The Sector Capacity Building Program is a training and support program for staff in community preschools to support inclusive education practices and enhance ongoing inclusion readiness.

Service Eligibility Criteria

This program is available to all NSW community preschools.

Program Overview

The Sector Capacity Building Program is delivered by Early Childhood Intervention services (or other qualified organisations). Preschools are assigned an Early Childhood Intervention service as their program provider.

All services are encouraged to engage in the Sector Capacity Building program to support and enhance ongoing inclusion readiness. Even preschools that do not currently have children with a disability or additional needs enrolled can benefit from the free training, support, networking and advice this program offers.

In 2022, the sector capacity building providers will continue to assist preschools to:

• increase their capacity to include children with disability and additional needs on the same basis as their peers
• enable equitable education outcomes for children with disability and additional needs consistent with the five outcome areas of the Early Years Learning Framework (Identity, Connectedness, Wellbeing, Confident and Involved Learners, Communication)
• understand the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as it relates to the delivery of supports for children through the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach within an educational setting.

Under this program, preschools are able to access direct support such as:

• service site visits (dependent on current ECE COVID-19 guidelines).
• Skype/phone/email support
• Resource provision
• Networking and training opportunities.

Supports provided to a preschool may also include indirect supports, such as sourcing or developing tailored resources and training.

The level of support provided to a preschool, including the content and mode of delivery, should be based on the needs of the preschool and determined through a discussion between each preschool and their SCB provider.

Examples of supports requested by a preschool may include, but are not limited to:

• Inclusion readiness - how to prepare for the immediate or future enrolment of children with disability and additional needs
• Developing and implementing an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) to address the educational support needs of an individual child
  
• Supporting the participation of children with disability and additional needs using funded and unfunded supports
• Support to submit applications for High Learning Support Needs (HLSN) and Minor Capital Works funding
• Understanding how HLSN funding may be best utilised to support a child across their enrolment (for up to five days attendance per week)
• Training and resources to support positive behaviour guidance, communication and/or transition to school
• Understanding early childhood intervention supports available in addition to the preschool program
  
• Evaluation of the educational program and environment to support the participation of children with disability and additional needs.

Further information

For further information please contact Early Childhood Education Programs

Information and Enquiries team: 1800 619 113

Email: ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au