Early Childhood Programs
Our Early Childhood Programs focus on the social, emotional and educational development of preschool children with special needs throughout Westchester. Our goal is to have these students ready to enter kindergarten in the least restrictive academic environment. Our Early Childhood programs served nearly 300 children in 2006.
Therapeutic Nursery
Our Therapeutic Nursery is a nurturing educational environment created specifically with the special needs of developmentally disabled 3 and 4 year-old children in mind. With one teacher, two aides and only eight students in each session, the program features intensive special education instruction and on-site speech and occupational therapy for those who need it. A social emotional curriculum for all children is offered daily as well as one-on-one and group counseling.
Students attend a morning (9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) or afternoon (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.) session, Monday – Friday, September – June, plus a six-week summer program. The Therapeutic Nursery is housed at our 70 Grand Street, New Rochelle location.
Related Educational Services / Bilingual
Developmentally disabled 3 and 4 year-old children can receive the special services they need from The Guidance Center. Related Educational Services include: speech therapy; occupational therapy; physical therapy; counseling and parent training. In order to accommodate as many children as possible, we offer a flexible schedule for appointments: Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at our 70 Grand Street, New Rochelle location. Services can also be provided on site at day care centers or community nursery programs.
All of these services are available to Spanish-speaking children and families.
Evaluations
To determine developmental delays or disabilities which may interfere with academic readiness, The Guidance Center conducts comprehensive educational, psychological, social, occupational and speech evaluations. We are a Westchester County recognized Evaluation site for 3 and 4 year-old children. Appointment times are available Monday -- Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at our 70 Grand Street, New Rochelle location. Services can also be provided off site at day care centers or community nursery programs.
Early Step Forward
Early Step Forward (ESF) is a Westchester County-funded initiative in select daycare centers in Mount Vernon and Yonkers. ESF provides prevention, identification, assessment and intervention for all of the children in the centers ages 0-6 and their families. The Guidance Center works closely with the day care staff to ensure that each child receives the best and earliest mental health intervention available. The goal is to increase emotional resilience and decrease the rate of early childhood school suspensions and psychiatric hospitalizations.
Primeros Pasos
Primeros Pasos is an early childhood development and school readiness program for children ages 0 -4. While the moms participate in the Latina Drop-In Centers, childcare professionals spend time with the children and help them develop age appropriate skills.
More Information
Please note: For our Therapeutic Nursery, Related Educational Services/Bilingual and Evaluations programs, a referral from the child’s school district CPSE (Committee for Preschool Special Education) is required. If you feel your child would benefit from these services, the first thing you must do is contact your school district’s Committee for Preschool Special Education. We cannot enroll students without a CPSE referral. ESF is only available at the selected sites in Mount Vernon and Yonkers.
Please contact Donna Morrison, Director, Early Childhood Programs, with questions. Phone: 914-636-4440 x 210. Email: dmorrison@tgcny.org.