Kindergarten Inclusion support (KIS application) ✅

Purpose: The purpose of this guide is to provide information about the Kindergarten Inclusion support program and assist Leaders and Teachers about how to write and submit a KIS application. 

Support is available for funded kindergartens to plan and implement a program that is responsive to the individual abilities, interests and needs of children with a disability, developmental delay or complex medical needs.

The Kindergarten Inclusion Support Program (KIS) is designed to contribute to the delivery of quality kindergarten programs in line with the National Quality Framework and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.

The support from KIS programs is in addition to the existing resources available to the kindergarten staff and may not fully cover all costs.

The KIS program:

• provides assistance to complement early childhood teacher knowledge and skills, while acknowledging their expertise in supporting children’s learning and development
• supports early childhood teachers to build their capacity to develop and implement an inclusive program
• supports early childhood teachers to contribute to positive outcomes for children, as defined in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
• responds to the child’s abilities and strengths, as well as their needs by supporting the kindergarten to enhance their learning and development.

Inclusive programs encourage and allow all children genuine opportunities to access and participate in kindergarten programs.

There are a range of resources available to support kindergartens to implement an inclusive program.

Types of KIS Programs

Disability

This program is designed to enhance the kindergarten’s capacity to support the access and participation of children with a disability or developmental delay and high support needs

• Guidelines and information - KIS disability program (DOCX, 5MB)
• KIS application form - section 1 (DOCX, 2KB)
• KIS application form section 2 - Disability (DOCX, 2KB)

Complex medical needs

This program is designed to enhance the kindergarten’s capacity to provide an inclusive program for children with complex medical needs who do not have disability. These children need a high level of health care support without which they are unable to access a funded kindergarten program.

• Guidelines and information - KIS complex medical needs (DOCX, 9KB)
• KIS application form - section 1 (DOCX, 2KB)
• KIS application form section 2 - Complex Medical Needs (DOCX, 2KB)

Support available through the KIS disability and complex medical needs programs

Extra assistance from the KIS disability and complex medical needs programs may include:

• specialist training and consultancy for early childhood educators to meet the individual needs of a child with a disability and high support needs or complex medical needs. This may include reasonable adjustments and modifications of the kindergarten program.
• minor building modifications such as ramps and grip rails to support the child’s attendance and participation
• additional staffing support. KIS funded additional assistants work as part of the team delivering the kindergarten program to all children in the group. They should not work exclusively with the child identified in the KIS application. They also cannot be used to increase staff levels to meet licensing requirements.

Additional assistants take direction from the early childhood teacher. They share the everyday team responsibilities to make sure that all children have the opportunity to engage with the learning and development experiences provided within the kindergarten program.

Additional assistants should not supervise a child or a group of children without another educator, employed by the kindergarten, present. This is also relevant when running an indoor/outdoor program and in single early childhood teacher programs.

KIS in long daycare and centre-based services

There have been recent changes to Commonwealth funding which can be accessed by long day care (LDC) and centre-based services.

The Commonwealth Inclusion Support Programs Guidelines were extended to allow all Commonwealth-funded services offering a State-based program, the opportunity to explore Commonwealth 'Additional Educator Funding' during their kindergarten programs, once the Kindergarten Inclusion Support (KIS) program has been thoroughly explored as a resource option.

The advice below clarifies how to access both State and Commonwealth support.

• LDC services can apply for the KIS program for their Victorian Government-funded kindergarten programs.
• Once the KIS program application outcome is known, services are then able to contact the Victorian Inclusion Agency, working with their Inclusion Professional (IP), to explore the possibility of accessing Commonwealth Inclusion Development Fund (IDF) Additional Educator Funding.
• If the KIS application results, for example, in support that does not cover the 15 hours of the kindergarten program, then LDC service may discuss further support opportunities with their IP. This could lead to a combination approach using both funding options to ensure support is provided. An example could be when a service has successfully applied and received 10.5 hours of KIS, with an additional 4.5 hours of IDF.
• During all Commonwealth-funded hours, services can explore the possibility of accessing up to 25 hours of IDF funding as appropriate with their IP.

Victorian Inclusion Agency IPs work collaboratively with all Victorian Commonwealth-funded services to ensure the highest levels of inclusion can be achieved via accessing appropriate resources.

While IPs can give tailored support to services navigating Commonwealth funding streams, they will refer all services back to appropriate State resources when initial support is being sought for the services' kindergarten programs.

Team approach to inclusion

All members of the team in the kindergarten environment contribute to the education of all children in the group.

The benefits of a team approach are:

• The early childhood teacher has increased capacity to provide a flexible program that responds to the needs of each child in the group.
• The kindergarten promotes understanding of and respect for diversity to children and families/carers.
• All children are supported to develop trusting relationships with all staff members. These relationships support children to develop a sense of belonging to the group and the broader community. This helps them feel that they are contributing to their world; becoming confident and involved learners with a strong sense of self.
• Families feel confident that the whole team has knowledge and understanding of their child’s interests, strengths and abilities

Contacts

For more information about the KIS disability and complex medical needs program contact the regional advisory group convenor for your area:

South western Victoria region

LGAs: Greater Geelong, Colac-Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, Queenscliff and Rural City of Warrnambool, contact:

KIS Program
Gateways Support Services
10-12 Albert Street, Geelong West, 3218
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham, contact:

KIS Program
Uniting Lentara
PO Box 3217, Broadmeadows, 3047
Tel [phone]

LGAs: City of Ballarat, Rural City of Ararat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool and Pyrenees, contact:

KIS Program
Pinarc Disability Support
PO Box 1841, Bakery Hill Business Centre, Ballarat, 3354
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Rural City of Horsham, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiak, contact:

KIS Program
Uniting Wimmera
PO Box 3402, Horsham 3410
Tel [phone]

South eastern Victoria region

LGAs: Bass Coast, Baw Baw, East Gippsland, South Gippsland, Wellington, contact:

KIS Program
Uniting Gippsland
3 Church Street, Leongatha, 3953
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Latrobe, contact:

KIS Program
Latrobe City Council
PO Box 264, Morwell, 3840
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Kingston, Mornington, Port Phillip, Stonnington, contact:

KIS Program
Yooralla
PO Box 5435, Cranbourne 3977
Tel [phone]

North western Victoria region

LGAs: Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mildura, Mount Alexander, Swan Hill, contact:

KIS Program
Noah's Ark Inc.
10 Merino Court, East Bendigo, 3550
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Yarra, contact:

KIS Program
Uniting Lentara
PO Box 3217, Broadmeadows, 3047
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Mildura, District of Robinvale in Swan Hill LGA, contact:

KIS Program
Mallee Family Care
PO Box 1870, Mildura 3502
Tel [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

North eastern Victoria region

LGAs: Alpine, Benalla, Shepparton, Indigo, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga, contact:

KIS Program
SCOPE - Ovens Murray and Goulburn Region (East)
PO Box 128, Benalla, 3672
Tel [phone]

LGAs: Boroondara, Whitehorse, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Yarra Ranges, contact:

KIS Program
Uniting Connections
PO Box 354, Ringwood 3134
Tel [phone]