Key points.
- An Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP) is a program that the Queensland Government’s Department of Education provides to support children with disability from birth to five to help them develop skills for learning and school readiness.
- Referrals are accepted from a wide range of health professionals, early learning centres and parents.
- This support system helps parents understand what their child is going through and gives them access to professional support networks.
An Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP) is a program that the Queensland Government’s Department of Education has been providing to support young children with disability for over 40 years. The primary aim of these programs is to support children in Queensland from birth to five years of age to help them develop valuable skills they need to be successful learners now and as they transition to school.
Is your child eligible?
Your child may be eligible to attend an ECDP if they live in Queensland and have disability (diagnosed or suspected) in one of the following six categories:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Deafness/hearing impairment
- Intellectual disability – encompassing global developmental delay
- Physical impairment
- Speech language impairment
- Blind/low vision.
Services can be accessed from birth, for developmental concerns that can be identified in very young children.
For these young children, part of the program includes playgroups from birth to three, after which they can move up to a full-day session. Here they participate in evidence-based play and learn life skills to help them with school readiness.
Linda Gunnis, Head of Special Education Service and ECDP, comments: “We provide a holistic enveloping of the child’s needs and whilst getting a diagnosis can be challenging, we encourage parents to get in touch with their GP, paediatrician or allied health professional to gather evidence. We accept referrals from a wide range of health professionals with concerns and a referral from a parent or early learning centre can also be accepted.”
There are currently 102 ECDPs open for registration across Queensland. The Department of Education has created a map with these locations.
Contact your local Department of Education regional office or ECDP if you have any questions regarding evidence required to support your child’s ECDP registration process.
Note: In today’s story, we are reviewing Queensland’s Early Childhood Development Program however each Australian state or territory has a different approach and a variety of different services available to support early childhood education for children with disability. If you would like to find out more, a good place to start is the relevant Department of Education for the state you live in.
How can an ECDP support my child?
If eligible, the ECDP provides a supportive learning environment based on your child’s needs. They liaise with each child’s team including the student’s early childhood educators and therapists, medical teams or community groups such as Vision Australia. ECDP teachers can access advice or guidance from departmental supports including advisory teachers, guidance officers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists and nurses.
The ECDP team also works with other providers supporting your child such as NDIS Early Childhood Approach partners, paediatricians or allied health professionals. They are all there to help your child access and participate in education.
In consultation with you, a plan will be developed outlining your child’s strengths, learning goals and the supports provided by the ECDP. It will also outline how ECDP staff will work with your child. For example, ECDP staff may work with your child at their early childhood education and care service or kindergarten (known as outreach programs), at the ECDP school site (known as centre-based programs) and with your child’s future school.
As your child develops and their support systems adapt, more intensive support is provided between three to five years old in a sessional access model, depending on which ECDP they attend. During this time the ECDP will work with your child’s early childhood education centre/kindergarten and their future school to ensure your child makes a successful transition to school.
In addition to liaising with schools for their prep students they provide direct consultation with their future teachers to discuss physical needs and educational supports before your child starts attending school and advice for specific training where needed. This preparation ensures a supported move and aims to ease the transition to formal schooling
The benefits.
For parents, having this support system helps them to understand what their child is going through. It gives them access to professional support networks and, very importantly, other families that really understand their situation and what a ‘difficult day’ really is in their world. This understanding community provides emotional support and helps parents to celebrate the successes, however small.
When asked what their biggest successes are, Linda commented: “Our students are supported into both special schools and mainstream schools, depending on their needs. A strong identifier of success is that they’re able to have a successful and strong start to their schooling. Creating a supportive community to help and guide parents and children, where questions can be asked, and information found from other experienced families and communities. Providing support to implement strategies for home and school that help children have a positive experience. The best feedback from parents is seeing their child enjoy school because they feel valued and supported. That’s our reason to be here.”
What other supports are available for my child?
Your child may be eligible for help through the NDIS and the Early Childhood Approach (ECA) if they have disability or developmental delay. The ECA is delivered by Early Childhood Partners who are local organisations funded by the NDIS.
Early Childhood Partners can provide information and advice about supports and services available in your local community; work with your child to provide short term early intervention supports; and, if needed, help you to access the NDIS and services to develop an NDIS Plan for your child.
Kindergarten is a part-time education program in the year before school. Your child can enrol in kindergarten programs in the year they turn four years old by 30 June and may also access 15 hours a week for free. Attending a kindy program provides opportunities for your child to learn through play, make friends and prepare for the transition to school.
Learn more.
For more information, check out the following resources: