Requesting NDIS-funded or other externally funded therapy services for your child in NSW public schools
Some children and young people with disability may benefit from allied health and specialist therapies. Examples include physiotherapy, speech pathology and occupational therapy. In most cases, these therapies can be delivered at home or in a therapist’s office. Some therapies may be best delivered in school during school time.
The NSW Department of Education and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recommend that therapy services funded through a child’s NDIS support plan are best delivered outside of school time. This allows the school to focus on teaching your child and all other students, and ensures your child does not miss out on important learning time.
Schools work with both parents and allied health providers to meet the needs of students and support their learning and development. This may include sharing information about the student and what activities might work best to support them. In some cases, where it is suitable, this may mean working directly with the provider in the classroom.
The principal is responsible for deciding when and how therapy services are delivered in the school. The principal will make decisions that ensure that the school is able to run to benefit all students and without disrupting learning. The principal will manage any services that come into the school in a way that supports children to continue to take part in classes and school activities
To request external therapy support at Curl Curl North Public School:
Step 1: Parents, discuss this request firstly with the classroom teacher then please fill in a Parent/carer request formand advise the office.
For more information, please see the Parent and Carer Fact Sheet
The school, will consider a number of matters including:
- the school's duty of care to all students and staff
- how the service relates to your child's needs
- impacts on your child if they will need to leave the classroom to receive therapy
- arrangements to ensure that your child is adequately supervised when receiving the service
- effects on other students if the service needs to be provided in the classroom
- whether the service needs to be delivered at a particular time of the day
The principal will let you know about their decision
If the principal agrees for the service to be provided at the school, you will need to let the provider know. This includes letting them know the agreed times and days for the service to be delivered at school. If the principal decides that the service is not able to be delivered at the school, talk to the school about how the service delivered outside of school can support your child’s learning. The school may decide to talk directly with your provider about how the provider’s services can help with your child’s learning goals.
Step 2: Providers coming into a school need to meet legal requirements.
External providers must meet all NSW Department of Education requirements before working with our school.
They must:
1. Complete the paperwork
External providers must:
- Sign a written agreement with our school. See External Provider Engagement Agreement(opens in new window)
- Follow the External provider information sheet and checklist(opens in new window).
2. Meet training and policy requirements
External providers must:
- Follow the NSW Department of Education's policies on equity, inclusion, and child wellbeing
- Compliance with relevant laws and policies, including child protection and privacy
- Complete child protection training every year.
3. Provide credentials, insurance and ID
External providers must have:
- Appropriate insurance coverage
- A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC)
- All necessary qualifications and experience.
4. Wait for approval
External providers cannot begin support until they have received written confirmation from our school.
5. Annual review
This process must be repeated at the start of each school year.
Step 3:
The school will send an email to the therapist, teacher and parent. After a suitable time has been negotiated therapy can commence.
Therapy is not to commence until therapists have received an email or phone call approving the request.
Have a question about external providers?
Our friendly office team can help you get in touch.