The NDIS and School: What Is Funded vs What the School Must Provide
The NDIS and school explained: what the NDIS funds for a student with disability, what the school must provide by law, and how to handle the grey areas.
The one rule that sorts most arguments
What the NDIS can fund for a school-aged child
What the school must provide — and the law behind it
The grey areas: who pays for what
A real-life scenario
Transport to and from school
Getting therapy and school to work together
Common pitfalls families hit
What the 2026-2028 reforms mean for school-aged kids
What to do next
Where to get help
Frequently asked questions
Can the NDIS pay for a teacher aide?
Generally no. An aide helping your child learn the curriculum and take part in class is the school's responsibility under the Disability Standards for Education 2005, funded by the education system. The NDIS can fund a support worker for disability-related personal care at school, but not a learning aide.
Does my child's NDIS support stop at the school gate?
No. Disability-related supports like personal care, therapy programming and using a communication device can be delivered during school hours if that's when they're needed. What the NDIS won't fund is the teaching, learning support or classroom adjustments, which are the school's job.
Will the NDIS pay for transport to school?
Not for ordinary school transport, which is a normal family cost, and many states run subsidised special-school transport through the education department. The NDIS may fund specialised transport if your child's disability means they genuinely can't travel the usual way. It's assessed case by case, so talk to your planner or support coordinator.
Are the NDIS changes going to cut my school-aged child's supports?
The changes to participation budgets from October 2026 don't target critical daily-living and personal-care supports, and the new planning framework from April 2027 doesn't initially apply to children under 18. Actual impact depends on your child's current plan and usage, so confirm what applies with the NDIA rather than assuming an outcome.
The school says get an NDIS plan first before they'll help. Is that right?
No. The school's duty to make reasonable adjustments exists whether or not your child is an NDIS participant. If a school makes support conditional on a plan, you can raise it with the school leadership, your education department, or a free disability advocate.