Budget 2015: Special needs tops teachers' wishlist

Name: Budget 2015: John Key needs to 'choose children' - Greens
Uploaded: 2015-05-20T15:59:40+12:00
Duration: 80 s
Description: Greens co-leader Metiria Turei speaks about what she would like to see in this year's budget, and says that the Prime Minister needs to focus on making life better for the country's children. Video / Mark Mitchell

By Kirsty Johnston

Reporter·NZ Herald·

20 May, 2015 05:00 PM2 mins to read

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei speaks about what she would like to see in this year's budget, and says that the Prime Minister needs to focus on making life better for the country's children. Video / Mark Mitchell

More funding for children with special needs has topped an informal wishlist for teachers ahead of this year's Budget.

The Herald yesterday took to Twitter to ask educators what they would most like to see announced today. Replies came from teachers across the country, many of whom said there wasn't enough funding for support staff for children with disabilities, disorders such as autism, or behavioural challenges.

One teacher asked for reading recovery teachers in every lower decile classroom. John Palethorpe said he would like "adequate ESOL [English for speakers of other languages] professional development for those schools in all deciles with majority ESOL children".

Teachers were also keen to see the importance of libraries recognised. "Every school needs a library, access to a librarian and a library budget. Books for literacy lead to a passion for reading," said Desna Wallace.

"There is no legal requirement for schools to have a library or to stock or staff it. This impoverishes our kids," wrote Fiona Mackie.

Other concerns included a lack of professional development. Steve Mouldey, from Hobsonville Point Secondary School, said he wanted "non-contact time each week specifically marked for professional learning and collaboration".

Nicola Richards agreed: "Workload is only getting more stressful and professional learning ... suffers, even though it's very important."

Digital provisions and training wishes included "funding for teachers who have specialised skills in ICT, Google, iPad integration, coding, robotics".

Smaller class sizes, funding for more teachers and a lower teacher registration fee also arose.

Head of the primary teachers' union, Louise Green, said a lot of children were not getting the support they needed.

"We have a more diverse range of identified needs coming forward - like pupils with autism and dyslexia - and teachers want to do the best they can for those students, but they need professional support."

Last year's Budget took total spending on early childhood, primary and secondary education to $10.1 billion. Major items included a $359 million Investing in Educational Success package, an $85.3 million increase in schools' operational grants, and an extra $155.7 million for early childhood education and $172.5 million capital and $111.5 million of operating funding for school property development and maintenance. There was also $4.7 million for teacher aides for students with high health needs.