Disability and Inclusion program guidelines 2019
The purpose of the program is to provide funding and support to enable children with disability and additional needs to participate in a quality ECE.
The purpose of the program is to provide funding and support to enable children with disability and additional needs to participate in a quality ECE.
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The Disability and Inclusion program provides funding and support to enable children with disability and additional needs in community preschools to participate in a quality early childhood education program on the same basis as their peers.
Research and data show:
This program is consistent with:
This program aims to:
This program is for community preschools that meet all of the following criteria.
Services must:
There are four program components:
Please note: under Start Strong, equity funding is available for children with disability and additional needs who are enrolled in a community preschool for 600 hours per year*. Please refer to the Start Strong funding guidelines for further information.
Data for Start Strong is calculated based on the number of hours of enrolment that the service enters in the preschool census.
*In recognition of the fact that 600 hours per year is not always possible for children with disability and additional needs, an exception can be granted to children with disability who are enrolled for a minimum of 300 hours per year. For this exception to be granted, the preschool must indicate that they will ensure the child’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP) includes a progressive plan to increase to 600 hours per year prior to school commencement. The Department will monitor this through reporting requirements and the annual audit program. Funding to children enrolled for a minimum of 300 hours per year will be provided at the full Start Strong equity rate.
2019 assessment cut-off dates | Payment |
---|---|
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 22 November 2018 | Quarter 1 - December 2018/January 2019 (January – 30 March 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 28 February 2019 | Quarter 2 – April 2019 (April to June 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 30 May 2019 | Quarter 3 – July 2019 (July to September 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 22 August 2019 | Quarter 4 – October 2019 (October to December 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 17 October 2019 |
Final adjustments for 2019 (new applications and variations) |
Assessment cut-off dates are subject to change. The Department will notify preschools via email of any changes to these dates.
Funding for children with high learning support needs is provided to develop and deliver the child’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The aim of the ILP is to support the child’s specific learning requirements to enable them to participate in the educational program on the same basis as their peers. See section 11. Helpful information in these guidelines for further information on ILPs.
Community preschools can apply for funding for a child with high learning support needs up to a total of $13,800 per year per child.
This funding is available for up to 600 hours per child, per preschool year, at a rate of $23 per hour.
Funding is based on the support each child requires, not enrolment. It is understood that there will be some children who require support equal to hours of enrolment.
To be eligible for this funding, the child needs to:
Where a child is 6 years old and above, an exemption from school must be in place for the child. For further information on school exemptions, please visit the Department’s website.
Children with high learning support needs:
Applications for children with High learning support needs (HLSN) must be supported by a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment from the relevant specialists.
Documentation must be on letterhead and signed by the relevant specialist.
Relevant specialists are an audiologist, registered psychologist, paediatrician, psychiatrist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, a professional qualified to administer psychometric assessments, or other relevant medical specialist.
The assessment date on documentation related to a moderate to severe language delay or disorder, or severe behavioural and social emotional disability, must be less than 15 months prior to application submission. Where the assessment date on documentation provided in 2018 applications of this nature is more than 15 months prior to application submission, updated documentation must be provided in the child’s 2019 application.
It is understood there may be exceptional circumstances where no written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is available for a child. In these circumstances, an application for HLSN can be supported by preschool observations documenting the developmental areas where the child displays difficulties (previously known as Emergency funding).
Observations of the child must be uploaded to support the application. These observations must indicate the frequency, intensity and duration of the concerns. The observations must be a description of what is observed, and not contain analysis or evaluation.
Where available, the following should also be uploaded to support the application:
Please note: HLSN funding for children without a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is not ongoing, and is subject to quarterly review. See the Application Review section in these guidelines for details.
The HLSN application requires:
Children who received emergency funding in 2018 (i.e. HLSN funding based on preschool observations) must now have a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment in place to be considered for HLSN funding in 2019.
In instances where exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated, a one-off quarterly payment may be provided.
In 2019, a HLSN application can be considered for priority payment. This means a payment outside of the quarterly payment schedule.
An application will only be eligible for priority payment if the assessment process determines there is an urgent need to support and supervise the child due to significant safety concerns for the child, and/or other children, and/or staff at the preschool.
Priority payment situations will be exceptional and rare.
Applications will be assessed regularly to support the priority payment process, and you may be contacted for additional information to support the application.
Applications are made on a per child basis in the Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS).
Preschools are required to make new applications for children funded in 2018, but a streamlined process is in place whereby 2018 applications can be copied, updated and submitted for 2019.
This process requires that you:
For guidance on this process, please see section 11. Helpful information in these guidelines and follow the prompts in ECCMS.
Under the terms and conditions of your funding agreement, service providers are required to complete a consent form for each child upon enrolment. This form consents to the use and disclosure of personal information that is used by the Department for reporting and funding purposes.
As long as this form has been completed for each child, additional forms of parent/carer consent are not required for the Disability and Inclusion program.
