All children and young people have a right to world class education. Inclusive, accessible and quality education promotes healthy development and lifelong opportunities. For children and young people in care, their preschool or school can be an important source of safety, stability and positive relationships.

Children and young people in care have access to a range of educational supports to meet their learning needs and achieve positive educational outcomes. These are listed below.

For information about which education decisions carers can make on their own and which decisions require DCP to be involved, please see Who Can Say OK?

For more information on any of the services and supports below, please speak to the child or young person’s caseworker.

Early entry into preschool

Children in care are eligible to attend a government preschool for 12 hours per week after their 3rd birthday. They will then be eligible for 15 hours of preschool per week in the year before they start school. Enrolments in a government preschool can occur at any time of the year.

They may start school when they reach the age of eligibility for enrolment at a government school, or continue at preschool until they are aged 6.

DCP will facilitate the preschool enrolment process. For more information, speak to the child’s DCP caseworker.

Prioritised enrolment

Children and young people in care receive prioritised preschool and school enrolments for South Australian government schools. This includes:

  • a facilitated enrolment process with Student Support Services to ensure that children and young people in care receive the necessary support to meet their learning needs
  • in some cases, automatic entry of a child or young person in care to their nominated South Australian government school of choice, at any point of their schooling, and regardless of school zone or location.

All school enrolments are initiated by DCP. For more information, speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

One Plan

The One Plan is a personalised learning plan that contains information to support a child’s inclusion and achievement in preschool and school. All children and young people in care attending a government preschool or school are expected to have a One Plan.

The child’s school will prepare a One Plan following enrolment. The One Plan is developed in partnership with the child’s teacher, carer, caseworker, and any other relevant people. The child or young person will usually be involved in the planning also.

The One Plan replaces a range of different education and learning plans, such as the Individual Education Plan (IEP), and brings them together in one document.

The child’s school will facilitate the One Plan process together with DCP. For more information, speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

Your input into the development of the child or young person’s One Plan is invaluable. For more information about the One Plan and your role, please see the One Plan DCP carer factsheet (PDF, 633.6 KB).

School engagement program

The School Engagement Program works with young people in care from primary school to 17 years, who are at most risk of disengaging from education.

The program brings together the young person, carer, caseworker, school staff and other professionals to review their One Plan and source suitable supports and interventions to support the young person to remain engaged in education.

Referrals to the school engagement program are made by DCP. For more information, speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

Tutoring

Children and young people in care may be eligible for tutoring through the School Engagement Program.

For children and young people with a disability, tutoring services are offered through the Out-of-home Care Tutoring Program. These programs provide short-term supports as a supplement to mainstream education.

DCP can make a referral to access tutoring services. For more information, speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

Mentoring

The Mentor Program provides a one-on-one service for children and young people in care from primary school aged to 17 years.

The Mentor Program allows children and young people to spend time at their school with a mentor offering support and guidance, and can encourage successful participation in school.

Referrals for mentoring are made by DCP. For more information, speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

Disability support

Children and young people with a disability can receive extra support from their preschool or school through the Inclusive Education Support Program (IESP).

The eligibility criteria has been developed to focus on a child’s needs in the preschool or school environment rather than their disability diagnosis. This approach recognises all disabilities and learning difficulties, including mental health, trauma and complex behaviours.

Applications for IESP funding are facilitated by the child or young person’s school together with DCP. For more information, speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

School card

The School Card scheme offers financial assistance with school fees (materials and service charges) for students attending South Australian government schools.

All children and young people in care are eligible for the School Card. This process occurs automatically, and does not require an application to be completed.

Education grant

Approved family-based carers receive regular support payments to help cover the day to day costs of caring for a child or young person. The carer payment includes an Education Grant paid at the beginning of each school term to assist with costs like preschool and school fees not covered by the School Card, stationary, uniforms and excursions.

The DCP Carer Payments Team facilitates this process. More information is available on the carer support payments page.

Waiver of course fees

Young people who are, or who have been in care and are aged 16 years and over are eligible to have their fees waivered for courses funded through the Government of South Australia’s Subsidised Training Initiative. This applies to any approved Registered Training Organisation (RTO), including TAFE SA, where they have met course entry requirements.

Young people with a care experience are also automatically eligible to receive individual case management support through the TAFE SA Learning Support Services.

While in care, DCP can assist the young person to apply for a course fee waiver. For more information, speak to the young person’s DCP caseworker.

Dame Roma Mitchell Trust Fund

Children and young people who are, and who have been in care may be eligible to receive a Dame Roma Mitchell Grant.

There are three categories of grants, one of which supports young people to re-engage in learning or earning to successfully achieve educational or vocational outcomes.

While in care, DCP can assist the young person to apply for the Dame Roma Mitchell Grant. For more information, speak to the young person’s DCP caseworker.

Some children and young people in care attend a non-government school. Each of these schools have their own arrangements in place for education planning, learning support and financial assistance for children and young people in care.

DCP facilitates non-government school enrolments. If this applies to the child or young person in your care, please speak to the child or young person’s DCP caseworker.

A quality education is foundational to children and young people in care looking toward a bright future. For some children and young people, attending a non-government school can provide educational opportunities that support and foster their particular talents and aspirations.

DCP has partnered with a number of non-government schools who are providing scholarships for children and young people in care to attend these schools fee-free and with a package of educational supports.

The schools that are offering scholarships are outlined below. For more information about the scholarships available and how to nominate, speak to your DCP caseworker.

Catholic Education South Australia

Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) is providing over 200 scholarships for children and young people in care to attend Catholic schools across the state. Check which CESA schools are participating (PDF 459 KB).

SEDA College SA

SEDA College SA is an independent senior secondary college offering a number of scholarships for students commencing in Year 11, and delivering a trade-level SACE curriculum with a VET qualification, industry mentoring and the opportunity for traineeships within the sporting industry. Mid-year intake may be available.

Pedare Christian College

Pedare Christian College in Golden Grove is offering one scholarship in 2023 for a student commencing Year 6. In addition to standard core subjects, Pedare’s curriculum provides a wide range of specialist subjects that may suit the talents and interests of particular children and young people in care.

Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School

Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School in Wynn Vale is offering financial assistance for an Aboriginal child in care to attend their school for Years 5 and 6. The school has small class sizes and teacher aides to assist students with their learning. Mid-year intake may be available.

Good Shepherd Lutheran School - Angaston

Good Shepherd Lutheran School is a primary school in Angaston, Barossa Valley offering 5 scholarships to children in care. The scholarship can begin in any year level, subject to class size availability. The school has a flexible learning environment and a dedicated nature and learning space on campus to promote outdoor creative play.

St Peter’s Woodlands Grammar School

St Peter’s Woodlands is a co-educational, Anglican, early learning and primary school located in Glenelg. St Peter’s Woodlands is offering four scholarships per year to children in care. The scholarships can begin in any year level and will continue until the child completes their primary schooling at the end of Year 6. The school describes themselves as providing an inclusive and nurturing learning experience.

Page last updated: 30 July 2021