Integration funding support
Integration funding support (IFS) is additional funding for extra support, such as for an additional teacher or school learning support officer in a mainstream classroom, in a Public preschool or Kindergarten to Year 12 in a public school.
Very few students with disability will need IFS, and most students with disability and additional learning and support needs will be supported through the resources at their local school. These are allocated through a learning and support resource package as part of the school budget.
IFS is provided by the department on application by your local school, if needed, so that students will be supported in their mainstream classroom.
When is it needed, and who is eligible?
Your local school will consider IFS if your child’s learning and support team, which includes you, decides that:
- additional resources are called for to develop and provide adjustments to personalise learning and support for your child.
- extra teacher and/or school learning support officer time is the most appropriate resource to help your child.
- your school needs additional teachers and school learning support officers to assist with personalised learning and support for students in their own classrooms.
Your child is eligible for IFS if:
- they are school-aged
- they are enrolled full-time in a mainstream class in a NSW public school
- they have a moderate to severe intellectual disability, physical disability, mental health disorder, autism spectrum disorder, hearing and/or vision impairment as defined by the Department's disability criteria
- they need essential adjustments to access learning opportunities and school experiences.
or:
- they are enrolled in a Public preschool setting, and
- have a disability and meet the requirement for substantial or extensive adjustments as defined by NCCD guidelines.
How does the school apply for IFS?
An access request application will be completed by your child’s school in collaboration with you. If this application is successful, it means that funding may be available to support your child.
It may mean that there are extra staff, such as teachers, school learning support officers or external allied health professionals to support your child. It may also mean that your child’s classroom teacher is given more time for professional learning and to plan for your child.
You can find out more about how schools can use this funding under Targeted funding.
Your child’s school will not need to lodge another access request to continue the IFS throughout their time at the school, as long as your child remains eligible.
Instead, the school will run an IFS review every year, or a change in allocation can be requested if your child’s needs change. Either you or the school can start this process, if you wish.
Annual reviews
If IFS is supported for your child, your child’s school must hold at least one meeting a year to:
- evaluate your child’s progress towards their learning goals
- judge how effective the current adjustments are for your child
- make any necessary changes to personalised learning and support, and
- prepare for the coming year.
You are welcome to participate in this meeting and can put forward any feedback or suggestions you might have.