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Strengthening inclusion and modernising learning support Special Education Update
On 19 August 2016Over recent years, we’ve made significant progress towards inclusivity in the Ministereducation system. About 95% of children who need additional learning support are now in mainstream education. However it is clear much more needs to be done. We’re building on improved inclusivity to ensure all learners receive the learning support they need to achieve their best throughout their education. The Special Education Hon. Hekia Parata announcedUpdate is looking at the Ministry’s next stepswhole education system, including our Ministry responsibilities, from early childhood through to modernisetertiary education.
Update Action Plan
The Update action plan was released on 3 December 2015 along with the findings of significant engagement during 2015 about proposed improvements (see more about the engagement below).
The plan outlines a fully inclusivesignificant redesign of the education system for students who need learning support. This means:
Designing a recognisable, simple system of learning supportRedesigning and implementing a service delivery modelthat puts the progressremoves fragmentation, inflexibilityand achievementother barriers, andEnsuring the best useof all childrenfundsand young peoplelookingat its very heart.Previously called "special education", the Ministry is working with sector partners to modernise how "learning support" is delivered across the education sector.
Learning support – the way forward
return on investment of all parts of the system
Progress since January 2016
No two children areSince the same, so we’restart of 2016 we’ve been working with others to design a simpler and more inclusive education system, including looking at individual approaches rather than ones that have categories or criteria that children or young people have to match to get support. That way the progressMinistry’s own special education responsibilities.
Currently we’re consolidating high level system and successservice design feedback and input from a great many people over recent months, including from:
On the ground learning reported by the 22 local improvement projects started last yearA broad range of national and local stakeholder meetings, including the Minister’s National Cross Sector Forum in MarchRegional workshops with Ministry and education sector leaders in 11 locations during March and April
Many of each childthe March/April regional workshops involved Resource Teachers: Learning and young person is what countsBehaviour (RTLB), special school, ECE and is atschool leaders working alongside our own managers. Participants fleshed out emerging system design concepts including how we improve the heart of teaching and learning.support our own Ministry provides.
22 local improvement projects
The focus will be on teaching and learning that supports each child’s particular goals22 local projects are making immediate improvements to our current system and potential – insteadbuilding readiness for change with the aim of relying on limitations or medical diagnoses to be able to get support.making a difference right now.
We know demand for support is rising and we want to make the best use of funds across the system so we get the best value for money spent.
Improving accountability, investments, services and our language
We need ways to measure how learners are doing and whether the money we’re spending is going to the right places.
We are continuing to work with others as we look at making changes in these four key areas across the system:
Most projects are focusing on transitions or the earlier identification of support needs and we are working with sector partners including RTLB, special schools and communities of learning.
We are already seeing early results from some of the projects, for example:
- Measuring individual
Better transitions from ECE to school: in Canterbury 37 early childhood learners are participating with educatorsand system performanceparents in the We Are Ready transition programmeand improving accountability throughin Otago/Cromwella stronger outcomes frameworksimilar project has seen an increase of six referrals in just the last month – around a 50% increase - Improving investment decisions with a focus on three priorities:
- reviewing the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme to ensure the most effective support for students, particularly those between 18 - 21 who are transitioning out of school
- streamlining Communication Services so we reap the benefits of early intervention
- clustering Behaviour Services for greater learning support flexibility
- Improving and modernising
Simpler processes for parents and educators: the Porirua Early Access Project targets Māori and Pasifika early learners who might otherwise miss out – we’re expecting a 10% increase in these ECE referrals and to help improve participation in early learning too
Earlier and better support for early childhood learners, their educators and parents: in Gisborne we’re working with 19 teachers to build their early language skills in eight early learning centres and two schools and also helping the teachers to run courses for their parents
Supporting communities of learning: in the Hawkes Bay we’re partnering with two communities of learning to agree and tailor a bespoke local service mix, giving schools and ECE a real and ongoing say on how best to directly and indirectly support learners, parents and teachers
Linkages across the education sector and wider social services
To achieve the big shifts needed for a fully inclusive education system, we are actively aligning the Update with the Ministry’s own specialist services,other strategic priorities, in particular the:
Education Act UpdateInvesting in Educational Successandcommunities of learningthe Funding Reviewquality teaching and learning- Changing our Ministry language from "special needs" and "special education", as it can act as a barrier
easier accessto developing a fullymore inclusive education systemresources.
