North County Consortium Helping Hands Preschool
preSchool programs

Special Day Classes

It is the mission of the North County Consortium that all the pupils with suspected learning disabilities are appropriately identified, assessed and receive an educational service designed to meet their unique needs meeting all the requirements of Sonoma County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA).

A preschool child qualifies as a child who needs early childhood special education services if the child meets the following criteria: 1. Needs specially designed instruction or services. 2. Has needs that cannot be met with modifications of a regular environment in the home or school or both without on-going monitoring or support. 3. Is identified as having one of the following disabling conditions: Autism, deaf or blindness, hearing impairment, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment or established medical disability. 4. Meets eligibility criteria specified in California Code of Regulations.

Special Day Classes There are four special day preschool classrooms in the north County Consortium. One is located in Windsor at Windsor Creek Elementary and one in Cloverdale at Jefferson Elementary, and two at Healdsburg Elementary School.

In special day classes the emphasis is placed on engaging children in active exploration, socialization and communication. Play-based interventions enhance sensory, social, academic, motor, and communication development. Students attend classes four days a week for four hours per day. The daily schedule includes reading, language activities, art and music, outdoor play, motor skills development, toilet training and other self-care activities, snack time, and social skills. Instruction is provided in Spanish when that is the child’s primary language.

Credentialed special education teachers, trained paraeducators and a team of support personnel that includes speech and language therapists, adaptive physical education specialists, occupational therapists, the school nurse, the school psychologist, and physical therapists staff classes. Transportation is provided to and from special day classes if needed by the parents. There are no special day classes on Friday to reserve time for teacher training, home visits, Parent Connection workshops, collaboration and consultation with other community agencies that serve preschool students.

Non-Intensive Preschool Program, NIPP The Non-Intensive Preschool Program (NIPP) offers remedial instruction to students with mild to moderate delays in speech and language development and school readiness skills. Students participate in small group instruction twice a week that addresses all areas of communication: speech sound production, vocabulary, grammar, social language, and concept development.

School and Home Autism Program through Education, SHAPE SHAPE is an intensive program for young children diagnosed on the autism spectrum. It helps students and families adjust to autism by providing research-based lessons and activities with a positive, supportive, realistic outlook. Instruction and related services are designed to increase students’ social and communication skills, replace challenging behaviors with more adaptive ones, and prepare students for successful school experiences. Eligible children may receive supported instruction in special day classrooms, community preschool environments and at home.

Parent Involvement Parents are crucial to the education of their preschool child. Helping Hands Preschool values parents as their child’s first and most important teacher; therefore, parent participation is an integral part of this program. Parents receive a copy of their legal rights and have the opportunity to have their questions answered before a child is placed in a special education program. The North County consortium encourages frequent communication between home and school. Teachers make home visits and give parents regular progress reports on their child’s learning. Parents and other family members are welcome to serve as volunteers in the classrooms and on field trips. Helping Hands Preschool offers Family Connection monthly parenting classes on topics such as understanding behavior, sensory integration, language development, etc. Translations are provided for Spanish speaking parents. Family picnics, Back to School nights, fund raising activities and other special school events involve parents.

NORTH COUNTY CONSORTIUM Bridges Community-Based School

The Bridges Community-Based School is a special education transition program in the local community that aims to prepare youth for a productive adult life and to empower them to function with greater independence. Classrooms are located at Windsor Middle School, Windsor High School, Healdsburg High School and Healdsburg Community Center.

Employability The school and community partners provide youth with opportunities for learning job skills that lead to employment. Transition-age students develop work abilities in real job sites with adult supervision.

Independent Living The instruction focuses on important functional life skills that prepare students for adult life. Youth engage in hands-on learning, develop personal goals, carry out decisions and solve problems.

Academic Learning Instruction is individualized to meet each student’s needs, abilities, interests and goals. The school assesses student achievement and implements an educational plan to lead to future education, employment and community participation.

Youth Development Youth acquire the skills, behaviors and attitudes that enable them to learn and grow in self-knowledge, self-expression, social interaction, and physical and emotional health. Youth interact with peers and acquire a sense of belonging.

Family Involvement The school has a strong commitment to family involvement and understands its critical role in supporting greater independence, employment, postsecondary education, and access to community resources. Staff members actively cultivate, encourage and welcome youth and family involvement. The school works collaboratively and respectfully with youth and families.

Curriculum Instruction emphasizes the reading and math skills that are needed in daily living and work environments. Lessons cover basic personal care and domestic skills that help student function with improved independence. Appropriate behavior and communication skills are developed. Students learn to ride public transportation, budget earnings, use banks, make purchases, act and dress appropriately, follow directions, manage their time, practice safety procedures and job readiness tasks, make healthy choices and more.

Staff The staff members include a Director of Special Education, the principal, administrative assistants, the school psychologist, the school nurse, the speech and language teacher, the occupational therapist, the adapted physical education teachers, the special education teachers and paraeducators. All educators meet special qualifications of their positions. Staff development programs are implemented to continually improve staff effectiveness in working with youth with special needs.

Community Students spend much time out of the classroom and in the community. Work preferences are identified through experiences in a wide variety of employment situations in the community as well as vocational assessments that help determine work strengths. The school connects students and families to community resources. Students are encouraged to participate in recreational activities to enrich and expand their leisure time choices. The school collaborates with community agencies such as North Bay Regional Center and the Department of Rehabilitation to provide a variety of services. Participation of staff and involvement of parents, family members, mentors, and/or other caring adults promote the social, emotional, physical, academic and occupational growth of youth leading to better post school outcomes.

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