Elwyn’s Early Childhood Services has contracted with the Pennsylvania State Department of Education to provide preschool special education to eligible young children in the Philadelphia school district. This program is referred to as Special Education for Early Developmental Success (SEEDS). It provides special education for eligible children 3 to 5 years of age living in Philadelphia.

SEEDS coordinates preschool service, performs multi-disciplinary evaluations, and contracts with provider agencies for ongoing preschool special education services. Children are served in the least restrictive environment possible to meet their educational and developmental needs. Locations can include the child’s home, a Head Start center, a community day care or nursery school, or a center-based early intervention program. Services include special instruction, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, and nursing or any combination of these.

SEEDS is dedicated to quality programming for eligible children and works to address citywide issues related to young children. It ensures compliance with Federal and State education law. SEEDS also works to ensue fiscal responsibility, develop policies and procedures at the local level, and mediate problems that interfere with families gaining access to service. SEEDS serves approximately 5,000 preschool age children every year.

Our preschool education focuses on the concerns, priorities, and resources of the family. It takes into consideration the crucial, constant role that the family plays in a child’s life. SEEDS is based on a family centered model. Families are treated as valuable partners and are encouraged to participate at all stages of decision making. In this equal relationship, the family and the special education staff work together as a team to plan an individualized program that will fulfill the child’s educational needs.         

SEEDS programs and services are based on best practices of early childhood education and development, special education, and interagency collaboration. Families and professionals work together to identify a child’s strengths and needs and to help create an enduring framework for successful learning throughout a child’s life.

SEEDS' subcontracted agencies are certified by one or more of the following:

Every year, SEEDS conducts parent satisfaction surveys. For the 2004-2005 program year, 87 percent of parents agreed that the services their children receive through SEEDS are making a difference in the lives of their children. As one parent expressed it, “My child has learned a lot, and he is very happy with the program. His communication is better now, and he understands when I talk to him. The person giving the program is doing a very good job.”

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