School funding
Schools receive funding to support students with additional learning needs through the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
How funding works
Schools must collect evidence of the support they have provided to students over the past 12 months. This support is then categorised into levels:
- Quality Differentiated Teaching Practice (QDTP)
- Supplementary
- Substantial
- Extensive
In general, the greater the level of support provided, the greater the funding the school may receive.
A clear and detailed learning plan is important, as it records the support a student is receiving and helps schools access appropriate funding.
How funding is used
Schools may use funding in different ways, depending on student needs. This might include:
- Assistive technology (such as a C-Pen to support reading)
- Additional teacher assistant support
- Small group or targeted literacy programs
- Professional learning for teachers to better support students with dyslexia
Important to know
Support should always be based on student need not funding. Schools cannot wait for funding before providing support.
Support must already be in place, with evidence showing what is being provided, before additional funding is allocated.
This also applies to students with a suspected disability. A formal diagnosis is not required for support to begin.