Traumatised and vulnerable children and those with disabilities are a focus in this year's budget education spend, with a $41 million spend over four years.
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The call for trauma-informed teachers was heard with $7.3 million promised over four years for professional training of staff and school engagement programs to help kids with complex-trauma associated learning behaviours.
The long-term request for a needs-based funding model for students with disabilities has also been granted, with the $34 million funding announced earlier this week to be rolled out over four years with an initial $4 million in 2020, $8 million the following year and $11 million in each year after.
In the early learning sector the East Tamar Child and Family Learning Centre will eventually receive $3.5 million of a $15 million allocation, with plans to ultimately open four of the planned six centres by 2024.
Free preschool for three years olds will receive $8 million next year, and $10.5 million a year thereafter.
Science, technology and maths education will benefit from $3 million over four years, which will see nine extra full time laboratory technicians over that period.
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Regional Sports Coordinators will be introduced in the North, North West and South, falling under the banner of the education department, at a cost of $1.4 million to help drive sporting and football talent in schools.
At the same time school nurses will be extended to colleges, with a $2.7 million allocation for one nurse for each school.
Three more high schools in the south will be extended to years 11 and 12, with the remaining 11 schools to be extended by 2022.
Apprenticeship pathways for 11 and 12 students will receive a $540,000 boost in 2020, with a total of $1.48 million allocated over the forward estimates.
A total of $7.1 billion will be spent on education and training over four years, including $154.3 million for new teachers and staff, and $194.3 million on rebuilds, new schools and early learning centres.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT
The rollout of the $179 million six year education infrastructure package announced last year continues, with $12.3 million for the North in this year's budget.
Riverside High School will receive the final $7.1 million to complete its $12 million upgrade and East Launceston Primary will receive $2.3 million to complete its school, while $3 million will go to Sheffield District School as part of the government's investment in farm schools.
The new $20 million primary school at Legana will not receive its initial funding of $5 million until 2020.
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