Special Needs Policy

MVWS Special Needs Policy

Maple Village Waldorf School is a place where students of varied learning styles can be successful. Because the mode of teaching includes not only oral presentations by the teacher but hands-on work, artistic rendering of concepts presented through lessons, field exploration, movement, and creative dramatics, students who are strong auditory, logical learners can round out their learning skills. Likewise, students who may be visual or kinesthetic learners can experience more school success using intelligences that may be underused.

Some students have special needs that challenge their efforts to experience success in school. The faculty and staff of Maple Village Waldorf School are not trained to work with students exhibiting extensive learning challenges or with severe emotional or behavioral disorders. Consequently, the school must retain the sole discretion to decide not only whether to enroll a student but also whether to continue enrollment, as well as the conditions for continued enrollment. The school will consider such factors that it deems appropriate, which will include its available resources and the burdens placed on the faculty and staff, and any disruption or interference with other students’ opportunities to learn.

At the time of admission, parents are required to share any past IEP’s and professional evaluations. We recognize, however, how important it is to look at a student with “fresh eyes,” and will personally interview each applicant. If teachers determine a need for further information about a student, parents may be required to have a student evaluated at their own cost and share the results with MVWS. If modifications, therapeutic treatments, or academic support are recommended, our faculty and staff determine what accommodations are possible within the School’s current resources. In order to succeed, some students may require outside support and services, the funding of which is provided by the student’s family. If you believe that your child may need such help, please begin conversations with us during application time.

Accommodations that might be considered, within limits, include:

• Preferential seating
• Checking of main lesson books
• Extended time for work
• Teacher or peer notes if available
• Time made available to a student’s tutor or therapist to discuss classroom performance
• Modification of assignments or due dates
• Care Plans for educational or behavioral reasons

Maple Village Waldorf School does NOT provide:

• Individual Education Plans (IEPs); however, when the school determines ability to serve the student, the school creates a student 504 plan based on accommodations outlined in IEPs.
• Educational or psychological evaluations
• Constant monitoring or one-on-one instruction / attention
• Exemption from major course requirements, including homework and class attendance
• Program modifications that are not compatible with the Maple Village Waldorf School philosophy
• Adaptive testing that avoids course requirements or skills taught in class
• Adaptive aids such as laptop computers (in grades 6 and below) or amplification devices
• Interpreters
• Additionally, any specialized services needed or required to qualify/maintain enrollment at MVWS (including, but not limited to,) speech, occupational or physical therapy, remedial programs, tutoring and nursing care are always the financial responsibility of the family.

It is our experience that parents play a crucial role in students’ success at Maple Village Waldorf School and this is especially true for students with special needs. Possibilities for student success are greatly enhanced when parents value the philosophy of Maple Village Waldorf School, understand the nature of our curriculum, recognize our strengths and limitations and cooperate to provide information or support services that may be necessary. Regular communication between parents and teachers is critical to the success of students with special needs. We expect that parents of students who require accommodations will candidly disclose the child’s educational and behavioral history and update the school and respond in a timely manner to phone calls, letters, requests for conferences, information, assessments, or outside support services such as counseling and tutorial help.

Finally, and although it may sound simple, we find that students with special needs (just like all children at our School,) excel when the curriculum at school is supported by parents in the very nature of the home life that is created for them. Endeavoring for rhythm and consistency at home, lots of free, unstructured time (particularly in nature,) healthy foods, regular and adequate sleep schedules and helpful acts around the house all contribute to a balanced, healthy child that can thrive at our school. In contrast, TV, media, gaming and screens in general, along with a diet heavy in processed foods, and an overscheduled week with too many extracurricular activities and not enough sleep, time and time again prove to be the foundation for a child’s struggle at our School — in any grade, special needs or no.

Please reach out to our Admissions Coordinator if you have more questions:

Admissions@maplevillageschool.org