Therapy at school: NDIS therapy and the Department of Education allied health scheme

Why therapy at school helps

Therapy at school is convenient for families, because there's no need to take time off work or travel to appointments. It also works well because therapy happens where the skills are needed. At school, a therapist can:

• see how a student actually manages in class, in the playground and at transitions

• practise skills in the real setting, rather than only at home

• share practical strategies with teachers and learning support staff, so progress continues between sessions

• check equipment, seating and access around the school

NDIS-funded therapy at school

If your child has an NDIS plan with therapy funding, our therapists may be able to see them at school, as long as the school agrees.

How it usually works in NSW public schools:

1. Talk to the school. Ask the learning and support team or the principal about therapy at school.

2. Complete the school's request form. Most schools have an external provider request form for parents and carers.

3. The school checks the provider. The school asks the therapist for documents such as insurance and a Working with Children Check, and the provider signs the school's engagement agreement.

4. Written approval, then sessions start. Sessions can only begin once the school confirms in writing. Times are agreed with the school to keep disruption to learning low.

5. Renew each year. The request usually needs to be repeated at the start of each school year.

Sessions are paid from your child's NDIS plan, like any other therapy session. The school remains responsible for adjustments to teaching and learning; NDIS therapy at school focuses on building your child's own skills toward their NDIS goals.

The Department of Education allied health scheme

The NSW Department of Education runs the Specialist Allied Health and Behaviour Support Provider Scheme, so schools can engage prequalified occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists, exercise physiologists and behaviour support practitioners. Providers on the scheme have been assessed by the Department for their qualifications, experience, insurance, probity and the areas they serve.

Under the scheme, the school arranges and pays for the service from its own budget. Schools can use it for:

• whole-class or small-group programs

• professional learning for teachers and support staff

• assessments and support plans developed with staff and families

• individual students, where the school considers the support essential and it isn't funded through the NDIS

The scheme doesn't replace therapy a student should receive through their NDIS plan, and using it is optional for schools.

How a school engages a provider through the scheme:

1. Search the Department's provider database by service and location.

2. Brief the provider on what the school needs, using the Department's brief template.

3. Engage the provider using the scheme's order form.

4. Collaborate: a kick-off meeting, site induction and Working with Children Check confirmation.

5. Monitor: the provider reports on what was delivered, and the school gives feedback.

Rewired Therapy is a prequalified provider under this scheme (scheme code SCM5604). NSW public schools can engage us through this simpler process, and you can view our supplier profile on Buy NSW.

What occupational therapy can look like at school

• Handwriting, fine motor and scissor skills

• Sensory and emotional regulation strategies for the classroom

• Organisation, routines and transitions

• Self-care at school, such as eating, dressing and toileting

• Classroom set-up, seating and equipment

• Participation in the playground and at lunch

What physiotherapy can look like at school

• Moving safely around the school, including stairs, ramps and uneven ground

• Transfers, positioning and seating in class

• Joining in at PE, sport carnivals and play

• Strength, balance and coordination programs

• Equipment and mobility aid use at school, and planning for excursions

For schools: what we can offer

For NSW public schools, Rewired Therapy's occupational therapists and physiotherapists can provide the full range of our services, tailored to what your school needs, including:

• classroom observations with practical strategies for staff

• professional learning sessions for teachers and learning support staff

• small-group programs, such as fine motor, regulation or gross motor groups

• individual assessments and support plans developed with staff and families

• school holiday programs, where a suitable venue and supervision support are available

We're also happy to design a program around a particular need at your school. To engage us under the scheme, search for Rewired Therapy in the Department's provider database, or contact us to talk through what your school needs.

Common questions

Can the NDIS pay for therapy at school? Yes. NDIS-funded therapy can be delivered at school when it relates to the child's NDIS goals and the school approves it. The school remains responsible for teaching adjustments and educational supports.

Does the school have to approve therapy sessions? Yes. In NSW public schools, external providers can only start once the school has approved the request in writing, and the approval is usually renewed each school year.

What is the Specialist Allied Health and Behaviour Support Provider Scheme? It's a NSW Department of Education scheme that lets schools engage prequalified allied health and behaviour support providers through a simpler process, paid from the school's budget. It's used for groups, classes, staff training and some individual students.

Do you work in schools across Sydney? Yes. Our therapists work in schools and early learning settings across Sydney, alongside home and community visits.

How do I get started? Contact us here.

Learn more about our physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.