Specialist preschool

Specialist preschools may be available for children who have been diagnosed with:

• an intellectual disability that is moderate, severe or profound
• Global Developmental Delay (GDD) with significant impact on adaptive functioning.

All 4-year-old ACT children can get 15 hours of free preschool a week at an ACT public school. This includes children enrolled at one of Canberra's 2 specialist preschools.

Your child is also welcome at their local preschool. We support all public preschools to educate and care for children with disabilities. This includes making any reasonable adjustments your child may need to take part in preschool activities.

Find out how our public schools support students with disability.

What specialist preschools offer

Specialist preschools offer:

• the same play-based learning programs as other ACT preschools
• learning plans tailored to your child's needs
• facilities and equipment for children with physical disabilities
• staff who specialise in teaching and caring for children with significant intellectual disabilities.

All ACT public preschools, including specialist preschools, use the Belonging, Being and Becoming: Early Years Learning Framework for Australia.

Check if you can apply

Your child must be aged 4 years old when they start preschool. If they turn 4 on or before 30 April, they can start preschool in term 1 of that year. If they turn 4 after 30 April, they can start preschool in term 1 of the following year.

You can apply for specialist preschool if:

• you live in the ACT
• your child has been diagnosed with:
  • an intellectual disability that is moderate, severe or profound
  • Global Developmental Delay (GDD) with significant impact on adaptive functioning.

A medical or allied health professional must have confirmed the diagnosis (for example, a paediatrician or psychologist).

To complete enrolment, you must be able to prove you live in the ACT.

Find a specialist preschool

Canberra has 2 options for specialist preschool:

• Malkara Specialist School offers preschool to year 6 for children living on the south side of Canberra.
• Cranleigh School offers preschool to year 6 for children living on the north side of Canberra.

How to apply

You can apply at any time of the year. Do these steps at the same time:

• Enrol your child in your local preschool, using the form on enrol in a public school.
• Email depa@act.gov.au and attach the:
  • completed Expression of Interest for Specialist Preschool form [DOCX 54 KB]
  • assessment reports with information on your child's diagnosis, written by a medical or allied health professional.

After you apply

We will email to say we have received your application.

An Education Directorate school psychologist may contact you if they need more details to assess your application.

When your application has been assessed, we'll send you a Letter of Offer for:

• the specialist preschool you applied for, or
• a local preschool that has a place for your child (if there are no places at a specialist preschool).

If you are not satisfied with the preschool you've been offered, you may be able to request a review or appeal of the decision.

Related information

Contact us

If you have questions, or want to know more, contact the preschool directly or contact our team.