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Learning Support: What Is It?

When might my child need Learning Support?

1 in 5 children and young people need some kind of extra support for their learning.

Your child may need extra support if they have needs that are affecting their learning or participation in everyday life such as:

  • developmental delays with talking, walking or playing with others
  • hearing or vision difficulties
  • difficulties with learning, communicating or getting along with others
  • emotional or behavioural difficulty

What kind of extra support is available through Learning Support?

Everyday learning environments, such as an early learning service or school offer many opportunities for your child to learn. If teachers recognise that your child has learning support needs then you and your child may benefit from:

  • an individual learning plan or programme developed with you and the learning team, to build your child's skills
  • additional specialist support – to work with you, teachers and other staff to change everyday learning contexts to support your child's learning and participation alongside their peers
  • special equipment to support your child's learning

Incredible Years Programme

The Incredible Years Parent Programme provides you with specific skills to build on your relationships with your child. These skills encourage your child's play, language, learning and social development. The Ministry of Education and other contracted providers run the programme for parents of children aged 3 to 8 years.

Will there be any cost for Learning Support services?

Learning Support services are Government-funded and are provided free to schools and early learning services.

You may be asked to provide information to help your child's teacher make an application for the following 2 types of funding:

  • the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) see Learning Support when your child has significant needs [1]
  • the School High Health Needs Fund and regional health schools (see Learning Support when your child has high health needs [2])
References: 

Learning Support Action Plan 2019–2025, Ministry of Education.

Acknowledgements: 

Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand acknowledge the cooperation of the Ministry of Education in making this content available to parents/caregivers and families.

External links and downloads (see the online version for more information at other websites)

Learning support needs (Ministry of Education) [3]

See the Ministry of Education's website for information about the School High Health Needs Fund [4] and regional health schools [5].

Incredible Years Programme - Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) [6]

TKI website [7]Incredible Years Parent is a 14-session programme for parents of children aged 3–8, which provides parents with skills to better manage children with behavioural problems, creating a home environment that is conducive to positive social and educational outcomes.

 

Special education services and support (Ministry of Education) [8]

Services and support in special education for children at school [9]

See the following for parents and caregivers:

  • information about services and support in special education for children at school - a 20 page booklet (2010) (PDF, 2.73MB) [9]

Starting school (Ministry of Education) [10]

Starting school [11]

A booklet (2010) (PDF, 5.51MB) [11] to help your child get off to a good start at school if they have special education needs. It outlines what to look for when choosing a school and explains your choices and rights. It explains how your child can be supported at school so they can join in and learn alongside other children their age. Content includes the following:

  • what can I expect?
  • which school is right for my child?
  • moving from early intervention services to school
  • choosing a school
  • getting ready
  • moving from kōhanga
  • working in partnership
  • how special education works at school
  • when things go wrong or don't feel right
  • changing schools
  • preparing for secondary school
  • information for refugee and migrant families
  • information available to teachers

Going to secondary school (Ministry of Education) [12]

Cover of booklet 'Going to secondary school ' [13]

A booklet (2013) (PDF, 1.80MB) [13] about helping your child prepare for secondary school if they have special education needs. Content includes the following:

  • what happens to the services and support your child currently receives?
  • starting secondary school - what to expect
  • start planning 12-18 months ahead
  • choices of school - what to look for when choosing a secondary school
  • preparing your child
  • support people at secondary school
  • preparing to leave secondary school

Preparing to leave school (Ministry of Education) [14]

Preparing to leave school [15]

A booklet (2011) (PDF 1.29MB) [15] for parents of young people with special needs. It anticipates some of the planning and support that needs to be put in place to help the transition from school go as smoothly as possible. Content includes the following:

  • start planning early
  • some tips
  • support for moving into tertiary education
  • support for moving into employment
  • summary of support available
  • housing options and support
  • support from Government agencies
  • support for you as parents
  • help with advocacy
  • budgeting support
  • community service providers

The Ministry of Education contact details [16]

If you'd like more information, contact your local Ministry of Education office.

This page last reviewed 05 August 2020.
Email us [17] your feedback


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Source URL: https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/learning-support-what

Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/learning-support-when-your-child-has-significant-needs
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/learning-support-when-your-child-has-high-health-needs
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1645
[4] http://www.education.govt.nz/school/student-support/special-education/school-high-health-needs-fund/apply-for-the-school-high-health-needs-fund/
[5] http://www.education.govt.nz/school/student-support/special-education/regional-health-schools-for-children-who-cant-attend-school-because-they-are-unwell/
[6] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2519
[7] https://pb4l.tki.org.nz/Incredible-Years-Parent
[8] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1636
[9] http://parents.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Special-Education/Services-and-Support-in-Special-Education.pdf
[10] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1665
[11] http://parents.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Special-Education/Starting-School.pdf
[12] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1666
[13] http://parents.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Special-Education/Going-to-Secondary-School.pdf
[14] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1667
[15] http://parents.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Special-Education/Preparing-to-Leave-School.pdf
[16] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/1640
[17] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1637