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Overview

The 2022 annual progress report on reforms to enhance outcomes for students with disability in NSW was tabled in the NSW Parliament on 10 November 2022. The report demonstrates continued improvements for the more than 183,000 – or 1 in 5 –students learning with disability in NSW public schools.

In 2022, the NSW public education system has once again demonstrated outstanding resilience and determination in the face of numerous challenges. We continue to work hard to ensure that every student in every NSW public school is supported to learn and thrive, including students with disability. It has also been a year of celebration with many schools marking events in person for the first time in 2 years.

This year we implemented a number of key initiatives, and we have now delivered the vast majority of commitments from the 2019 Disability Strategy. This includes the release of an Inclusive Education Policy for students with disability, as well as supporting practice materials for school staff. We have also listened and responded to diverse voices and have strengthened our approach to supporting student behaviour and reducing and eliminating restrictive practices. New policies and specialist staff are helping us build on the great work that is already happening to support all students to succeed and thrive at school.

In 2022, NSW mainstream public schools received $300.6 million for specialist learning and support teachers and flexible funding in every mainstream school to support students with disability. In addition, $300 million in Integration Funding Support was provided for more than 15,400 students enrolled in mainstream classes with a confirmed disability and moderate to high support needs.

Initiatives highlighted in the 2022 report include:

  • The Forest High School Inclusive Education - the Forest High School is being designed as a centre of excellence in line with broader inclusive education ambitions.
  • Knowing, valuing and caring for all students – including the release of new Inclusive Education, Student Behaviour and Restrictive Practices policies and procedures
  • Assessment for Complex Learners project - aiming to understand and describe what learning looks like for students with complex learning needs and disability, as well as research and trial new assessment tools.

Along with the many current priorities and core activities embedded in our everyday work, 2023 will see several major initiatives undertaken by the department to continue realising the 2019 Disability Strategy's vision for the NSW public education system.

These initiatives include finalising and implementing the Outcomes Framework for students with disability and continuing to reform the resourcing system supporting students with disability to focus on needs-based assessment, including trialling a new Needs-Based Assessment Tool in schools.

Find out more

Please contact the Disability Strategy team if you would like a copy of this report in alternative formats.

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