Early Childhood Development Program
Pine Rivers has an Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP) attached to Pine Rivers Special School.
The purpose of Early Childhood Development Program is to enable:
- Engagement of children in a wide range of learning experiences to maximise their individual potential
- Assessment of educational support needs prior to prep aged children
- Transition support to prep; and
- Establishment of partnerships with families to ensure quality educational outcomes in the critical early years of schooling
Programs available in the ECDP
Playgroup
A weekly program for infants 0-3 years and their parents. Playgroup is primarily aimed at delivering direct family support to enhance the family’s ability to support and maximise the development of their child from birth to 3 years.
Playgroup may also encompass an educational component for families as they learn about their child’s disability and the potential impact it may have on their child’s and family’s support needs.
Playgroup currently runs Thursdays 9-11am
Prior to Prep
Children aged 3-5 years attend a centre based program 1 day per week. Individual programs focus on a more child-orientated delivery of support. As the children move through this phase, the transition to school and school readiness skills become a primary focus for the ECDP and/or service.
We currently have prior to prep classes running Monday to Friday from 9am-2pm. You will need to call to enquire about availability of a day for your child. We generally take enrolments throughout the year based on class availability and approval to attend the program.
Is the program right for my child or will they be eligible?
ECDPs are targeted to young children birth to 5 years suspected of, or diagnosed as having a disability with significant educational support needs in the areas of:
- Physical Disability
- Intellectual Disability
- Hearing impairment
- Vision impairment
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Speech-language impairment
- Multiple impairments
Regions coordinate the delivery of ECDPs and services to provide early intervention to children who require intensive, multidisciplinary programs to develop skills and behaviours to maximise their participation in schooling
How do I get my child into the Program?
The process of determining eligibility for access to Early Childhood Development Program and Services will include consideration of all information gathered during the data collection process.
Referral to a program or service does not guarantee entry. Entry to a program will depend on the data gathering process, assessment details, eligibility, and approval.
Please contact the Head of Special Education Services, Michelle Verhoeven on (07) 3285 0555 for further information about entry into the program.
More useful information
View information about ECDP from the Education Queensland website.