6 Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Transition from Early Intervention to Preschool

November 16, 2025

Your guide to advocating, enrolling, and supporting your child with a continued delay through the transition from Early Intervention services to a preschool setting. 

The transition from Early Intervention (EI) services to preschool or a school-based setting is an exciting milestone. If your child has an intellectual or developmental delay (I/DD) or a continued delay, you may feel a mix of emotions– pride in how much your child has progressed, curiosity about what is next, and some uncertainty or even worry about the changes ahead as your child approaches age three.  

While the shift from Early Intervention services to a more traditional classroom setting can feel daunting, there are many ways you can prepare yourself and your child for success. With the right steps, you can build confidence, learn about your options, and help your child feel ready for this next chapter. 

Six ways to prepare for your child’s transition from Early Intervention services to preschool

1. Build Your Advocacy Skills Early

As your child approaches age three and Early Intervention (EI) services come to an end, one of the biggest concerns many parents face is losing the hands-on, personalized support they’ve come to rely on. EI service coordinators check in regularly, share resources, and become trusted partners in your child’s development. In contrast, school-based services, while still supportive, are less individualized and take place in a classroom setting, making it harder to observe your child’s daily progress firsthand. That’s why learning to advocate for your child’s unique needs becomes an essential part of this transition. 

Tips to help you become your child’s best advocate: 

• Talk with your EI service coordinator: Have a conversation about what to expect during the transition and how to effectively communicate your child’s needs in a school-based setting.  

• Come prepared to your child’s transition conference with questions: This meeting, held by your EI team when your child is between 30 and 33 months, is your opportunity to learn more about what lies ahead and ensure your child’s needs are clearly understood.  

Helpful questions to consider discussing: 

• What do services look like in the classroom?  

• Will my child be removed from the classroom to receive services? 

• How do I get into the school that I want my child to attend? 

• Does my child need to be potty-trained? 

• Stay engaged and ask questions…even more than once: Remember that it’s always okay to follow up on your child’s progress, seek clarification, or revisit concerns. You are your child’s biggest advocate, and your voice matters. 

2. Explore School Options and Complete Enrollment Steps

Another way to feel ready to make this transition is learning about various school options available to your family and enrolling early if you can. Many school districts, including Denver Public Schools (DPS), use a school of choice policy, which allows families to apply to schools outside of their assigned neighborhood boundaries that they view as the best fit for their child. 

Below are a few action items you can take to ensure the process of exploring schools and selecting the right classroom environment for your child is as seamless as possible.  

• Reach out to your local school or school of choice that you’re interested in to schedule a tour. Seeing the classrooms, meeting staff, and asking questions can ease nerves.  

• If a tour isn’t possible, call the school and talk with the front office staff about your questions. Staff are always happy to help prospective families. 

• Apply to your preferred schools during the open enrollment period. Be sure to check your school district’s website for the dates of open enrollment and apply as early as possible within the application window. This helps you select the best fit and ensures your child is in the system.  

• Open enrollment for DPS for the 2026-27 school year: the Round 1 window will open on Dec. 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. and close on Jan. 20, 2026, at 4 p.m. Families will be notified of placement results in late February. 

3. Get Familiar with IEPs (and How They’re Different from IFSPs)

As your child approaches age three, services shift from an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). But these two plans serve different purposes. 

An IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan) is used in Early Intervention and focuses on your child’s development within the context of the whole family. It often includes goals for both the child and family members and is designed for children under age 3. Once your child transitions into the public school system, an IEP (Individual Education Plan) takes its place. The IEP focuses on your child’s educational needs and learning goals within a school setting, starting at age 3.  

Both plans are personalized and designed to help your child grow and succeed, but they serve different ages and environments. 

A common question many parents ask is:  If my child has an IFSP in EI, do they automatically qualify for an IEP in school?

Unfortunately, the answer is no – qualifying for an IEP is not automatic.

When your child is around 27 months old (just over the age 2), your EI team will begin discussing your child’s transition plan with you, including whether you want to pursue an IEP through your local school district.  

