PEP Experience?
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Anonymous
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My almost 5 -year old son has some speech and early academic challenges. He is in a regular, day-long pre-school 2 days/week, which is when I am away at work. The other 3 days/week, he is home with me. (I only work those 2 days).
He qualifies for the 5 day/week 2.5 hour, morning PEP program. The problem is that he has to be picked up and dropped off at the same place every day, according to the transportation rules. Since he is in his pre-school 2 days/week and home the other 3, this doesn't work. Regardless, his preschool is in Takoma Park and the PEP Program is in Silver Spring (Oakland Terrace); apparently, they can't do this either, since it would cross clusters. Has anyone been able to work out some kind of flexible agreement with the transportation for PEP? All we can come up with is to take him out of his regular preschool and have a babysitter at home for him those 2 days (if we can find one), since there won't be anyone home to drive him to his regular pre-school. It seems silly, however, for him to go from 20 hours of preschool (10 hour days twice a week) to 12.5 hours; (only the 5 partial, 2.5 hour days). I know that PEP would be more intensive, however, and don't want him to miss out. Is anyone in a similar position who has worked something out with the transportation services? Thanks for taking the time to respond!!! |
Anonymous
| Can you rely on transportation only the two days from preschool and then you drive him the other 3? Not sure what the rules are. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the idea, we thought about that, but there are a lot of reasons that I don't think it will work. 1. They won't go from his PS in TP to the PEP in SS. 2. They also won't change the plan from day to day. I think that a 2 day transportation option isn't available. 3. He has a twin brother who would then have to spend at least 3 hours a week in the car while I shuttle him back and forth. 4. We live near the metro, so we are a one car family and my husband uses the car for work. He could switch to the bus, but it would lengthen his commute significantly. I appreciate the thought, but I don't think it will work. I'm hoping for a better option.... |
Anonymous
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Have you asked the PEP coordinator that he be enrolled for only 3 days?
Also, the PEP schools are necessarily the one closest to you, but the one with what they think is the appropriate program. So it's possible there's an appropriate program with a shorter commute. |
Anonymous
Unfortunately the other twin is going to have to tag along. Its part of having sibling with some special needs. At five, I would have the kids in an all day program. For our child with language delays (significant at 5) being in a daily all day program was beneficial for both the academics and speech. I would find a way to make it work. |
Anonymous
| It is absolutely not true that they won't pick up and drop-off in different locations. My kid did this his entire year when he was four. Pickup at preschool, drop-off at home. The preschool does have to be in cluster though. We picked the preschool based on this. Also you do not have to do any kind of formal arrangement regarding a different schedule MWF/TTh if the location is the same. Right now my kid goes to therapy two days a week before school and I drop him off after. I don't like the idea of the bus driver coming for no reason so I text her every TTh not to come (she has figured out the schedule and told me not to bother actually). The extra days don't matter--just work it out with the bus driver once transpo is set up. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for the most recent response. I realize that my original post was a bit unclear. I realize that the pick up and drop off do not need to be the same; they problem is that they cannot alter throughout the week. If they could pick up at home, drop off at school TU/TH and at home MWF that would be perfect. I don't think they'll alter the drop off. We also still have the problem of the PS being out of cluster. It's great to know that maybe there can be some flexibility though. I'm open to any other experiences... |
Anonymous
| Do they have any other schools you can do it at? Sounds like your best option if you are committed to it is get another car or pay someone to take him. |
Anonymous
Sibling rides alone - or join a car share service to use on those days. You have to be willing to change/give somewhere OP. |
Anonymous
| I would just add that you don't want to miss out on PEP. It was not only valuable education and therapy wise, but your kid will be on their radar for services going into K and you won't have to start K w/o services! |
Anonymous
+1. PEP was an amazing, fantastic experience. OP--call Transportation and see what you can work out. Our daycare was out of our home cluster and they placed my child in a PEP program in his daycare cluster. As for the the 2 vs 3 day transportation, you'll have to provide your own transportation on the days that he's not at daycare. Would it be possible to increase his daycare days to 5x/week? At almost 5, he's getting ready for full day, full week K. |
Anonymous
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OP,
How far away is the PEP school, his preschool, and your work? If the bus picks him up in the AM, would you be able to take your lunch and approval for extra time to pick him up at PEP at drop him at preschool? Maybe a nanny share type deal where someone would pick him up and drive him to the preschool? |
Anonymous
| 3 hours a week in the car is not a big deal in the greater scheme of things. |
Anonymous
The twin doesn't go to preschool already? |
Anonymous
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Thanks for all of the ideas. I actually teach a course at the exact time he would be coming home from the PEP school, so I can't be around at all. My husband is trying to work out an option on his end though, since he has a bit more flexibility.
I would hire a driver, but is there such a thing? Someone who would just sit at my house, wait for my kid and then drive him to PS? It would only take about 30 minutes or less. He's a bit too young for Uber. : ) Ideas on where to find a kid "driver"?? What would you pay someone for something like this? It would be 30 minutes or less two times per week. I appreciate the feedback to not let the PEP opportunity go. I didn't want to, and won't. We have the babysitter option as a fall back. I just hate for him to miss his regular school too. That said, I feel extra supported in the decision that it is more important to sacrifice his regular pre-school for PEP, if it comes to it. Thanks for all of the info!!! |