Our school readiness program gives children the skills, confidence, and support they need to enter school prepared, not pushed.
Prep School is a fun, structured, therapeutic environment where learning feels safe, fun, and achievable.
It’s normal to wonder whether your child will make friends, listen to a teacher, sit for circle time, or keep up with the pace and expectations of school. Those questions don’t mean your child isn’t capable; they mean they deserve an environment that teaches them how to participate, not just where to sit.
Our half-day school readiness program bridges that gap, helping children build the confidence, skills, and comfort they need to enter school ready to connect, ready to learn, and ready to thrive.
Our environment looks like a preschool…
but functions like therapy.
Children practice school routines with the support of therapists who understand what to do and how to do it in a way that feels safe and familiar.
It’s not about memorizing rules — it’s about knowing what to do and how to do it in a way that feels safe and familiar.
Children learn through repetition, modeling, and experiences that feel meaningful. Our daily structure includes:
These skills don’t just prepare a child for school — they prepare them for life.
Some children need individualized support to participate. We provide it.
Instead of falling behind, children get hands-on guidance, prompting, and modeling — turning overwhelming moments into learning opportunities.
Here, your child’s challenges aren’t obstacles…
they’re starting points.
Unlike traditional preschools, our school readiness program is therapy.
Every routine, every activity, every milestone is intentional and connected to your child’s goals.
Families don’t have to choose between:
They get all of it — in one place.
Many children attend before or after individualized therapy sessions, creating a seamless experience where skills are practiced, reinforced, and strengthened across settings.
Because school readiness isn’t about age — it’s about confidence, participation, and support.
Some children need more than a traditional preschool, but that doesn’t mean they should miss out on the social world of school.
Our prep school is designed for families who are looking for a setting where their child can:
Our school readiness program brings together the structure of school and the support of therapy, so progress and participation work together instead of competing.
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Prep school is designed for children who are curious, capable, and eager to learn, but may find busy classrooms, new routines, or big transitions overwhelming at times.
It may be a good fit if your child:
In our school readiness program, children spend their day practicing circle time, centers, group activities, and daily routines, with individualized support built in so progress feels achievable, not accidental.
Most importantly, children are encouraged to learn in ways that honor who they are, without pressure to “keep up” or fit a mold.
Get started nowEveryday skills that help your child participate, connect, and thrive in a school setting
We learn about your child’s strengths, challenges, routines, and what matters most to you.
ABA, speech, OT, and neuropsychology experts design a unified, personalized plan that reflects how your child learns best.
Skills learned in therapy begin to show up naturally — at home, with peers, and in school routines — because our focus is real-world carryover.
For the first time, all of his therapists were finally talking to each other. It changed everything.
This is the first therapy plan that felt like it was actually made for my child.
Our daughter walked into kindergarten confident and ready. We couldn’t believe the difference.
It’s both. Our school readiness program combines preschool-like routines such as circle time, centers, group play, and classroom transitions with therapeutic support built into the day. Every activity is intentional, helping children practice the skills they need for real school environments while still feeling like kids.
Yes, our prep school program is fully integrated into a comprehensive ABA therapy program, including speech and OT support. The program is designed to complement other services, and our interdisciplinary teams work together to support consistent goals across settings.
ABA supports school readiness by helping children build skills that allow them to participate successfully in a classroom. At Gracent, this includes communication, following routines, flexibility, regulation, and social engagement; skills practiced during real classroom-style activities, not just in therapy rooms.
Our school readiness program is multi-tiered depending on each child's age and support needed. We run the program with different groups throughout the day, whether that's preschool-aged children who would benefit from additional support before entering a traditional classroom, or school-aged children looking for social skills development. Age ranges and recommendations vary by child, and our team will help determine whether the program is a good fit.
A diagnosis is required for insurance-covered ABA services. However, the school readiness program itself may include children with a range of developmental needs. Our team can help you understand eligibility, insurance requirements, and available options.
Our school readiness program takes place at all Gracent Pediatric Therapy locations.
Unlike traditional preschool, our school readiness program includes individualized therapeutic support built into the day. Your child is never without 1:1 support from a Behavior Therapist. Children practice classroom routines and social skills while receiving guidance tailored to their needs, helping them build confidence and readiness at their own pace.
Yes. Families receive regular communication and guidance, including daily photos and updates through our ProCare app, and progress is reviewed as part of each child’s overall care plan. Our goal is for families to always understand what skills are being practiced and how those skills are developing over time.
Absolutely. We focus on daily-life skills such as transitions, meals, play, routines, and group participation. These are the moments that shape a child’s school experience, and they’re intentionally built into our program so progress shows up where it matters most.
Yes. Skill carryover is a core focus of our interdisciplinary model. Through consistent strategies, shared goals, and family guidance, we help ensure that skills practiced in the program translate into everyday routines at home, in school, and in the community.
Start times depend on availability at your preferred location and the schedule you’re seeking. Our team will talk with you about current openings, next steps, and timing so you have a clear and realistic path forward.
Gracent Pediatric Therapy — formerly Pine Cone Therapies in Texas and includes three North Shore Pediatric Therapy centers in Illinois — is part of the Gracent network and a sister company to North Shore Pediatric Therapy. Together, we’re creating connected, compassionate care for children and families across every stage of growth.
