Introduction

These guidelines are for all those involved with young children and school students with special education needs. They fit within the context of relevant government legislation, education regulations and policies including:

• Treaty of Waitangi
• Education Act 1989
• Human Rights Act 1993
• Privacy Act 1993
• National Education Guidelines
• New Zealand Curriculum
• Te Whaariki: Guidelines for Developmentally Appropriate Programmes in Early Childhood Services.

The guidelines state the principles that provide the basis for the Government's Special Education 2000 policy. The aim of this policy is to achieve a world class inclusive education system that provides learning opportunities of equal quality to all children and school students. The policy is consistent with the National Education Goals. It is shaped so that all students have fair access to a quality education environment to enable them to learn successfully and participate in society. The key objectives of Special Education 2000 are to:

• improve educational opportunities and outcomes for children with special education needs in the early childhood and school sectors
• ensure there is a clear, consistent and predictable resourcing framework for special education
• provide equitable resourcing for those with similar needs irrespective of school setting or geographic location
• assist in enabling schools to take ownership in meeting the full range of students' needs.