Inclusive education for students with disability

Direction and guidance on supporting the inclusion of students with disability in NSW public schools.

Audience

All staff, including all contractors, consultants, volunteers and committee members working with the NSW Department of Education.

Changes since previous update

Document history

2022 Oct 10 updated policy statement, policy name changed from 'People with Disabilities Statement of Commitment' to Inclusive Education for students with disability' and consolidated the policy with the 'Assisting Students with Learning Difficulties' policy.

The updated policy clarifies the roles and responsibilities of all staff in delivering inclusive education. Our legal obligations have not changed since the Disability Standards for Education 2005. It also draws on relevant standards such as the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Teacher Standards. The policy is supported by new practice resources to support schools to strengthen inclusive practice.

The implementation document, Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2016-2020, has been removed. The current Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2021-2025 is on the 'Strategies and reports' section of the Education website.

2022 Jan 12 - related document: Specialised Equipment for Students with Disability replaced with: Personalised support for student learning.

2020 Jun 17 - updated contact details.

2012 Sept 26 - an implementation document was removed (Who's going to teach my child?) and minor text changes were made, e.g. Training changed to Communities for the department's title, correct title for Standards added, removal of link to old Disability Action Plan and change of title to DAP implementation document to reflect the department's new title.

2005 - the Government's Special Education Initiative 2005-2007 commenced involving the allocation of additional teachers aides to special classes and an overhaul of special education services.

From 2004 the Learning Assistance Program provided strengthened support to students experiencing difficulties in learning in regular classes, including students with mild intellectual disabilities and language disorders. STLAs and funding were allocated to schools based on need for a 3 year period 2004-2006.

2000 - the Learning Difficulties Program moved to the allocation of support teachers learning difficulties (STLDs -now support teachers learning assistance (STLAs) based on information from state-wide assessments. The Funding Support Program was introduced to support schools with students with disabilities enrolled in regular classes who met the DET Disability Criteria. Access to funding based on educational support needs was refined.

In 1998 the Special Education Handbook for Schools articulated a new direction and guidelines for the delivery of special education services within NSW public schools with specialist resources and funding at school, district and state levels.

1996 - 10 DET regions were replaced by a number of State Offices and 40 school education districts. A new set of guidelines was developed to assist schools to support students with special education needs. The State Integration Program moved to a model of resourcing schools based on student support needs rather than a category of disability. Schools were encouraged to establish learning support teams to plan for and manage support to all students, including those with special education needs. Special education consultants (now disability consultants) and learning difficulties coordinators (now assistant principals learning assistance APLAs) were appointed to each district.

1993 - Special Education Policy.

Superseded documents

Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2016-2020)
Special Education Policy, 1993 - Whos Going to Teach My Child?