What is Early childhood approach?
Also known as: Early childhood early intervention (ECEI)
The early childhood approach is how the NDIS supports children younger than 9 with delays in their development or disability, and their families. Delivered mainly by early childhood partners, it offers early connections and short-term Early Supports without needing a diagnosis, and helps families apply to the NDIS when a child is likely to meet the eligibility requirements.
From 1 July 2023 the age range was progressively extended from children younger than 7 to children younger than 9, so families stay with an early childhood partner through the move to primary school.
To meet the NDIS early intervention requirements for developmental delay, a child must be younger than 6 and meet the definition in the NDIS Act 2013.
Who it is for
The approach is for children younger than 9 with delays in their development or disability. The NDIA uses two terms providers should know:
- Developmental concerns: delays that do not meet the NDIS definition of developmental delay.
- Developmental delay: the child finds it much harder to do everyday things than other children their age. Only children younger than 6 can meet the early intervention requirements on this basis.
A diagnosis is not needed to get help from an early childhood partner.
Early connections and Early Supports
Early connections give families quick access to support, even if the child is not eligible for the NDIS. A partner may connect the family with:
- community and mainstream services
- practical information about the child's development
- other families
- Early Supports, which are short-term early childhood intervention supports for children younger than 6 with developmental concerns
- an NDIS application, if the child has developmental delay or an impairment likely to meet the eligibility requirements.
Early childhood intervention funded in an NDIS plan for participants younger than 9 is called early childhood intervention supports.
How support is delivered
The approach follows the National Best Practice Framework for Early Childhood Intervention. Supports should be family-centred, strengths-based, evidence-informed and delivered in everyday settings such as the child's home, childcare, playgroup and preschool.
What providers need to know
- Early childhood supports are priced in Appendix 5 of the Pricing Schedule 2026-27, which refers to the NDIS Commission's requirements for the Early Intervention Supports for Early Childhood registration group.
- Children aged 9 and over work with a local area coordinator instead of an early childhood partner.
- Where there is no early childhood partner in the area, the NDIA works directly with the family.
Questions people ask
What age is the NDIS early childhood approach for?
Children younger than 9 with delays in their development or disability, and their families.
Does my child need a diagnosis to get help?
No. Early childhood partners can help without a diagnosis.
What is the difference between developmental concerns and developmental delay?
Developmental delay meets the definition in the NDIS Act and applies to children younger than 6. Developmental concerns describe delays that do not meet that definition, which may still be helped through Early Supports.
What happens when a child turns 9?
Children aged 9 and over work with a local area coordinator instead of an early childhood partner.
Checked against the official sources on 2 October 2026. Rules change: confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.
Related terms
Rostery handles this in practice
SCHADS interpretation, NDIS price-guide validation, claiming and the evidence an audit asks for — built for Australian providers.