Any and all changes will be transitioned carefully with children at the heart of future support arrangements. No one currently receiving Ministry support will be disadvantaged by any future changes to come.
What we have done since January 2016
FromWe are also aligning the end of March toUpdate with the middleother social supports a child and their whānau may receive, including significantly contributing in Children’s Teams and working with the Office of May this year we have talked to education agencies aboutDisability Issues on the changes.2001 New Zealand Disability Strategy refresh. You can help – go to Join the conversation to help build a new disability strategy.
The Child Youth and Family ( CYF) modernisation changes outlined recently will make a real difference for thousands of children and their whānau. We’ll continue to work closely with other agencies in the months ahead to make this happen.
The responses fromnew disability strategy will provide clear direction for government over the next 10 years, helping make informed decisions on issues that impact disabled people.
Next steps
We will provide high level information to Ministers in July to seek their endorsement of the future approach. Detailed work to test this will continue with our education sector partners and earlier feedbackothers through to the end of 2016. We are working toward starting national implementation from disability and parent representatives has helpedJanuary 2017.
Contact us prepare
If you have any questions about the July 2016 Cabinet paper: Strengthening Inclusion and Modernising Learning Support.Special Education Update please email special.education@education.govt.nz or phone 0800 622 222.
Special Education Update and Update action plan
The Cabinet decisions released by the Minister of Education on 19 August 2016 build on the Ministry’s work to implement the Update action plan , released by the Minister on 3 December 2015 together with the findings of significant engagement in 2015 .
New Zealanders told the Ministry they want their education system to fully support all children and young people so they can progress and achieve to their very best.
Over recent years we’ve made significant progress towards inclusivity in the education system. However it is clear much more needs to be done.
The system has become very fragmented and access to specialist support is complicated for parents and schools.
The Learning Support (previously Special Education) Update is looking at the whole education system, including our Ministry responsibilities, from early childhood through to tertiary education.
Local improvement projects
Local improvement projects are continuing to develop solutions that fit their communities and agreed local priorities. Many of the projects focus on three improvement areas:
- Better ECE to school transitions
- Simpler processes for parents, and
- Earlier and better support for early childhood learners, their educators and parents.
It’s still early days for the projects, which all focus on improving local collaboration and improving services - results will take some time.
We’re continuing to draw on frontline learnings to inform our new national system and service approach.
Training and professional development for teachers
We’ll keep helping teachers by providing inclusive education training, professional development and online practical guidelines and information.
Education and social sector linkages
To achieve the big shifts needed for a fully inclusive education system, we are actively linking the Update with the Ministry’s other strategic priorities, in particular the:
- Education Act Update
- Investing in Educational Success and communities of learning
- the Funding Review
- quality teaching and learning
- and easier access to more inclusive education resources .
We’re also aligning the Update with wider social support a child and their whānau may receive, including by contributing to the Ministry of Vulnerable Children and working with the Office of Disability Issues on refreshing the 2001 New Zealand Disability Strategy .
The new disability strategy will provide clear direction for government over the next 10 years, helping make informed decisions on issues that impact disabled people.
The Ministry of Vulnerable Children direction and changes will make a real difference for thousands of children and their whānau. We’re working closely with other agencies to help make the Ministry of Vulnerable Children a success.
What will happen next?
From August through to the end of the year we’ll be working with our people, stakeholders and local education partners to develop changes. We plan to implement these from January 2017 onwards.
Information release
The Ministry has released all the Cabinet paper briefings and advice provided to the Minister of Education on the Learning Support (previously Special Education) Update.
You can read this official information on the Information releases section of our website .
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Learning Support Update please email special.education@education.govt.nz or phone 0800 622 222.