If you choose to pursue an IEP, here’s what you should know: 

• Eligibility criteria for an IEP are different from those for EI services. Your EI team will help you understand the differences and let you know what determinations you need to explore to receivean IEP.

• A school district representative is typically invited to your child’s transition conference or will receive notes afterward and follow up with you.

• Your EI team will share a transition report with the school district. This report includes your child’s most recent IFSP and details about current skills and accommodations.  

For Denver-based families exiting out of EI services through Rocky Mountain Human Services, Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) Child Find tool offers key information about IEP eligibility. Colorado Shines is another Denver Metro resource run by the State Department of Early Childhood that can help you find your best preschool options.  

Pro tip:
Start gathering recent developmental evaluations, assessments, and medical documentation early. These materials will help the school team build an IEP that truly reflects your child’s needs and potential. 

If you’re concerned about stigma around your child’s inclusion, fear not. Many parents worry about what services will look like in school and whether their child might be singled out. Most preschool classrooms are inclusive, and children with IEPs learn alongside general education peers. Schools use an integrative approach, and many districts offer multiple classroom models to meet different needs. 

4. Prepare Your Child for New Routines

Moving from home-based services into a classroom brings big changes. Practicing routines early helps children feel secure and ready. 

Try these strategies at home: 

• Use visual schedules: Pictures or charts can help your child anticipate what comes next, just like the tools used in many preschool classrooms. 

• Give transition warnings: Use a sand timer to signal how much time before an activity ends or play a clean-up song for the duration of clean up time.   

• Practice tough transitions: For example, leaving the playground to go home is often a challenging transition. This helps children get used to shifting from a preferred to a less-preferred activity. 

• Build regulation skills: Simple activities like carrying a backpack filled with a couple of books can give your child confidence and a sense of responsibility. It also often builds excitement for school. 

These small steps help make new school routines feel more familiar and less overwhelming. 

5. Connect with Supports Beyond School

Many families find it helpful to have additional resources outside of school to support with advocacy, ask questions, and receive additional services. Post-EI support can give your child and family more tools to succeed both in and out of school. 

Helpful options in the Denver area include: 

• Ask an Advocate Drop-In Hour: The Arc of Adams County hosts a drop-in session each month with both in-person and virtual options to connect with disability advocates. These advocates can support you with a variety of advocacy-related needs and answer questions related to case management, available services, and supports. 

• Family Support Services Program (FSSP): Available through RMHS to families of children ages 3–18 with a documented developmental delay or I/DD in Denver and Adams Counties, this program provides supports and services tailored to the family. These supports include connection to community resources, advocacy, and financial support. Eligibility may be based on recent developmental evaluations, current special education eligibility, or a medical diagnosis linked to delays. 

• Evoke Behavioral Health: Provides services based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to children and teenagers with I/DD in the Denver area. ABA therapy services are evidence-based approaches that teach key social skills and reduce challenging behaviors that may interfere with a person’s abilities.  

• Show + Tell: This organization offers a variety of supports to families with children with disabilities, including training about disabilities, information about your rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and other relevant laws, and resources throughout the Denver Metro area. 

No matter what your child’s needs, your EI service coordinator can help you explore which supports are the best fit for your family and guide you through enrollment.

6. Keep Asking Questions and Be Kind to Yourself

Transitioning from EI to preschool is a major milestone, and it’s normal to feel unsure. Remember: this transition is a process, and information will unfold as you move along. 

Keep in mind: 

• Your EI team will support you until your child exits services. 

• It’s okay to ask the same question more than once—this process can be complex. 

• Every child’s development and experience is unique, including yours. 

Transitioning out of the home-based services of EI may feel overwhelming, but by developing your advocacy skills, learning about IEPs, preparing your child for new routines, and connecting with community resources, you can help set your child up for success. Most importantly, remember that you are your child’s best advocate, and you’re not alone. 

Download the RMHS Successful School Year Resource Guide to support your child’s success in and out of the classroom. Many of the resources housed in this guide are good all year! And please share it with other families you know to ensure everyone has a successful school year.