The Department of Education provides early childhood development programs (ECDPs) and services to support children aged 0-5 years with significant educational support needs arising from a diagnosed or suspected disability in the categories of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), hearing impairment, intellectual disability, physical impairment, speech-language impairment and vision impairment.
It is important to note that whilst the department provides early childhood development programs and/or services, this is not considered an enrolment at a school. Parents/carers will need to enrol their child at their future state or non-state school before their child commences Prep.
Early childhood development programs and/or services are not an approved Kindergarten Program. Children with disability of eligible Kindergarten age who are attending an early childhood development program, are therefore also entitled to register at an approved Kindergarten program.
The Queensland Government has committed to keeping (ECDPs) fully operational until 2020, a year later than the NDIS transition. This will ensure certainty for families transitioning to the NDIS. The future arrangements of ECDPs will be reviewed in 2020.