Special Education Programs
The Bancroft School
Elementary Education Program
Age range of individuals served: 5-14
Type of Setting(s): private school, campus setting
Geographic Location(s): Haddonfield, New Jersey
Licensing/Approval: New Jersey Department of Education,
approved private school
The Bancroft School Elementary Education Program addresses the needs of children ages 5 to 14 with multiple learning disabilities. Because it is understood how children learn and the methodologies that have been successful, why and how a child is not learning, behaving properly, communicating or interacting, are addressed through individually prescribed learning methodologies. Consistent and reliable data is collected so prescribed interventions can be modified continually to help children find and remain on a positive pathway to growth. Behavioral interventions are employed to keep the student and his/her peers safe. Clinical measures are used to identify objectively what the cause of problem behaviors may be and use that data to identify effective interventions to address those behaviors. A low student-to-staff ratio is unique and conducive to greater learning.
Each educational team includes the teacher, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist and psychologist, and other appropriate professionals who collaborate to prescribe educational methodologies, monitor progress and adjust interventions.
The Elementary Program's communication training is exceptionally effective. We explore alternative communication systems in order to give the child language, whether spoken, signed, pictures or using an augmentative communication device.
Outcomes
New skills equal new lives. Students acquire communication skills, skills
of daily living, and academic skills, among others, that allow them to do
more for themselves. For example, learning to wash their hands makes them
healthier, learning to spread peanut butter means they will not be hungry
when they get home from school, learning their phone number means they can
tell the police if they get lost, and learning what a stranger is and how
to behave safely means students may avoid being harmed. In addition, by
changing behaviors to more positive social functioning, the possibility
is opened for greater community and family involvement.
