Supporting Children with Additonal Needs
The Supporting Children with Additional Needs (SCAN) program provides funding to DoCS funded preschools, occasional care and vacation care services to support the inclusion of children with additional needs in mainstream services.
The funding is provided through a brokerage model. The funding supports children in four target groups:
- disabilities
- challenging behaviours
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI)
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD).
Under the current SCAN program, funding is distributed through eight non-government organisations and three DoCS network offices.
Funding allocated to SCAN in 2008/09 is over $ $12.5 million. This an increase of 3.1% on the funding provided in 2007/08.
new funding model
A new funding model for preschools was introduced on 1 July 2008.
The basis of the new approach is to match funding levels to the actual characteristics of the children and the community in which the preschool operates, and the pattern of usage of services by the community.
support for ATSI and CALD children
Under the new model ATSI and CALD children receive additional funding to assist their access to preschool programs. The funding may be used to provide resources and other forms of support to improve their inclusion and participation in mainstream children’s services.
In 2007, the SCAN program provided approximately $600,000 to support CALD children and $500,000 to support ATSI children in DoCS funded children’s services.
Under the new preschool funding model, approximately $1.18 million for CALD, and $2.4 million for ATSI children has been allocated to DoCS funded preschools for 2008/09.
Please note: that there is no change to the current SCAN program for 2009. Services can continue to apply for funding for children from ATSI and CALD backgrounds, however as funding for these groups is included in the new funding model, DoCS has asked the non-government organisations to prioritise funds for children with disabilities and challenging behaviours.
Any changes made to the SCAN program will take effect from 1 January 2010, and will be communicated to the sector by September 2009.
reviewing the SCAN program
As funding for children from CALD and ATSI backgrounds is included in the new preschool funding model, DoCS is taking the opportunity to review the current SCAN program and redevelop it as a program of support for children with disabilities and children with challenging behaviours only.
To assist in reviewing SCAN, a small working group has been formed which includes members of the Preschool Investment and Reform Plan Working Group.
The Department also met recently with the CEOs of all the SCAN organisations to outline the reform directions, and has committed to further consultation in developing any new approach to SCAN.
The new model is still under development but DoCS is considering moving the administration of funding to within the Department, while keeping other functions recognised as contributing to the success of SCAN in the non-government sector.
This includes providing special education consultancy, training, resources and other forms of direct support to children’s services.
The Department is committed to the continued support of children with disabilities in mainstream children’s services and at a minimum will continue to provide the same amount of funding post 1 January 2010 to support children with disabilities and challenging behaviours as is currently provided for those target groups under SCAN.
If you have any further questions regarding the SCAN program, please email: children’s_services_funding@community.nsw.gov.au