Children and young people are learning and developing
The Learning Support Action Plan has been developed to improve outcomes for children and young people who need extra support in the education system. Budget 2019 provided funding for key actions which include:
- establishing a Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) role to strengthen in-school support and build the learning support capability of teachers, identifying and planning for the disability and learning support needs of children and young people, and leading school/kura-wide engagement with parents and whānau
- flexible use of funding to meet increased demand for learning support services.
- implementing early intervention support for an additional 4,600 children
- providing additional funding so schools can maintain the current level and quality of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programmes
- supporting learning opportunities for children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing and increasing the availability of Assistive Technology
- expanding the Te Kahu Tōī, Intensive Wraparound Service
- providing education services and assessments in Youth Justice Residences and Community Remand Homes.
This investment supports the priorities of the Learning Support Action Plan to provide earlier support, and strengthen an inclusive education system where every child and young person feels a sense of belonging, is present, makes progress, and where their wellbeing is safeguarded and promoted.
Learning Support Coordinator roles have been established and the progressive roll-out of a Standardised Learning Support Register to Learning Support clusters is underway.
Work is also underway to strengthen screening and the early identification of learning support needs (the School Entry Kete).
The roll-out of additional investment in the Early Intervention Service has lead to significant reductions in the national average waiting time, and additional funding has been provided to support students with high and complex learning needs.
Further resources to support neuro-diverse children and young people will be developed, along with the Te Ao Māori programme to meet the needs of gifted children and young people. The guidelines on Suspensions, Stand-downs, Exclusions and Expulsion will also be reviewed.