Documents reveal focus of special education update

Documents reveal key issues to be addressed in an update of special education. Photo / Thinkstock

Key issues to be addressed in an update of special education will include wait-times and their negative effect on children with extra needs , documents show.

Papers (below) given to the Herald from those who attended invite-only consultation meetings about the update - aimed at improving the special education system - reveal a long list of problems revolving around access to funding and support.

A Herald investigation into special education this week found the demand for services is exceeding what's available, with some parents pushed to paying for their own teacher aides or resorting to homeschooling over safety fears.

It found the system was fragmented and over-complicated, with many parents struggling to get access to support for their kids.

The list of issues in the update papers goes further than this, saying that because education pathways for children with special education needs are not always adequately planned or managed, children are proceeding through the system with unmet or exacerbated needs.

A second paper says unmet needs can have long-term negative effects.

It also says there is insufficient coordination between the education, health and welfare systems which causes inefficiencies and confusion.

"Too many children are waiting too long for service - the earlier support is provided, the better the long-term outcomes," a list of issues said.

"There is no one point of contact and coordination for everyone involved in the education of a child or young person with special education needs."

The aim of the update is to "put achievement at the heart of support for children and young people" and to "remove barriers throughout the education pathway and provide certainty for parents and wh?nau".

The ministry of education held meetings with staff, parents, schools and the sector during April and May to gather views on the work planned in the update.

Since then, unions, parents and politicians have raised concerns about the speed of the update.

Parents say they were unaware of the meetings and feel excluded, and have petitioned to have it put on hold until their views are heard.

The ministry of education has said it is willing to hold more forums with parents, but it is unlikely that information will be included in the "high-level design of future improvements to the Special Education system" that will be presented to Cabinet in July.

Advocates held a meeting with the primary teachers' union NZEI this week about the update and are seeking ways to have further input on solutions.

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