What is Special Education?
An introduction to special education in New Zealand.
Special education is the provision of extra help, adapted programmes, learning environments, or specialised equipment or materials to support children and young people with their learning and help them participate in education.
Many children and young people have special education needs. This can include learners with learning difficulties, communication, emotional or behaviour difficulties, or intellectual, sensory or physical impairments.
A range of support is available to early childhood education services and schools to ensure children and young people access the curriculum and take part in education. For example, all schools receive a grant called the special education grant (SEG) and state and state-integrated schools can access school-based resource teachers called resource teachers: learning and behaviour (RTLB).
Schools can also support students, with high or very high needs, or hearing or vision impairments by working with specialists.
For more information about the range of support available, go to the Special education services and funding section of this website.
Who to contact
Parents with children who have not started school and who are concerned about their child's learning and development can talk to their:
- family doctor
- Plunket nurse
- Parents as First Teachers educator
- Iwi Health Authority
- early childhood education centre.
They can make a referral to the Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) with the approval of the parents or guardian. Parents can also contact their local GSE office directly.
Children at school
Some children with special education needs will have had these needs assessed by early intervention staff before they start school and services will be in place for them as they start school.
In some cases, concerns about a child's learning and development are only identified after a child starts school. Parents with children at school who are concerned about their child's learning and development should speak to their child's teacher or the principal to discuss what support and services their child may need, and the range of support available.
For more information about Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) funding and services, please: