Starting school

Starting school can be an exciting but stressful milestone for families, and even more so if your child has a neuromuscular condition. To help you, your child and your child’s school and teachers get ready, there are some excellent resources available that provide information about inclusive education and tips to make your child’s transition to school a positive experience. In this section you will find information about:

• What is inclusive education and how to get ready for starting school
• Your child’s rights at school
• Disability support available at school
• Where to go for more information and advice

What is inclusive education?

Inclusive education is where students of all abilities are welcomed by their local schools and taught together in age-appropriate regular classes. All students are seen as having something diverse and valuable to add to their class or school environment and are supported to learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of school life.

The Community Resource Unit has developed fact sheets to help parents increase their knowledge of and confidence to pursue inclusive education for their child. Topics covered by these fact sheets include:

• What is inclusive education?
• Peer support for families
• Getting ready: planning for school inclusion
• Dealing with transitions
• What to look for in an inclusive school
• Building friendships
• Advocacy and meetings
• Dealing with myths and barriers

What are my child’s rights?

Every Australian child must start their education by the time they are six years of age. Your child with a disability has the same right to education as all other children, whether it is at a government, independent, Catholic or special education school.

Your child’s education rights are protected by the Disability Standards for Education 2005, part of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992. These Standards set out the rights of students with disability to ensure that students with disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as other students.

Disability support available at school

All schools have support and funding for children with disability. The type and amount of support your child receives can vary, depending on the school your child attends and where you live.

Firstly talk to the school you are considering for your child for specific information about the support and funding they offer. The education department in your State or Territory also provides information about disability support available in your area, how to get ready for your child starting school and other services that may be available to you:

• Australian Capital Territory Government Education Directorate
• New South Wales Department of Education
• Northern Territory Department of Education
• Queensland Department of Education and Training
• South Australian Department for Education
• Tasmanian Department of Education
• Victorian Department of Education and Training
• Western Australian Department of Education

The Australian parenting website Raising Children has information about supports available at school including a student support group, individual learning plans and other support plans, integration aides, professional support, professional development for teachers, transport to school and equipment and building modifications.

If your child has an NDIS plan the Education page of the NDIS website provides information on what support the NDIS will fund and what the education system will fund.

Getting to and from school

You may be able to get assistance to help your child get to and from school, depending on where you live and the school your child attends.

There might be a school bus network in your area and some specialist schools provide their own bus or taxi services. Your child might also be able to get a travel allowance from your state or territory education department, or have transport costs funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

To find out more, talk to your child's school or read more about government transport assistance available in your state or territory:

• ACT
• NSW
• NT
• Queensland
• SA
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• WA

Further information

• The Australian Parenting website Raising Children has many resources to support parents of a child with a disability in play and education. There is information about choosing a primary school, enrolling and starting school and being an advocate for your child.
• I Choose Inclusion: A guide for parents in their search for an inclusive education, Queensland Parents for People with a Disability, 2011. QPPD has produced this booklet to help parents access an inclusive education for their child, and then make it work.
• First-year at school-Essential tips for parents and carers, Jenni Connor and Pam Linke, Early Childhood Australia
• If your child has an NDIS plan, the Education page of the NDIS website provides information on what support the NDIS will fund and what the education system will fund.