Consent Form - Child (PDF 716.68KB)
Consent Form - Personnel (PDF683.2 KB)
Variations should be made within two working weeks for eligible applications where:
Variations are made on a per child basis in the Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS).
Funding allocations for high learning support needs may change throughout the year if a funded child leaves your service, has a change in their learning support needs that requires reassessment, or new children with disability and additional needs enrol in your service.
In such cases a funding adjustment will be applied to the preschool’s next payment.
HLSN funding for children without a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is not ongoing, and is subject to quarterly review. The provision of further funding is contingent on the provision of a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment for the child.
To ensure ongoing supports are in place, and to support a positive transition to school, it is important that preschools support families to obtain a formal assessment for children in receipt of HLSN funding.
The Department will request an update from the preschool on a child’s progress. This is provided by submitting a variation in ECCMS.
The quarterly application review must demonstrate exceptional circumstances in order for funding to continue beyond one quarter. Where the quarterly review does not demonstrate progress towards obtaining a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment, funding will not continue.
If a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is provided outside of this time, the preschool must notify the Department within two working weeks by submitting a variation in ECCMS. The application will then be re-assessed to ascertain the child’s learning support needs.
The Department will assess applications and determine funding. Where required, the Department may seek further information from preschools about their application.
Feedback on the outcome of a funding application can be sought from the assessment team by emailing ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au and providing the following information:
Once you have provided this following information, a member of the assessment team will contact you within 7-10 business days to discuss your application.
Note: please do not provide sensitive information (include diagnostic reports and developmental assessments).
Applications are individually assessed in accordance with the program guidelines and the application type. The hours of support approved for each child may be adjusted accordingly.
Services will be notified of the assessment outcome for each application, and their funding allocation via email.
Payments will align with the assessment and payment dates table in section 4.
Funding for approved applications submitted up to and including 30 June 2019 will be backdated to the child’s enrolment start date for 2019.
Funding for approved applications submitted on or after 1 July 2019 will be backdated to 1 July 2019, or the child’s enrolment start date for 2019, whichever is the most recent date.
Funding adjustments for approved variations to increase or decrease hours submitted by 30 June 2019 will be backdated to the variation start date.
Funding adjustments for approved variations to increase hours submitted on or after 1 July 2019 will be backdated to 1 July 2019 or the variation start date, whichever is the most recent date.
Funding adjustments for approved variations where a child has left the service and to decrease hours will be calculated on a pro-rata basis, according the variation start date (i.e. the date the child left the service or decreased hours).
High learning support needs funding must be used to support the individual child.
Funding can be used for:
Where a preschool has a large number of eligible children with high learning support needs, the Department may cap funding in consultation with the service to ensure the funding allocations provided can be spent on the individual children.
The Department will engage with services where the number of children with disability and/or additional needs is higher than the average to make these arrangements.
Where a preschool has a large number of children with high learning support needs enrolled, it is recommended that applications are made for all children, but only for the hours of support that the preschool can spend.
Please note: where the 2018 acquittal process identifies unspent HLSN funding, 2019 payments may be adjusted against unspent funds.
Funding cannot be used for:
The aim of the minor capital works program is to promote access and improve the educational opportunities, learning outcomes and personal development of children with disability and additional needs.
Funding is available for minor capital works (including minor modifications and specialised equipment/furniture) that is an essential requirement to enable children with disability to participate in the educational program on the same basis as their peers.
This funding is available for community preschools (including mobile preschools – who can apply for specialised educational equipment/furniture).
Applications are child specific, but one application can include minor capital requirements for multiple children, where the environment adjustment/equipment/furniture relates to more than one child.
To be eligible for this funding, the child/children need to have an application submitted for high learning support needs.
Funding of up to $5,000 per child per year (or per application, if the application is for more than one child) is available for specialised equipment/furniture.
Funding of up to $20,000 per child per year (or per application, if the application is for more than one child) is available for minor construction projects. Please note that council approvals may be required for minor construction projects. Consultation with local government is recommended prior to application for minor construction projects through the Disability and Inclusion program.
Applications are made in the Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS).
Applications can be made from Wednesday 7 November 2018 to Thursday 17 October 2019, according to budget availability.
The application must set out:
Applications for specialised equipment/furniture and minor construction projects can be made within the one application.
Where applications are submitted that exceed the available grant amount, applicants will be required to confirm that they will be able to fund the difference.
If circumstances change, and a service cannot fund the difference, they must notify the Department. In such circumstances the grant must be returned the Department in full, unless expenditure is otherwise agreed by both parties and approved by the Department. These decisions will be made on a case by case basis.
If applying for equipment or furniture please provide photocopies or sample pictures from catalogues to support your application.
The Department will assess applications and determine funding. Where required, the Department may seek further information from preschools about their applications.
Applications will be assessed according to budget availability.
All decisions will be made based on the individual needs of children.
