The Therapy Transition Program (TTP) assists children and their families with the transition to ‘big school’! Starting kindergarten is an anxious and exciting time for all children and their families, but anxiety can outweigh the excitement for families of children with special needs. Funded by ADHC under Stronger Together, this free program aims to support families through this time.
Decisions such as which school will best support your child, and how and when you should share information with school staff about your child’s needs, are all big concerns for families.
The TTP runs at Pathways ECI each year, between July of one year and June of the following year. Families start the program with several open play sessions and initial interviews so that they become familiar with Pathways ECI and this also helps us to get to know the children and their families.
After this initial ‘getting to know you’ phase, the children are offered a weekly service of speech pathology, occupational therapy or physiotherapy – or a combination of these. The majority of the children in the program also participate in a weekly group which is structured like a mini school day. Group work provides the children with a chance to develop important social skills that they will need in the classroom, like sharing, taking turns, listening to others and waiting.
Families are invited to information evening on topics such as communication, using visuals, independence skills for school, fine motor skills, sensory processing and toilet training.
Throughout July to December, families are supported at school meetings and orientation sessions, as required. School holiday workshops also run in the October and January school holiday periods.
When the big day comes and the kids start school, support is provided to families both over the phone and during planned school visits. Support continues for the family and the school throughout terms one and two. It is hoped that by the end of term two, strategies for success have been put in place and schools and families feel ready to say goodbye to the transition program.
