The fully funded MCCSS Entry to School autism program at Woodview is accepting enrollment for our next cohort!
The Entry to School Program, is an initiative that launched in March of 2022 from the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). It is geared to students starting Kindergarten or Grade 1 for the first time. Woodview is implementing this program under the Lead of ErinoakKids and in partnership with Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK), and Community Living North Halton.
Woodview’s new Entry to School program is designed to help equip new students with the necessary skills to learn in a school environment before they enter the classroom. Woodview offers a support environment for children with autism to gain much-needed group exposure and skill building, helping to prepare them for the expectations of school.
The focus of Entry to School is to help kids build the routine needed once they are in kindergarten. Students begin their day by engaging in circle time and centre-based play, gaining exposure to group activities. They’ll also participate in sensory and object play, and spend time working in small groups of 1-2 to develop literacy and numeracy skills.
Students will make the most of Woodview’s outdoor playground facilities and enjoy themed seasonal activities that are fun and educational and include team sports such as playing basketball in the gym.
Entry to School at Woodview will incorporate the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and Applied Behavioural Analysis principles (ABA), which has proved successful through the LEAP Preschool Program.
The Early Start Denver model sees children working on more than one skill at a time, and toward multiple goals throughout the day while ensuring they can participate in a group setting.
The Entry to School classroom will have one teacher for every four students, and will be run by an Early Childhood Educator and an Instructor Therapist.
“It’s not 1:1 at a table, it’s really about helping develop those social skills and giving kids the opportunity to learn a variety of skills throughout the day. We’re focusing on ensuring that the children will do well in a group.”
