Overview
Building Blocks Developmental Preschool has been providing programs and services to young children and their families since 1984. Presently we offer a range of programs and services to children from infancy through age 5.
Early Intervention (E.I.) services are provided for children under the age of 3. For young children who have developmental delays, services are offered in the child’s home or child care setting. When appropriate, children over the age two may attend a group program in our building. A Mommy and Me is also offered at our center for toddlers and a caregiver. The mommy and Me groups include children with and without special needs. These services are provided under the auspices of the Department of Health or through parent paid tuition.
Children between the ages of three and five attend preschool classes. Preschoolers with special needs receive special education and therapy services as authorized by their school districts. The New York State Department of Education regulates the preschool program.
Typically developing children attend preschool classes through parent paid tuition. Building Blocks Developmental Preschool is also licensed by the New York Office of Children and Family Services as a Child Care Center. This means that our program must follow specific regulations in order to maintain this license.
In 1994, Building Blocks began offering integrated classes which enroll both children with and without special needs. Four year old children from Commack School District’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program began attending these integrated classes in the 2000/01 school year.
Building Blocks' programs for children with special needs are funded by Suffolk County and New York State. Parents of typically developing children pay tuition. Children from Commack School District, who are enrolled as Universal Pre-kindergarten students (UPK) have their tuition paid for by Commack Union Free School District.
Presently Building Blocks has a staff of over 150 teachers, therapists and paraprofessionals. Our staff includes registered nurses as well as psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and a social worker. All staff are fingerprinted and cleared through the New York Child Abuse registry and Justice Center.
Parents are encouraged to be active participants in all of Building Blocks' programs. Parent support groups and parent workshops are available on a regular basis. Participation in classroom activities is encouraged and parents are invited to special events. There is an active Parents' Club that is involved with fundraising, family events and parent to parent support.
Building Blocks parents and staff work together to ensure that the children receive high quality education and services that support growth and development.
*NOTE: Building Blocks Developmental Preschool is a 501(c)(3) not for profit agency. To refer a child suspected of developmental delay, please call Suffolk County Department of Health EIP at 631-853-3100 for children 0-3 years; or the child’s school district for children 3-5 years of age. All authorized services provided to eligible children are funded through NYS and Suffolk County at no cost to families. BBDPS is an approved provider and evaluator of early intervention and preschool special education services and is regulated by NYSED and NYSDOH.