Support from providers outside our school
Our school works closely with families to make sure every child gets the support they need to learn and thrive. Sometimes this means bringing in specialist providers from outside our school, such as therapists funded by the NDIS or other programs.
These external providers do not have an automatic right to come into our school. Any request must come from a parent or carer in writing so we can make sure the support is safe, appropriate, and in the best interest of the student.
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.
What does external provider support look like at Rutherford Public School?
At Rutherford Public School, our core purpose is to provide high-quality, uninterrupted learning environments that ensure all students are engaged and learning. While we value the services provided by external therapists and support professionals (including those funded through the NDIS), sessions are generally to be held outside of school hours unless specific circumstances apply.
If approved, external provider access may occur between 1:00pm and 3:00pm only.
Key information for families and providers:
- Session days and times are negotiated with the class teacher once approval has been granted and all required documentation has been received.
- Documentation must be submitted annually.
- Sessions must occur within line of sight of the class teacher.
- Providers must supply the class teacher with a therapy update form within two weeks of each session.
- All services must conclude by Week 7, Term 4 each year.
- Ongoing approval is dependent on full compliance with school procedures. Non-compliance may lead to the withdrawal of access approval.
How the process works for parents and carers
Your role in the process
Parents help this process run smoothly by:
- Making the external provider request in writing to our school by submitting an external provider request form on the School Bytes Parent Portal.
- 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:
External providers must:
- Sign a written agreement with our school. Our agreement has been customised to suit our context so a general Department of Education one is not sufficient. To electronically sign the agreement, please download the external provider agreement and open it using a PDF application, such as Adobe, as browser-based viewing does not support signing functionality. See External Provider Engagement Agreement
- Follow the External provider information sheet and checklist.
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.
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.
External providers must not begin support until they have received written confirmation from the school that documentation has been processed and session dates and times may be negotiated with the class teacher.
Please do not contact the class teacher prior to receiving approval.
Once approval has been granted, the class teacher’s email will be shared with the provider so that session dates and times can be negotiated.
Sessions may only occur between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm unless otherwise approved by the principal and must occur within "line of sight" of the class teacher.
All services must cease by Week 7, Term 4 each year.