Student Resource Package – Core Student Learning Allocation Funding (Student-Based Funding)

Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program (Reference 10)

The Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program provides schools with resources to support the delivery of teaching and learning programs for students with autism, dyslexia, language or other learning disabilities. Supports may include:

• Teaching staff
• Specialist education or allied health staff
• Consultancy or professional development
• Specialist equipment or materials
• Education support staff

The quality of teaching has one of the largest impacts on student learning. Building teaching excellence is central to making schools more inclusive and improving outcomes for students with learning support needs.

In delivering effective programs for students with disabilities and additional learning needs, school leaders and teachers should ensure their practice is:

• Guided by the Victorian Curriculum, inclusive of Levels A-D and Foundation to 10
• Informed by disability specific professional learning activities undertaken annually as part of teacher registration requirements
• Evidence based and planned, implemented and monitored in line with the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes

In addition, school policy and practice should reflect collaboration between the school leaders and teachers, parent/carer(s), specialist education or allied health staff to develop agreed understandings and responses to students' needs, including students with autism, dyslexia, language or other learning disabilities.

Guidelines are available to assist schools in supporting students with disabilities and additional learning needs, refer to Student Support Groups.

For further information, refer to Students with Disability.

Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program resources should not be targeted to students in receipt of supplementary funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities or Disability Inclusion Tier 3.

Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program funding allocations will be progressively replaced by Disability Inclusion Tier 2 school-level funding, as the Disability Inclusion model is implemented in schools.

Eligibility

Funding through the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program will continue to be available to schools until they transition to Disability Inclusion during the staged 5-year roll-out schedule between 2021 to 2025.

Remaining schools with the following campus types and enrolments are eligible for the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program funding at campus level:

• Primary
• Secondary – Years 7 to 9 only
• Primary/Secondary combined – (secondary enrolments funded: Years 7 to 9 and Ungraded only) (excluding Wodonga Middle Years College)
• Community – (secondary enrolments funded: Years 7 to 9 and Ungraded only)
• Training Centre (excluding Yarra Me School)

Funding is calculated at the Indicative, Confirmed and Revised budget cycles. Funding is allocated through credit funding.

In 2024, schools in Hume Merri-bek, Outer Gippsland, Wimmera South West, and Inner Eastern Melbourne are eligible for the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program. In 2025, the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program will be replaced by Disability Inclusion Tier 2 funding (Ref 137) for all schools.

Calculation

The allocation is calculated in two parts. First, a weighted per student allocation based on the Stages of Schooling for Prep to 9 students. Second, a further allocation for campuses with a Student Family Occupation (SFO) index above a density threshold of 0.4606.

Per student allocation (Part 1) = Base allocation + (Stages of Schooling enrolments × Stages of schooling weighted rate)

SFO allocation (Part 2 if applicable) = Stages of Schooling enrolments × Stages of schooling weighted SFO student rate × (School SFO index − SFO threshold)

Total allocation = Per student allocation + SFO allocation

Minimum allocation for all primary and secondary campuses = $5,000.00

Example: A primary school with 21 Prep to Year 1 enrolments, 11 Year 2 enrolments, 50 Year 3 to 6 enrolments and a school SFO density of 0.5543 would calculate their funding as follows:

Part 1 Student allocation = Base allocation + (Prep to Year 1 Enrolment (21) × Prep to Year 1 weighted rate) + (Year 2 enrolment (11) × Year 2 weighted rate) + (Year 3 to 6 enrolment (50) × Year 3 to 6 weighted rate)

Part 2 SFO allocation = (Prep to Year 1 enrolment (21) × Prep to Year 1 SFO weighted rate) + (Year 2 enrolment (11) × Year 2 SFO weighted rate) + (Year 3 to 6 enrolment (50) × Year 3 to 6 SFO weighted rate) × (School SFO index (0.5543) − SFO density threshold)

Total allocation = Student allocation (Part 1) + SFO allocation (Part 2). A minimum allocation is provided if Parts 1 and 2 do not generate the minimum funding of $5,000

Rates 2024

• SFO Threshold: 0.4606
• Guaranteed Minimum: $5,000
• Base Allocation: $3,000