I am also a mom of a little girl with delayed speech. My four-year-old daughter has been attending Marindale now for a year and a half. We also had started out at an expensive pre-school and were told our child just needed to wait until she was 'ready' for pre-K. When we said she had already been diagnosed with a speech delay, they said we should pay for a full-time aide! Instead, she has been receiving an intense, supportive education in a class with just six children working with wonderful teachers, aids, and therapists for speech and occupational therapy. I have heard that this is one of those programs that keeps getting their funding lowered and lowered, and the school had to lay off teachers last summer and has again lowered its staff this next year. This program is a real treasure for our county and the investment in early education, particularly for kids with delays, pays off multiple times for everyone when these children can leap forward in progress (something that is much easier to do at the pre-K age than waiting to address these issues when they are older). As a Marindale parent, you are welcomed and encouraged to be proactive and involved so be sure to ask the therapists and teachers for specific ways you can support your child's continued progress at home! Good luck!
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