Organisations involved in Special Education

Many organisations in New Zealand provide support and information for children with special education needs and their families/whānau.

Ministry of Education

The Ministry of Education is responsible for developing education policies, working with schools on national education programmes, and providing specialist services for children and young people with special education needs, their families/whānau, schools and early childhood education services.

The Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) is a group within the Ministry of Education, with local offices around the country. GSE provides specialist support to children in early childhood education and to school students with high special education needs.

Student support development managers and special education facilitators are based in the Ministry's National Operations offices around the country. The emphasis of special education facilitators' work is on finding resolutions where there are difficult situations between caregivers/families and whānau of children with special education needs and the school they attend. If you want to get in touch with these people, ring your district Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) office and they will provide you with their contact details.

For further information, read Special Education at the Ministry of Education.

Accredited providers of early intervention services

In addition to early intervention specialists and support staff from the Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE), other providers accredited by the Ministry work with young children with high special education needs and their families/whānau. This support is available for children until they are settled in school. Local GSE offices can provide information about local accredited providers of early intervention services.

Schools and early childhood centres

Schools and early childhood centres work with the Ministry of Education and their communities to assist children and young people to learn and participate in society. Schools are responsible for the education of all their students and play a key role in providing and coordinating support and funding for children with special education needs.

Choices in early childhood education (in PDF format) describes the many types of early childhood education service available in New Zealand.

Schooling in New Zealand: A guide outlines the range of schooling options available in New Zealand.

Most children with special education needs attend regular schools. However, a small number are unable to do so, either for a short period of time or longer-term. The following schools cater specifically for children with high special education needs.

Special schools

Special schools are state schools that provide education for students with high special education needs. The curriculum is the same as at other state schools, with adaptations to meet students' needs.

Residential special schools

Eight residential special schools located throughout New Zealand support students who are deaf or hearing impaired, blind or vision impaired, or who have severe behaviour needs, or educational, social and emotional needs together with an underlying intellectual impairment. This support is available when it is agreed that a student's local setting is not able to meet their needs, and can be accessed through the Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) district offices.

Regional Health Schools

There are three Regional Health Schools in New Zealand - in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. They provide a teaching service for students with high health needs in their respective regions. The schools are for students who are in hospital, convalescing at home, or returning back to their usual school. They are also responsible for providing services to students who are:

• chronically ill and cannot attend their regular school for long periods, or
• have a psychiatric illness and live in a health-funded institution, or
• need support as they return to their regular school after a lengthy absence due to medical intervention.

Teachers work with students with high health needs both in hospital and the community. For further information about Regional Health Schools, contact your district GSE office.

Parent groups and disability services

Organisations such as IHC provide services to children and adults with intellectual and other disabilities. The advocacy centre at the IHC national office can provide support and advice on special education issues. CCS provides services to children and adults with physical and other disabilities through branches throughout the country.

Other organisations and groups concentrate on specific disabilities and include the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, Deaf Association of New Zealand, Autism New Zealand, and Down Syndrome Association. Training, advocacy and advice are available through Parent-to-Parent who can also provide information for a wide range of support groups. Your local phone book or Citizens Advice Bureau will have contact details.

Other sources of information and advice include the New Zealand School Trustees Association, the Human Rights Commission, and the Office of the Commissioner for Children.

For links to more of the organisations in New Zealand that support the families/whānau of children and young people with special education needs, read Where else can I get information?