Early intervention at preschool and daycare

Finding the right early learning environment for your child is an important decision that can feel overwhelming. 

Every child deserves a supportive and inclusive educational setting where they can thrive, and parents should feel confident in the choices they make. Look for a centre with skilled educators and a positive atmosphere that encourages growth. It’s also important that the centre works closely with your child’s early intervention program to support their specific needs. Make sure to prioritise a centre that meets these needs.

There are many terms used for educational childcare settings: daycare, family daycare, preschool, kindergarten and others. In this section, we will refer to all of these as daycare.

Daycare and early intervention

If your child is not already attending some form of childcare when they are diagnosed with autism, you may be wondering whether they should start or wait. If your child already attends preschool or daycare, then your question may be whether to keep them enrolled.

Many families question the role of daycare during the early intervention years. While early intervention is widely recognised for its importance, daycare also plays a key role in helping children develop social skills and learn in a natural environment. Additionally, daycare often meets the practical needs of working parents.

Both early intervention and daycare are valuable for young children. While daycare cannot replace specialised, individualised early intervention, it has its own benefits. The two can complement each other effectively. Some children may initially receive early intervention at home, in a clinic, or an autism-specific centre to build skills to help them later in a mainstream daycare setting. These skills might include following simple instructions, maintaining focus, sitting calmly, and interacting with other children.

Inclusion and preparation in daycare settings

Many daycares in Australia have some experience supporting children with autism and other additional needs. Inclusive settings have improved in recent years, but of course, some centres do it better than others. If you do come across a daycare that has no experience with autism, then you will need to work closely with them. Your therapy team will also need to assist them in setting up accommodations to best support your child. 

Building effective partnerships with daycare

The key to a happy and successful experience is developing a partnership between the different people involved in your child’s health and wellbeing. Try to build and encourage a positive and supportive communication channel between your early intervention therapists and your daycare. The goal is to grow your child’s skills so they can develop and increase their ability to learn—always keep this thought at the centre of your decision-making.

When your child learns new skills in early intervention, practising them both at daycare and at home can really help speed up their progress. Working together with your child’s educators is key to reinforcing these skills in different settings. It’s a good idea to keep a folder or book that outlines the goals and activities your child’s early intervention therapists are focusing on. This helps educators and carers stay on the same page, reinforcing the same skills during everyday activities.

Setting up a simple way to share information with your child’s educators is important. Many centres use interactive software for communication, but sometimes a quick conversation can be just as effective. Daycare offers great opportunities for children to develop important skills, like listening to a teacher and being around other children, in a natural environment.

Support and funding for inclusive childcare

If your child needs extra help, government funding is available to assist your daycare. The Inclusion Support Program funds approved childcare services, including out-of-school hours and holiday programs, to include all children in their programs, even children with high support needs. You may also use some of your early intervention funding to send a therapist to the daycare to support your child. The aim is always for the child to become more independent.

It is very important that your family feels welcome in your daycare setting. You do not need to feel grateful that a daycare will take your child, who now has a diagnosis of autism. This is part of what daycares do. The learning and inclusion of all children in these settings benefits all children and society as a whole.

Finding a centre that wants to partner with you to help your child reach their potential and transition to school is an important part of your early intervention journey.