All Victorian state funded kindergarten programs are eligible to receive PSFO services. This includes Four-year-old programs, funded three-year-old kindergarten programs or where support is requested for a child accessing Early Start Kindergarten by the Kindergarten Educator.
There is no cost to the kindergarten services or families for the PSFO program and it is accessible within the universal system.
Children with additional needs attending a government funded kindergarten program are the target group for PSFOs. The PSFO program defines children with additional needs as children presenting with developmental concerns.
Developmental concerns may be associated with any area of children's development, from language delays or challenging behaviours through to children with multiple disabilities.
PSFO's work within the context of the kindergarten program. The PSFO does not directly deliver intervention to a child within the kindergarten setting but acts as a consultant and coach to the early childhood educator. The approach may involve direct contact with the child and family in the kindergarten setting, however, this work is done in collaboration with and through the early childhood educator in a manner that respects the ongoing relationship with the child and family. The PSFO may directly observe the child in the kindergarten environment and contribute to the educator's assessment of the child's capabilities as well as their learning and development needs. The PSFO's also assist the educator to identify and link families to a range of supports available and assist the educator's program planning for the child in the kindergarten program.
As the PSFO service supports early childhood educators to respond to the individual needs of a child with additional needs, the early childhood educator is required to obtain informed consent from parents/guardians/carers for PSFO involvement with their child, prior to requesting PSFO assistance.
Contacts: Wendy Twining wendy.twining@vt.uniting.org Sally Schultze sally.schultze@vt.uniting.org Kathleen Hornsby kathleen.hornsby@vt.uniting.org