Are you concerned about your child’s development?
If you have concerns speak with a doctor, a child health nurse or other health professional in the first instance.
- Confirm your child’s eligibility (birth–4 years with diagnosed disability and/or developmental delay) by viewing the ECIS Eligibility document.
- Parents/carers or professionals (with consent) can refer a child online using the ECIS Referral Form.
- Contact your nearest ECIS centre (Burnie, Devonport, Hobart or Launceston) for advice, support options.
About ECIS
ECIS partners with parents, carers and professionals to support children’s learning and inclusion in early childhood educational settings.
ECIS is a state-wide service provided by the Department for Education, Children and Young People with centres in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie.
ECIS:
- supports eligible children (birth – four years) with diagnosed disability and/or developmental delay to engage with and meaningfully participate in early learning and transition to Kindergarten
- partners with parents and carers to achieve their goals for their child’s learning and inclusion
- engages with children and families primarily in community-based early learning settings such as Launching into Learning, Pre-Kindergarten and Child and Family Learning Centres
- can use screening tools to identify developmental delays, but does not provide formal diagnostic assessments
- is an educational inclusion model, not a therapeutic health service.
Inclusion means all children can successfully take part in quality learning programs that acknowledge their individual strengths and interests. This provides all children with the chance to learn and interact with their peers.
This looks like:
- Joining and participating in early learning supports
- Building relationships and confidence
- Transitioning successfully into kindergarten
ECIS partners with parents, carers and other services to provide a whole of community approach to support children. For example, ECIS provides support for children’s inclusion in learning, while other professionals provide health-based, therapeutic intervention for children eligible under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Early Childhood Approach (ECA).
Transition to Kindergarten
All children who have turned four years of age by 1st January in any year are eligible for enrolment in their local Kindergarten. Participation in Kindergarten is an important foundation for children’s learning where they can play, develop confidence and independence. They can also build their social, language and numeracy skills.
The preferred option for all students is to participate in Kindergarten. This is so they can get the most benefit from their schooling years.
ECIS supports enrolled children and their families to transition into Kindergarten.
If you are considering delaying or not enrolling your child in Kindergarten, see here for more information. ECIS is not able to provide support beyond the start of a child’s Kindergarten year regardless of whether the child’s enrolment is delayed or they are not enrolled.
Referring a child to ECIS
Children can be referred to ECIS by parents and carers, or (with their consent) a professional supporting the child or family (e.g. paediatricians, doctor, child health nurse, childcare professional, etc). Please use the online referral form to make referrals, noting that any information you share as part of this process is confidential.
Contact
Hobart
6231 1625
174 Brooker Avenue, Hobart
ecis.tasmania.hobart@decyp.tas.gov.au
Launceston
6344 1729
11a Munford Street, Kings Meadows
ecis.tasmania.launceston@decyp.tas.gov.au
ECIS North West
Burnie
6430 4200
36 Thorne Street, Burnie
ecis.tasmania.burnie@decyp.tas.gov.au
Devonport
6447 1293
51 Steele Street, Devonport
ecis.tasmania.devonport@decyp.tas.gov.au
Documents
- ECIS Eligibility (PDF, 86KB)
- ECIS Referral Form (docx, 279KB)
- ECIS Statewide Trifold Brochure (PDF, 601 KB)