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.
  
  

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 the 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.

Funding reviews

A review of funding allocation may be requested if changes to a student's learning and support needs have changed. The review may be initiated by the school or by parents and carers.

Appeals

An Appeal of Funding by a parent or carer will only be considered after a Review of funding has been submitted by the school and the outcome has been provided to the school. Please contact your school principal prior to completing this Appeal by parent or carer form.