External service providers
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 external provider support look like at Hunter River Community School?
At Hunter River Community School, our core purpose is to provide high-quality, uninterrupted learning environments that ensure all students are engaged and learning. Whilst 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 10:30am and 2:00pm only.
Key information for families and providers:
- All applications MUST come from the families/carers
- Students may apply for a maximum of two (2) therapists a semester.
- Sessions and days are mapped alongside class timetables, students personalised learning plan, and class context.
- Documentation must be submitted annually via the digital platform
- Sessions must occur within line of sight of the class teacher.
- Online sessions do not reflect how our students learn, and will not be considered
- Providers must supply the class teacher with a therapy update form within two weeks of each session.
- All services will commence and conclude in line with annual school timetables
- 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 external provider information for parents (PDF 73 KB).
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.
- Follow the external provider information sheet and checklist (PDF 164 KB)
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 (PDF 164 KB) 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 (PDF 164 KB) for all details.
Session times and date are set by the school, taking into consideration a number of factors. There is no scope for negotiation.
All communication should be sent via the school email address, and will be passed onto the relevant classroom teacher.