Classroom Settings

SPECIAL CLASSES

At Helping Hands, children receive educational services in classrooms designed to meet their specific needs. 

HALF-DAY CLASSES
Our half-day classes meet from 9-11:30 and 12:30-3:00, where smaller groups and one-to-one attention is provided for children who may benefit from a shorter school day.  A Master’s level special education teacher and 2-3 teaching assistants work collaboratively to meet the unique needs of the children, providing them with a warm and nurturing environment in which they can explore and learn. Related services such as occupational, physical and speech therapy are provided as approved by your school district.

FULL-DAY CLASSES
Our full-day special classes meet from 9:00-2:00 and have a small student to teacher ratio. These classes focus on smaller groups, and one-to-one instruction.  Our experienced educational teams are able to account for individualized learning styles and work collaboratively to maximize student learning. The full-day program allows for more opportunities to expand social skills, and extra time for fun and creative learning. Each classroom is staffed by a Master’s level special education teacher, and 2 teaching assistants. Related services such as occupational, physical and speech therapy are provided as approved by your school district.

Special Class In An Integrated Setting

Our special classes in integrated settings meet from 9:00 – 11:30 or 12:30 – 3:00.  These classes are for children who are increasingly able to benefit from the models of typically developing peers, in settings with higher student to teacher ratios.  In these settings, Helping Hands students integrate with our own Academy Nursery School for developmentally appropriate classroom experiences five days per week.  Each classroom is staffed by a Master’s level special education teacher, an Academy nursery school teacher and a teacher assistant who work collaboratively together to create classrooms that are educational and fun. Related services such as occupational, physical and speech therapy are provided as approved by your school district.

Our classroom teams are skilled at encouraging children of all abilities to play and learn together and maximizing each child’s preschool experience.

Academy Nursery School

In our Academy Nursery School, we provide an opportunity for three and four-year-old children from the community to experience preschool in classrooms that are staffed with highly trained professionals in cooperation with Helping Hands School.  

The hours for three and four-year olds are 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. OR 12:30 – 3:00 p.m.  Class size is typically 8 – 10 typically developing children and 8 special needs students. In these classrooms, children of all abilities play and learn together in warm, caring and supportive environments. 

Staffing in each of these classrooms includes a nursery school teacher, a special education teacher, a speech and language pathologist and an assistant who work together to make learning fun. 

We offer enrollment flexibility for our Academy Nursery School students.  Children can be enrolled for twice a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays, three times a week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or five days a week. Tuition is based on the number of days per week a student is enrolled. Twice a week is $110/month, three times a week is $140/month and five times a week is $200/month.

Our classroom teams are skilled at encouraging children of all abilities to play and learn together and maximizing each child’s preschool experience.  

Evaluations

Helping Hands offers multidisciplinary evaluations for children who are suspected of having difficulties or delays in the areas of cognition, speech and language, social/emotional, adaptive, and/or motor skills. 

Our evaluators are experienced professionals who work collaboratively with parents and school districts. Information from the evaluation is used to help determine if a child qualifies for services and if so, an Individualized Education Plan is developed based on the unique strengths and needs of the child. This process is based on guidelines established by the New York State Education Department. 

To Refer Your Child:

If you are interested in having your preschooler evaluated, contact your local school district and ask for the COMMITTEE ON PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (CPSE).  (Click here for a CPSE School District Contact Listing). The school district will assist you in the process of making the evaluation referral and will direct you to an approved preschool evaluator such as Helping Hands School.

We provide the following types of CPSE evaluations on site:

• INITIAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVALUATIONS

• TRANSITION EVALUATIONS - from Early Intervention to CPSE

• SUPPLEMENTAL EVALUATIONS - Speech/Language, Occupational and Physical Therapies

Multidisciplinary and Transition Evaluations include:

• Parent/Professional collaboration
• An observation of the child in their natural setting (i.e., nursery school, daycare, etc.)
• Social, medical and family history
• Developmental assessment (a psychological and/or educational evaluation)
• Speech and Language, Occupational and/or Physical Therapy assessment when necessary
• A conference with the family to discuss results
• A written summary of the evaluation results provided immediately upon completion
• Following the evaluation: a comprehensive written report describing the child's developmental levels including strengths and weaknesses

Contact Tammy Nyland for more information. (518-664-5066)

Academy Nursery School

Special Education Itinerant Services

Special Education Itinerant Services provides support and intervention to children from a special education teacher in the child’s typical setting (daycare, preschool or in some cases, the home).  The SEIS teacher works individually with a child to address educational goals and will collaborate with the child’s caregivers, teachers and therapists to encourage growth and success. This IEP service is delivered at a minimum of two hours per week.

Related Or Itinerant Service

Speech-Language Therapy, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy can be provided at our school as an itinerant or related service.  The Committee on Preschool Education can recommend these services on an individual or group basis, typically for 30-minute sessions.  Our seasoned therapists provide playful therapeutic sessions based on the child’s Individual Education Plan.