Cochrane's RVS Preschool Intervention Program (PIP) is in high demand.

75% of PIP students are children with higher needs; whether those needs are communication, emotional, or physical the PIP team offers families and students a supported environment to start their learning.

The Cochrane program is supported by Laureen McNaughton Special Education teacher, 5 educational assistants, a speech/language pathologist (2 days/week), an occupational therapist (2 days/week) and on call physiotherapist and behavioral therapist.

McNaughton has been teaching the Cochrane program for the past three years and says usually parents recognize their child may be lagging in development.

"Some people have come because they have been referred by a speech/language pathologist in the community or by their doctor or pediatrician, but there are some that noticed my (their) child might not be talking like they should be or like I noticed his friends are, those kinds of things."

In order to qualify for the PIP program children need to have fairly severe needs.

"75% of our kids are PUF (Program Unit Funded) funded, which means they have a severe delay they are within the first percentile of delay."

McNaughton says over time she is seeing more children suffer from behavior challenges and feels that lack of communication is the reason.

"If you think about it if you were dropped in the middle of a country and you didn't know the language, and you didn't understand anyone and you couldn't make yourself understood- it is was very frustrating. So a lot of our children are dealing with that frustration and a lot of their behaviors stem from that."

The first few years are critical when it comes to getting help for children.

"The time between when children are 3-5, research has shown it is an essential time to get help for them and that it can really predict much more future success."

McNaughton shares that even though PIP is leaving Glenbow and moving to Elizabeth Barrett, with 14 on a wait list she is hopeful a second program will be added.

"The demand is certainly increased there are a lot more kids that need us."

If you would like more information on the PIP program you can contact the Rocky View School Education Centre here.