For families of children in their final year of schooling, the end of the school year can feel like it’s still a long way off. But if your child relies on the NDIS for support, November will arrive faster than you think — and the preparation needs to start now.
School provides something that often goes unacknowledged in NDIS planning: up to 30 hours of structured, supervised support every single week. For many young people with disability, that is not just education — it is their primary source of social engagement, routine, skill-building, and safety. When school ends, that support doesn’t automatically transfer anywhere. It simply stops.
If your child will need replacement support for those 30 hours — whether that’s group-based day programs, individualised supports, or community participation — the time to act is well before the final bell rings.
Why the evidence bar is so high
Obtaining NDIS funding for 30 or more hours of social and community support is not straightforward. The evidence requirements are significant. Planners and the NDIA need to see detailed, current functional assessments that clearly justify why your child requires that level of support, what the supports will achieve, and how they align with your child’s goals. This is not documentation that can be pulled together in a few weeks.
Add to this the current federal government messaging around NDIS reform. With signals that social and community funding could be reduced by up to 50% in some plans, the stakes for getting your evidence right have never been higher. A weak application in this environment is a costly one.
What planHELP has seen over five years
Over the past five years, planHELP has supported dozens of families through this exact transition. We have seen what happens when it goes well — and we have seen what happens when it doesn’t.
The families who fare best are the ones who start early. They have current reports from their treating professionals. They have a clear picture of their child’s support needs post-school. They go into their NDIS review with a plan, not a hope.
The families who struggle are the ones who arrive at November unprepared, receive a plan that doesn’t reflect their child’s needs, and then face the review and appeals process. That process can take several months. Several months without adequate support. Several months where school is no longer an option and the gap is very real.
We say this not to alarm families, but because we know from experience: doing the work now is a far more successful strategy than trying to fix a poor outcome later.
Start the conversation today
If your child is finishing school at the end of this year and requires group-based or individualised supports Monday to Friday, now is the time to speak with your support coordinator, gather updated reports, and ensure your NDIS review is prepared well ahead of schedule.
planHELP specialises in supporting families of young adults with complex disability (examples: ASD3, Cerebral Palsy GMFCS4/5, Moderate/Severe Intellectual Disability, rare genetic diagnoses) make the transition from school to post-school life as smooth as possible.
As it often takes 6 months when starting from scratch. The sooner families start, the better the outcome
planHELP is here to support you through every step of that process. Reach out to our team today.