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Preschool Special Education services, serving children with special needs and developmental delaysConcerned about your child's development? The CCIU offers a vast array of programs and services for eligible young children between the ages of three and five years old. Among these services is a full continuum of Preschool Special Education programs to meet the needs of children with special needs and developmental delays.

Resources for Parents

Parents Seeking SupportParents may refer a child for screening and evaluation. If a child is found to need Preschool Special Education Services, an individualized education plan (IEP) is developed and the appropriate services are arranged. To arrange for an evaluation and screening, call 484-237-5150 or email Preschoolscreenings@cciu.org.

Submit an Evaluation Request

Read the Latest Quarterly PSE Newsletter

Preschool Special Education ServicePreschool Special Education Services are provided FREE of charge to children and their families who reside in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The Chester County Intermediate Unit has locations throughout the 12 school districts to provide Preschool Special Education services.

Types of Support

 

Early Warning Signs

male toddler picking up blocks from the floor

Your child may have trouble MOVING if he or she:

  • is unable to sit up without support by age 1
  • cannot walk without help by age 2
  • does not walk up and down steps by age 3
  • is unable to balance on one foot for a short time by age 4
  • cannot throw a ball overhand and catch a large ball bounced by age 5
male preschooler tapping temple thinking

Your child may have trouble THINKING if he or she:

  • does not react to his/her name when called by age 1
  • is unable to identify hair, eyes, ears, nose and mouth by pointing to them by age 2
  • does not understand simple stories by age 3
  • does not give reasonable answers to such questions as "What do you do when you are sleepy?" or "What do you do when you are hungry?" by age 4
  • does not understand the meaning of the words "today," "tomorrow," "yesterday" by age 5
female toddler smiling and shouting

Your child may have trouble TALKING if he or she:

  • cannot say "mama" and "dada" by age 1
  • cannot say the names of a few toys and people by age 2
  • is not talking in three or four-word sentences by age 3
  • is not understood by people outside the family by age 4
  • does not make up a short story and tell it by age 5
toddler playing peek a boo with female caregiver

Your child may have trouble PLAYING if he or she:

  • does not play games such as "peek-a-boo" and "pat-a-cake" or wave "bye-bye" by age 1
  • does not imitate parents doing routine household chores by age 2 to 3
  • does not enjoy playing alone with toys, pots, and pans by age 3
  • does not play group games such as hide-and-seek, tag, or ball with other children by age 4
  • does not share and take turns by age 5
toddler kicking red ball in the grass

Your child may have trouble MOVING if he or she:

  • is unable to sit up without support by age 1
  • cannot walk without help by age 2
  • does not walk up and down steps by age 3
  • is unable to balance on one foot for a short time by age 4
  • cannot throw a ball overhand and catch a large ball bounced by age 5
preschooler shrugging shoulders while talking to mother

Your child may have trouble HEARING if he or she:

  • does not turn to face the source of strange sounds or voices by six months of age
  • talks in a very loud or very soft voice
  • does not respond if you call from another room
  • turns the same ear toward a sound he or she 
preschooler painting

Activities to Try

  • Encourage your preschooler to tell you a story. Together, make a picture of the story.
  • Help your child make a puppet using socks or paper bags, and put on a puppet show.
  • Give your preschoolers a simple chore, like setting a table, dusting a shelf, making a bed. Praise all efforts!
  • Cut pictures out of magazines to make different types of theme “books,” such as animals, food, shapes or colors.
  • Set up an obstacle course for your preschooler.
  • Give your preschooler a pail of water and a large paintbrush to “paint the sidewalk,” the fence or the side of the house.
  • Play table games that encourage turn taking, such as Candyland or Chutes and Ladders.
  • Give two simple directions, such as “Get a spoon,” then “Put the spoon on the table.” Gradually increase to three directions at a time, then four.

*If your child struggles to play with you and follow directions on any of the above activities, it may be time to evaluate his/her development. Call our team for your free pre-screening at the number listed below.

 

For Service Providers 

Childcare Service Provider Seeking Support

As a childcare service provider, you may be able to serve a key role in identifying a potential developmental delay in a child and in supporting the child and his/her family through the Chester County Intermediate Unit's free of charge evaluation process and any resulting individualized education plans (IEP) that may result. While we all want to do the very best for a child, in the end, the process itself must be started by the child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s). This can at times be a difficult situation for service providers, but our team is here to support you with those important conversations. 

Free developmental screenings administered by certified CCIU staff can be conducted either in-person at your preschool/early childcare site or via a virtual format. These screenings are a quick and easy way to determine if a preschool-age child would benefit from further evaluation to determine eligibility for special education services. 

Submit a Childcare SITE Request