When the applications are assessed a range of factors are taken into account including:
Feedback on the outcome of a funding application can be sought from the assessment team by emailing ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au and providing the following information:
Once you have provided this following information, a member of the assessment team will contact you within 7-10 business days to discuss your application.
Note: please do not provide sensitive information (include diagnostic reports and developmental assessments).
Payments will generally align with the quarterly payment schedule, but can also be made on an ad-hoc basis according to need and budget availability.
Funding can be used for, but is not limited to:
Funds are not available for:
A formal acquittal process must be undertaken within one year of receiving funding. This includes completing a statement of expenditure and a performance accountability statement.
The statement of expenditure requires services to report to the Department on how the funding allocation has been spent, in accordance with the spending rules, to support the individual child.
The performance accountability statement requires services to report to the Department on progress for each child receiving high learning support needs funding. This includes providing information in relation to each funded child’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
Preschools may be audited to confirm the accuracy of data provided in their performance and financial accountability statements, which includes ensuring that the funding provided has been used to support the achievement of educational outcomes for children with disability in accordance with these guidelines.
Records of the parent/carer's consent for high learning support needs applications must be held on file by the preschool, along with documentary evidence of the child’s disability and/or additional needs.
A formal acquittal process must be undertaken within one year of receiving funding. This includes completing a statement of expenditure and a performance accountability statement.
Preschools may be audited to confirm the accuracy of data provided in their performance and financial accountability statements.
This program is available to all NSW community preschools. Levels of support will vary depending on a preschool’s circumstances and needs.
Preschools are assigned an Early Childhood Intervention Service (or other qualified organisation) as their program provider.
In 2019, the Sector capacity building providers will assist preschools to:
Under this program, preschools will be supported to evaluate:
This program will include:
This new scholarship program seeks to address feedback that there may not be enough focus on early childhood development and early childhood intervention in special education studies.
The program is currently in development and services will be notified when applications open.
Current scholarship program recipients will continue to be supported by the Department to complete their studies.
Early Childhood Education Directorate
Information and Enquiries team: 1300 755 426
Email: ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au
An individual learning plan must be developed for each child approved for high learning support needs funding. It should have the following characteristics:
When considering whether an application for high learning needs funding or minor capital works funding is required, you need to consider an individual child's ability to access the preschool and the educational program in relation to the following key areas:
It will also assist to consider whether the child:
Preschools are required to make new applications for children funded in 2018, but a streamlined process is in place whereby the child’s 2018 application (or variation) can be copied, updated and submitted for 2019.
This process requires that you:
An updated assessment must be uploaded as part of the 2019 application if the assessment date on documentation you provided in 2018 is:
For further guidance on this process, please follow the prompts in ECCMS.
Please note: children who received emergency funding in 2018 (i.e. HLSN funding based on preschool observations) must now have a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment in place to be considered for HLSN funding in 2019.
In instances where exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated, a one-off quarterly payment may be provided.
Yes. Funding applications can be made as follows:
Payments will align with the quarterly payment schedule as follows:
2019 Assessment cut off dates | Payment |
---|---|
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 22 November 2018 | Quarter 1 - December 2018/January 2019 (January – 30 March 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 28 February 2019 | Quarter 2 – April 2019 (April to June 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 30 May 2019 | Quarter 3 – July 2019 (July to September 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 22 August 2019 | Quarter 4 – October 2019 (October to December 2019) |
Submitted by 5pm Thursday 17 October 2019 | Final adjustments for 2019 (new applications and variations) |
Assessment cut-off dates are subject to change. The Department will notify preschools via email of any changes to these dates.
In 2019, a HLSN application can be considered for priority payment. This means a payment outside of the quarterly payment schedule.
An application will only be eligible for priority payment if the assessment process determines there is an urgent need to support and supervise the child due to significant safety concerns for the child, and/or other children, and/or staff at the preschool.
Priority payment situations will be exceptional and rare.
Applications will be assessed regularly to support the priority payment process, and you may be contacted for additional information to support the application.
It is understood there are exceptional circumstances where no written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is available for a child. In these circumstances, an application for HLSN can be supported by preschool observations documenting the developmental areas where the child displays difficulties (previously known as Emergency funding).
Observations of the child must be uploaded to support the application. These observations must indicate the frequency, intensity and duration of the concerns. The observations must be a description of what is observed, and not contain analysis or evaluation.
Where available, the following should also be uploaded to support the application:
Please note: HLSN funding for children without a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is not ongoing, and is subject to quarterly review.
As per the program guidelines, HLSN funding for children without a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is not ongoing and is subject to a quarterly application review.
When a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is obtained, services should submit an application review. The application will then be re-assessed to ascertain the child’s learning support needs.
Application reviews are submitted as a variation in ECCMS. Select the pencil icon next to the child’s name in the list of child applications in ECCMS. Select the reason for the variation (application review) and follow the prompts.
Where a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment is not available, an application review to provide a progress update should be submitted. Where the quarterly review does not demonstrate progress towards obtaining a written diagnosis and/or developmental assessment, funding will not continue.