapy are integrated into learning activities daily in the classroom.

Regular visits from Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and our in-house Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) and Early Education Coordinator with the child and educator ensure educational goals are monitored and progressing.

Funding for children with mild to moderate challenges have regular visitation from the Speech Language Pathologist and Occupational Therapy ensuring each child receives services necessary to promote typical speech, language and motor development. In the classroom the Educators ensure the curriculum is modified to meet the needs of these children.

All funded children have in Individual Program Plan (IPP). IPPs are important components of quality educational programming for young children. All IPPs are developed with a collaborative approach allowing professionals and parents to work together to meet the child’s individual needs. The IPP addresses the specific priorities of the child through functional goals which guide classroom activities and routines. The plans are tailored to specific goals defined from assessments that occurred during the school year. Goals are reviewed a minimum of three times a year to ensure that growth is noted and new goals are defined.

Parents play a major role in the development of the child’s IPP, thereby giving an opportunity to the family to assist in their child’s learning. Family –Oriented ECS Programming is offered four times a year to consult with the parent, to provide coaching, information, resources, skills, and strategies to facilitate the child’s development and enhance the centre-based hours.