Apply for Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS)

The application for ORS funding is a collaborative effort between parents, educators and key workers. Applicants (educators or key workers) need to apply at the right time, have a wide range of information about the child or student’s special education needs, and choose the right ORS application form.

• When to apply for ORS
• What information you need to fill out the form
• Help to choose the right form
• Download an ORS application form

When to apply for ORS

For young children, it’s best to apply 3 to 4 months before they go to school. For school students, you can apply at any time.
Applications for ORS can be made for children and students who are:

• in transition to school from an early intervention programme
• 5 to 6 years old with little or no involvement in early childhood education
• identified as having a significant rise in their level of need
• recent or intending immigrants to New Zealand
• returning with their families from overseas.

If a student's circumstances change significantly or you have new information relating to their eligibility, you can submit a new application within 6 months after the last one or the last review of an application.

What information you need to fill out the form

To fill out an ORS application form, you need to gather information about the child or student’s special education needs. This information should come from parents, specialists, teachers and others that know the child or student well. Draw the information from as wide a range of assessments as possible.

An application can include information from an hearing, vision or medical report if it’s relevant to the application.

An ORS application needs to give a clear and accurate picture of the child or student’s special education needs, and show how they meet one or more of the ORS criteria .

Refer to The ORS Guidelines 2012 for guidance as you fill out the form.

To find out what happens after you submit an application, go to Verification process for ORS .

Help to choose the right ORS application form

ORS has 3 types of forms. Use the following information to help you choose the right one.

Early childhood form (in English and Māori)

For children before they enrol at school who are at least 4 years 8 months old. They may be making transition visits to a school, but not officially on a school roll.

The educator who completes the form is usually an early intervention (EI) teacher or other EI team member, or a registered early childhood teacher.

Early intervention for very high needs forms (English only)

For a young child (from 4 years 6 months) who clearly has very high needs.

This is a streamlined application process.

The educator who completes the form is usually an early intervention teacher.

There are 6 forms, 1 for each criterion or sub-criterion at the very high needs level. Select the form that corresponds with the child’s greatest area of need.

Note : If a very high needs application is not successful, the Ministry’s verifiers may offer eligibility at the high needs level. Parents can either accept the offer or ask their educator to submit the fuller ‘Early childhood form’ and request very high needs status when the child is 4 years 8 months.

School and kura form (in English and Māori)

For students enrolled at and attending school and kura.

The educator who completes the form is usually a class teacher or Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO).

Download an ORS application form

• Early childhood application formEarly childhood application form
• Kōhungahunga Te Pukatono ORSKōhungahunga Te Pukatono ORS
• ORS application form - Criterion 1 - Learning - Very high needs (EI use)ORS application form - Criterion 1 - Learning - Very high needs (EI use)
• ORS application form - Criterion 2.1 – Hearing - Very high needs (EI use)ORS application form - Criterion 2.1 – Hearing - Very high needs (EI use)
• ORS application form - Criterion 2.2 – Hearing - Very high needs (EI use)ORS application form - Criterion 2.2 – Hearing - Very high needs (EI use)
• ORS application form - Criterion 2.3 – Vision - Very high needs (EI use)ORS application form - Criterion 2.3 – Vision - Very high needs (EI use)
• ORS application form - Criterion 3 – Physical - Very high needs (EI use)ORS application form - Criterion 3 – Physical - Very high needs (EI use)
• ORS application form - Criterion 4 – Language use and social communication - Very high needs (EI use)ORS application form - Criterion 4 – Language use and social communication - Very high needs (EI use)
• ORS application form - SchoolORS application form - School
• ORS Pukatono KuraORS Pukatono Kura