ENTRY TO SCHOOL PROGRAM

Thrive Child Development Centre is pleased to be offering the OAP Entry to School Program, a newly funded program through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).

The Entry to School program is available at no cost to families registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and who have received an invitation from the MCCSS to participate.

* Please visit the MCCSS website (Ontario Autism Program | ontario.ca) for more information on the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) and the ETS Program.

What is the Entry to School Program?

The Entry to School (ETS) program is open to children aged three to six years of age registered with the OAP and entering school for the first time. This program will support successful transitions into schools and will focus on building skills in six key areas:

Communication – such as, conversation, expressing wants and needs, understanding words and language, social communication, and non-verbal communication
lay – such as, toy exploration, and engaging in group play/games
Social interaction – such as, understanding of social boundaries, interactions with peers, and learning new behaviours by observing/imitating peers
Functional routines – such as, following classroom routines, and self-help skills such as dressing and toilet training
Behavioural self-management – such as, emotional regulation and being able to wait their turn
Pre-academics, learning and attention – such as, developing new learning skills, working within a group setting, and independent work

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Program Consists of Two Parts:

Part 1: A six-month group-based service, focusing on building skills that prepare children to start school;

To take place prior to the start of school
During this time, children attend the program 5 days per week, three hours a day for a total of 15 hours per week (either AM or PM program).
Program is delivered by a team of experts in the field of early childhood education, paediatric rehabilitation, applied behaviour analysis, and child development.
Our consultation team is made up of Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist and Registered Early Childhood Educator to address all developmental areas and ensure the most current and effective strategies are used within our learning environment.

Part 2: The Entry to School team is available to provide up to six months of support to your child’s school team after they start school; Transition supports may include:

Sharing a written summary of your child’s progress in the six skill areas addressed by the Entry to School program
Sharing strategies/techniques that were effective in supporting your child’s participation during the School Readiness component of Entry to School
Sharing other child-specific resources and learnings
Attending school meetings
Providing coaching and consultation to educator teams within your child’s classroom
In-class support as per the school team’s request