Norton Developmental Preschool Program
Norton City Schools provides a five-star quality rated preschool program located at Norton Primary School. Any student that resides within the Norton City School District, starting at age 3, is eligible to attend the program.
The purpose of the preschool program is to:
Provide quality educational classroom and/or itinerant programming to preschool-aged children.
Provide education to children in a general education setting where functional and developmentally appropriate activities are provided to facilitate the growth of each child.
Provide support and assistance to families in meeting the needs of the child.
Provide consultation and collaboration to families and schools in transitioning of children in, within, and from preschool to kindergarten or other programs in the public school setting.
Provide screening, evaluation and or service coordination for children throughout their time in the program.
A major component of the Norton Developmental Preschool program is the integration of children with special needs with typically developing children who serve as peer models. The curriculum is a combination of play-based, developmentally appropriate activities based on Ohio's Early Learning and Developmental Standards. The standards address all the essential domains of school readiness and include the following:
Social and Emotional Development
Physical Well-Being and Motor Development
Approaches Toward Learning
Language and Literacy Development
Cognition and General Knowledge
Norton Developmental Preschool offers the morning session from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., and the afternoon session is from 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. There are four classrooms, all staffed by highly qualified teachers and educational assistants (aides). Other available services based upon identified student needs include school psychology services, speech and language therapy, audiological, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Acceptance into the preschool program occurs through one of two avenues:
Preschooler with a Disability: A child between the ages of three and five who demonstrate delays in one or more areas of development during the screening process. Areas of delay include communication, motor, social/emotional/behavior, adaptive, cognitive and visual/hearing impairments. This screening/evaluation process involves play-based activities, parent interview, formal and informal assessments. Please contact the Department of Student Services (information below) if you suspect your child may have a disability.
Peer Model: A child between the ages of three and five who does NOT have special needs can apply to the program as a peer model. Peer models must be completely toilet-trained and demonstrate good play skills (appropriate toy play, engagement with others, taking turns, etc.)
Norton Developmental Preschool is no longer accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. You may complete the Preschool Information Request Form if you would like to be put on a waiting list.
If you require further assistance or would like to open an Initial Request for Evaluation because you and/or your child's physician feels the need, email Amy Harris at aharris@nortonpanthers.org or call 330-825-5133
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