CPL's allied health teams offer two types of support for children in school settings:
- Education Liaison
- School Support
Education Liaison
CPL's Education Liaison Officers assist families and staff with information and participation support relating to education. Support may be provided in the areas of transition including choosing the most appropriate educational setting and enrolment procedures, Advisory Visiting Teacher (AVT) assistance, inclusion and the Individual Education Plan (IEP) / Education Adjustment Program (EAP) process.
School Support
School Support provides physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology services to children with cerebral palsy and related disabilities within educational settings to assist with the achievement of educational goals. CPL has been funded by Non Schools Organisation (NSO) to provide this service.
The purpose of the NSO funding is to enable the provision of specialised supports to help students to access and participate in their school curriculum and so improve their educational opportunities, learning outcome(s) and personal development.
School Support seeks to enhance the capacity of schools by collaborating with teachers and other staff in educational settings to provide effective advice, information and training for funded students and their school team. Where Education Queensland or non-government schools employ therapists to work in their schools, CPL allied health therapists provide additional support and advice. CPL therapists will bring specialised knowledge and skill to the school based team.
Program elements
School Support offers a range of support to children and their schools, including:
- Contribution to the IEP process or identified educational adjustments by providing information, assistance with goal development, attendance at meetings (where relevant and possible) and other necessary input as negotiated with education staff
- Information, advice and training are provided to teachers and therapists in educational settings in relation to funded students (e.g. modifying physical environments, use of equipment, technology and strategies for achievement of learning outcomes)
- Written therapy programs can be provided where the development of skills or improvement in a functional area is identified as a goal and where school teams will implement the program
- Advice regarding prescription, provision, maintenance and training in the use of specialised equipment in the areas of communication, posture, mobility, learning, daily living and mealtime management is provided to allow children to participate fully in their educational environment
- Provision of relevant allied health assessments to support school staff with information gathering of students needs
School Support is not permitted to provide services where no links can be established to the student’s access and participation in the curriculum. Services that are not funded include:
- Medical initiatives (e.g. post surgical and post botox therapy, serial casting)
- Health aids (e.g. shower chairs, hoists)
- Transport (e.g. vehicle modifications)
- Housing modifications advice
- Reports
These may be provided by allied health services through other sources of funding and other program initiatives. Please discuss with your Allied Health Manager.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible to receive a service from School Support, a student must:
- Be aged between 0-18 years of age, or still attending a secondary education placement
- Have a confirmed diagnosis of cerebral palsy or related physical disability (neurological origin that impacts on muscle tone and movement)
- Meet requirements for Educational Adjustment Profile (EAP) in the area of Physical Impairment
In addition to these basic eligibility criteria the student must:
- Have a current Individual Education Plan (IEP) or identified educational adjustments for students over 3 years of age
- Attend an educational placement and reside within a locality where CPL provides an allied health service
Amount of support
The School Support is funded to provide support to a large number of students across the region. CPL receives direction from the school about required support and will work with the school to ensure the greatest possible value is achieved for funded students.
Under NSO program requirements, a funded student will need to have contact with the School Support from at least two allied health disciplines in the year to maintain their eligibility for support.
Requests for service
Requests for the School Support can only be made for those students who are funded under the NSO program. School staff will need to complete an Allied Health Request for Service Form (available from the Allied Health Manager in your region). This form needs to be signed by the Principal or the Principal’s nominee and forwarded to the relevant CPL Allied Health Manager. Health and safety issues or concerns will be prioritised. A written response will be provided to the person requesting the service and the Principal/nominee informing them of receipt of request and date of school visit to address the request (this date will be organised in consultation with key school staff).
New referrals
Please contact the Allied Health Manager in your region for any new referrals to School Support.