Early childhood education funding programs
The department manages several programs to support meaningful participation in early childhood education and care programs for children with disability.
The goal is to ensure educational experiences for all children:
- are child-centred
- are relevant and authentic
- are engaging
- are interesting
- promote a sense of belonging.
Preschool Disability Support Program (PDSP)
Following extensive feedback from the sector, the department is currently working to enhance the current arrangements to support children with disability and additional needs. The department is committed to supporting all children to participate meaningfully in early childhood education and will align disability and inclusion funding and support with both Start Strong and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The department has released information on the 2018 Disability and Inclusion Program. This program replaces the Preschool Disability Support Program.
Intervention Support Program (ISP)
The department will communicate directly with Intervention Support Program (ISP) funded services about arrangements for 2018. The ISP Online Portal will continue to operate in the interim.
Enhanced arrangements to support children with a disability and additional needs
Following extensive feedback from the sector, the department is working to enhance the current arrangements to support children with disability and additional needs. The department is committed to supporting all children to participate meaningfully in ECE.
Information sessions for services funded under the Intervention Support Program were held in October and November 2017 to share information about the new program and to seek feedback on transition and implementation arrangements.
The presentation slides from these information sessions (PPTX 1069.08KB) are available to download and answers to frequently asked questions from the information sessions appear below.
The department will communicate directly with ISP funded services about funding arrangements for 2018.
To discuss the circumstances of your service please contact Tracey Quick on interventionsupport@det.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 064 767.
Transition funding arrangements for Early Childhood Intervention services
Early Childhood Intervention services funded under the Young Children with Disabilities component of ISP will receive transition funding from January to June 2018. Each service will receive a letter from the department and accompanying funding agreement outlining transition funding arrangements for 2018.
The Sector Capacity Building Program
The sector capacity building program is designed to enhance the ability of community preschools to meaningfully include children with disability on the same basis as all children in their preschool. The program is a development and support program, based on a hub and spoke model. Through the program community preschools are paired with a specialist early childhood intervention service to embed evidence based inclusive practice into all aspects of service delivery.
This will be an Expression of Interest process for services to apply to become providers of the sector capacity building program. Further information will be provided directly to Early Childhood Intervention services about when and how to apply in early 2018.
Further information about the Sector Capacity Building Program is included in the information session slides (PPTX 1069.08KB).
Contact
Please email the Intervention Support Program team at interventionsupport@det.nsw.edu.au or phone 1800 064 767.