Hōtaka Kairangi

Special Programmes

Students with Learning Support Needs

Types of Additional Support Available

Resource Teachers of Learning Behaviour (RTLB): This role is supported and funded by the Ministry of Education.

Assistive Technology: By working alongside RTLB, we may be able to recommend to the Ministry of Education to provide additional technological resources for your child – funded by the Ministry of Education.

Students Identified with High Health Needs (SHHNF): This process is for those with significant high health needs. This is partly funded by the Ministry of Education, but it is very difficult to receive this type of funding. Please click on the link to find more information.

In-Class Support (ICS): This option is partly funded by the Ministry of Education, but it is very difficult to receive. The fund provides a contribution towards teacher aide support to students (Years 1 – 13) with continuing high learning needs, who are not funded through the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme. Many of these students are achieving within Level 1 of the curriculum for an extended period of time and may be 3 – 4 years below their expected curriculum level.

Practical information about NZ Education for Parents, Whānau and Carers

Does my child have additional learning needs?

Early identification and intervention are critical features for supporting every student in reaching their potential.

Parent-Teacher conferences are the best time to discuss the question of whether your child needs additional support. If you are concerned about your child’s social, emotional or academic progress please discuss it with your child’s classroom teacher by either using the time available during a conference or arranging a separate meeting with your child’s teacher through the school office.

If your child’s teacher is concerned with your child’s progress, they will share this information with you during a conference and/or you may notice in our online reports (linc-ed attach link) that your child is not meeting the learning progressions expected of them.

The first point of contact is always your child’s classroom teacher. If both parties agree that there are some additional learning needs, the classroom teacher will elevate those concerns to the Special Education Needs Co-ordinator, Josephine McKendrey (our Deputy Principal). Josephine will review your child’s data through Linc-ed, conduct additional assessments independently and alongside the classroom teacher and then arrange a time to meet with you and the classroom teacher to discuss her findings. At that meeting, a plan will be made on what additional support could be provided and how that support could be accessed. Working in partnership with parents is critical in achieving a constructive and positive outcome for your child’s learning needs.

See some of our wonderful Learning Support Staff below.