Requesting external provider assistance

Cowra High School provides access to external providers.  Providers do not have an automatic right of access to a school. Any request for access to a student by an external provider funded by the NDIS (or other scheme that provides funding to individuals) must come from the student’s parent or carer in writing

Providers, please read the  Fact sheet for providers on mandatory child protection roles and responsibilities  from the Department of Education.

Parents, please read the Parent and Carer Fact Sheet from the Department of Education.

To meet the requirements of the school curriculum, and in the best interest of the students and school, external provider access may be limited to specific times on specific days, and subject to available meeting space. It remains the parent's responsibility to advise providers if their child will be absent from school or unable to attend any scheduled appointments.

There is an  External Provider Checklist  with the documents and requirements for external providers.  Please read this checklist in full and ensure each and every check/requirement is met before submitting any documents to the school. These requirements/checks are from the Department of Education.  The External Provider Engagement Agreement has changed from last year. Please use the new External Provider Engagement Agreement.  NOTE: Attachment B Form 1 is to be signed by the student's parent.

What does outside support mean?

Outside support means getting extra help for your child from people who are not part of our school. This can include:

• Assessments or checks – such as psychological, speech or occupational therapy
• Special tutoring or learning programs – run by trained professionals outside our school
• Health services – like counselling or medical support we cannot give internally
• Agency support – help with behaviour, language or social development

This support works with what our school already provides, to meet your child’s needs.

To engage external providers support at Cowra High School:

Step 1:

Parents, please contact the school and express interest in your child accessing external provider support.

(Please contact Tayla Crawley at the school - contact details below).

For more information, please see the Parent and Carer Fact Sheet

If the school is in agreement with the request, progress to Step 2.

Step 2:

The office then contacts the provider requesting all documents.

Providers must complete and return:

1. An External Provider Agreement
2. Attachments for External Providers
3. Current child protectiontraining - must be done every year

Providers must read:

1. Code of Conduct policy
2. Controversial issues in schools policies and procedures
3. Allegations against Employees in the area of child protection

Providers must provide evidence of:

1. Public liability for at least $20 million
2. Personal indemnity for at least $2 million
3. Workers compensation or insurance
4. Completed child protection training- for current year
5. Photo ID

For more information please see the  External Provider Checklist  and the fact sheet for providers on mandatory child protection roles and responsibilities.

Step 3:

The School will send an email to the provider, teacher and parent. After a suitable time has been negotiated therapy can commence.

Your role in the process

Parents help this process run smoothly by:

• Making the external provider request in writing to our school.
• Letting providers know if their child will be away or if there is a school event on that day.

For more information on accessing external provider support, see our Parents and carers external provider factsheet.

Requirements for external providers

External providers must meet all NSW Department of Education requirements before working with our school.

They must:

Have a question about external providers?

Contact:

Tayla Crawley

tayla.crawley1@det.nsw.edu.au

6342 1766