Above: Ahron Hillmer, 3, works on shapes and colors while Ashley Earhart, a nurse with Southern Plains Educational Cooperative, observes, Wednesday afternoon at Fairmont Elementary School as part of early childood screening.

FAIRMONT — Fairmont Elementary School just wrapped up three days of early childhood screening. The school’s licensed nurse, April Tordsen, said about 75 kids went through screening.

Tordsen said the main goal of early childhood screening is early intervention.

“It’s a time to get a professional set of eyes on your kid so we can make sure they’re ready for kindergarten,” she said.

Tordsen explained that it’s a state law that all students entering public school need to be screened anytime from the age of 3 before they start kindergarten.

She said they always hold screening the week of MEA in order to take advantage of empty classrooms as preschool doesn’t take place that week.

“It’s a free, simple check that tells us how your child is growing, developing and learning,” Tordsen said.

Tordsen said the whole process takes about an hour and a half. Nurses, early childhood specialists and a speech-language pathologist will all be present.

Hearing and vision, height and weight will be checked. An immunization review will also be done. Tordsen said small and large muscles are looked over, as well as social and emotional development, thinking, language and communication skills.

Early childhood screening can also be done with a primary care provider, public health or Head Start.

“This year we had three community outreach coordinators that were able to help our ELL students. That was a great asset to have,” Tordsen said.

Early childhood screening also takes place in the morning on the second Tuesday of the month at Fairmont Elementary School. Tordsen said it can be scheduled with the main office at 507-238-4487.

“Sometimes people think it’s a competence test, but it’s really not. It’s also time to celebrate all of the great things and achievements,” Tordsen said.