Support From Providers Outside Our School

At Lakemba Public School, we recognise the important role that early intervention and collaborative partnerships play in supporting positive outcomes for students. We value working alongside families and external service providers to ensure students receive coordinated and consistent support across home, school and therapeutic settings.

These external providers do not have an automatic right to come into our school. Parents or carers wishing to access onsite therapy are required to submit a formal written request. This is to ensure the support is safe, appropriate and in the best interest of the student. Request forms are available from our school office and will be considered in accordance with the NSW Department of Education's procedures as well as the school's operational requirements.

Where appropriate, we endeavour to accommodate therapy sessions on school grounds while ensuring minimal disruption to students' learning and the daily operations of the school. We support requests for Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Behaviour Therapy and Physical Therapy.

This is an image of a classroom with chairs, tables and signage on the walls.

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
  • Learning programs – run by trained professionals
  • Health services – like counselling or medical support
  • Agency support – help with behaviour, language or social development.

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

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:

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

How the Process works for parents and carers

1. Parent or carer request
Parents or carers fill in our External Provider Request Form PDF and give it to the school office.
2. School review

Our school reviews the request. If we agree to the request,

we will provide parents or carers with a sharing agreement form. This form must be signed and returned to school.

3. Communication with external provider
Parents or carers must contact the external provider and ask them to contact the school.
4. Approval
Once approval have been given, staff will coordinate a time with the external provider.
5. Annual review
This process must be repeated at the start of each school year.

Your role in the process

Parents and carers help this process run smoothly by:

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:

1. Complete the paperwork

External providers must:

2. Meet training and policy requirements

External providers must:

  • Follow the NSW Department of Education's policies on equity, inclusion and child wellbeing
  • Compliance with relevant laws and policies, including child protection and privacy
  • Complete child protection training every year.

See External provider information sheet and checklist for all details.

3. Provide credentials, insurance and ID

External providers must have:

  • Appropriate insurance coverage
  • A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC)
  • All necessary qualifications and experience.

See External provider information sheet and checklist for all details.

4. Wait for approval
External providers cannot begin support until they have been contacted by the school.
5. Annual review
This process must be repeated at the start of each school year.

Have a question for our school?

Our friendly office team can help you.

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