Early Childhood
North Point Educational Service Center provides center-based and itinerant services to children, ages 3-5, from 10 school districts. These services are provided to children identified by their respective school district as eligible for services in any of the Ohio Department of Education special education categories.
Center-Based Services
Our center-based programs operate morning or afternoon classes Monday through Thursday in various sites in a 4-county area. All classrooms provide the following in the least restrictive environment as determined by the IEP team:
Licensed Special Education Teacher; at least one (1) Educational Assistant; Individualized Instruction; Speech, Occupational, Physical Therapies based on identified student needs; maximum of 8 students who attend based on need for special education services; maximum of 8 students who attend on a tuition basis and provide peer modeling in social, communication, and probelm-solving skills.
Itinerant Services
Itinerant staff provides special education support in a 5-county area to children for a minimum of 4 hours/month. Students receive services in their home or community in the least restrictive environment as determined by the IEP team.
Licensed Special Education Teacher; Individualized Instruction; Speech, Occupational, Physical Therapies based on identified student needs; Consultative services to parents and community staff.
Preschool Curriculum
The Governing Board has adopted the Creative Curriculum for PreSchool. Based in theory and research, The Creative Curriculum provides the background, strategies, and teaching approaches in how children develop and learn, the learning environment, what children learn, the teacher's role, and the family's role. There is also a focus on the social and emotional skills children need to succeed in school and life, and guidance on the teacher's role in addressing content in literacy, math, science, social studies, the arts, and technology. The curriculum also provides a range of instructional strategies, from child-initiated to teacher-directed learning, and incorporates activities to use with children of all ability levels.
This curriculum, along with additonal supports provided in our early childhood environments, allow for individualized instruction and modifications to meet each learner's needs. The combination of the curriculum activities and teaching strategies align with all of the Ohio Department of Education Early Learning and Development Standards for preschool children.
The materials and resources support our belief in how children learn and the importance and responsibility of staff and parents in their children's development. They provide early childhood staff with the knowledge and resources to create opportunities and environments for children to be active participants in their own learning.
As your child's most important teacher, and to assist us in establishing independence and developmental growth in your child, we ask that you encourage your child to follow all classroom routines, activities and expectations. Examples of this might include; requiring your child to enter the classroom and hang up his/her coat, remove applicable items from bookbag and give it to the teacher, etc. When your child arrives home he/she should be expected to complete the same or similar routines. By expecting your child to be as independent as possible, we can all do our part to prepare him/her for kindergarten and beyond.
For more information, or if you have any questions please contact Deb Graber at 419-627-3990 or email her at dgraber@npesc.org or Kerry Giles at 419-627-3966 or email her at KGiles@npesc.org.