SAU 53 preschool programs were established to support students, ages 3-5 years old, identified with special education needs as required by Federal and State regulations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). SAU 53 preschool programs accept children from the towns of Pembroke, Allenstown, Chichester, and Epsom. SAU 53 preschool programs are located at the old Allenstown Elementary School, 30 Main Street Allenstown, NH.
SAU 53 has a spectrum of programs to support students within our SAU (Pembroke, Allenstown, Chichester, Epsom) that have been identified as having an educational disability and special education needs. SAU 53 preschool programs include a services-only model for students in need of special education services, services-only support for students who are parentally placed in one of the area preschools, or placement in one of our SAU 53 special education preschool programs, TLC Preschool.
The SAU 53 services-only model provides the services outlined in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a services-only format in which the student is brought into the building to work 1:1 or in small groups with members of the Preschool Outreach team.
The SAU 53 services-only model within a student’s private preschool, provides the services outlined in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a services-only format in which members of the Preschool Outreach team go to the student’s daycare center (located within the towns of Pembroke, Allenstown, Chichester, or Epsom) and provide the student their special education services at their daycare.
TLC Preschool is a special education preschool placement made up of 4, 2.5-hour, preschool sessions. Currently, there is one session for 3-year-old students that runs Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:15-10:45. In addition, there are 3 sessions for 4-year-old students, one that runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 8:15-10:45 and two that run Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 11:30-2:00. Placement in our TLC Preschool programs is a decision made by a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
Although TLC Preschool is considered a special education preschool placement, our program allows for the benefit of an inclusive classroom by inviting students into our TLC Preschool classes that are not identified as having special education needs. Non-identified students are screened in April for the following school year. After a 30-minute screening, staff select non- identified students based on the needs of each classroom. The number of non-identified students in each classroom fluctuates from year to year.
All students, regardless of strengths and weaknesses, participate in all aspects of our comprehensive, specialized, language-based program. The TLC Preschool programs are committed to early intervention and its benefit for the development of all our students. It is our mission to provide exemplary special education services to our students while at the same time providing support and resources to our parents in our communities.
In addition to our SAU 53 preschool programs, SAU 53 conducts three Child Find screenings a year. These screenings, which last about one hour, look at a child’s academic skills, communication skills, and motor development. If you are interested in having your child attend a Child Find screening, contact Paula Dyrkacz, SAU 53 Preschool Coordinator, at (603)-836-6294 extension 1, for more information.
Although preschool screenings are scheduled throughout the year, contact may also be made to the Special Education Coordinator of your town (Allenstown, Chichester, Epsom, and Pembroke) by calling your local elementary school and asking for the Special Education Coordinator, at any time, if there is concern regarding your child’s development.
If you have any questions or are looking for more information about SAU 53 preschool programs, please contact Paula Dyrkacz at (603) 836-6294 extension 1.