What is an Inclusion Support Program (ISP)?

The Inclusion Support Program (ISP) is a federal government initiative that delivers funding and specialist support to early childhood services, including long day care centres, preschools, and family day care schemes. The program aims to help these services build capacity to include children with additional needs, developmental delays, or disabilities in mainstream childcare settings.

Through ISP funding, services can access support coordinators, allied health consultants, and tailored training to develop inclusion strategies specific to each child's needs. This might involve assistance with behaviour management plans, physical access modifications, communication strategies, or professional development for staff. The program recognises that many children with additional needs benefit from attending mainstream services alongside their peers, and it provides the practical and financial scaffolding to make that possible.

For childcare operators in Redland Bay, ISP funding can reduce the barriers to accepting children with additional needs by covering consultant fees and giving staff access to specialist advice they might otherwise lack. Services working with ISP support coordinators typically develop individualised plans and receive ongoing guidance tailored to each child's circumstances.

Families seeking inclusive childcare arrangements should ask potential services whether they participate in ISP. Childcare centres in Redland Bay with inclusion expertise can explain how the program supports their approach and what specialist resources they can access.