7. Sources of support for schools and students
Listed below are some of the agencies that may be able to help principals and boards in working with students.
Resource Teachers: Learning Behaviour (RTLB) and learning support funding
The RTLB service is intended to support students with moderate learning ai behaviour needs. The service is itinerant so that eveiy school has access to one or more RUB. These teachers are specially trained to work with teachers and principals, parents, family, whanau and community members to support positive outcomes for students. The work of RTLB involves assessing a student’s needs and developing learning programmes to overcome any difficulties. They work with teachers, individual students, groups or with whole school systems. Contact your local Ministry office for details.
District Truancy Services (DTS)
The DTS supports schools’ work on absenteeism and truancy. Each DTS is run by a local committee of representatives of the schools and community (including Maori and Pasifika peoples). A national network of 120 DTSs gives every school access to DTS. Contact the Student Support Team at your local Ministry office for details.
Non-Enrolment Truancy Service (NETS)
NETS is a national service working with children and young people (aged from 6 to their 16th birthday) who may be non- enrolled. NETS helps them enrol or re-enrol in a school. For students over 15, NETS may help them get an exemption for a course or a job. Contact the Student Support Team at your local Ministry office for details.
Ministry of Education Group Special Education (GSE)
GSE is that part of the Ministry dedicated to improving educational outcomes for children with special needs. GSE is able to provide many services to children, parents and schools.
They can be contacted on 0800 622 222, or www.minedu.govt.nz/SpecialEducation, or contact your local Ministry office for details.
Alternative education
Some young people are unwilling to attend a regular school, perhaps because they do not fit into a mainstream setting. Some of these students may have access to an alternative learning centre (such as an activity centre). Students are required to be on the roll of a school to gain access to these centres. Contact the Student Support Team at your local Ministry office for details.
Strengthening Families
Schools may work more effectively with students, who also have care and protection/health sector problems, through Strengthening Families. This Government strategy provides for inter-agency case management and is coordinated through Local Management Groups across the country. Details can be found at www.strengtheningfamilies.govt.nz.
Community groups
There may be any one of a number of community cultural organisations available to support schools and families. These maybe iwi or marae based, Pasifika and other groups.
Other agencies
The behaviours of students observed in schools may be a symptom of serious underlying problems. These may arise out of a student’s personal life or home or social circumstances (e.g. psychological or health issues, abuse, socio-economic circumstances).
They may arise within the context of the school (e.g. bullying, disabilities not recognised early, learning gaps not addressed, restrictive practices in offering subject choices, ignoring the absence of difficult students, and unaddressed cultural barriers).
Some of these problems may be very difficult for schools to resolve. They are likely to need the help of other agencies e.g. Ministry of Education Group Special Education, Child, Youth and Family, Police, health services, and other community support agencies.
Child, Youth and Family (CYF) contracts social service providers in selected areas of low decile (mainly decile 1-3) primary and intermediate schools with high Maori and/or Pacific rolls. The service is called Social Workers in Schools (SWIS) and local CYF contracting managers oversee SWIS provision in their area.
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