Speech-Language Support
The Ministry's Speech-Language Therapists provide speech-language therapy and support to children and young people with speech and language needs.
Ministry of Education Speech-Language Therapists work closely with parents, families, whanau, teachers, health professionals and other educational professionals to develop individual programmes for students.
Because listening and speaking are such important parts of learning and socialising, and conveying needs and ideas, Speech-Language Therapists focus on helping students to improve their everyday interactions and to make the most of their learning time at school.
Speech-language support
The Ministry's speech-language support is for children and young people with speech and language difficulties. Ministry of Education speech-language therapists work in both the early intervention and school sectors.
Children and young people may have difficulty in understanding what is said to them and/or making themselves understood by others. They may have problems with forming meaningful sentences and understanding the meaning of words.
Specific speech and language difficulties can include:
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stuttering and other fluency disorders
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significant language delay or impairment
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significant speech delay or impairment
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voice or resonance disorders.
An individual programme is developed after a Speech-Language Therapist has assessed the needs of the child or young person. The therapist will also provide advice and training for parents and teachers. Speech-Language Therapists work with groups as well as working with individual students.
Speech-language support is provided through Early Intervention services for children in their early childhood years – from birth until school age; the Communication service for school-aged students with severe communication difficulties; and the Complex Needs service for students who have been verified by the Ministry of Education to receive assistance under the Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS).
Who to contact
For more information, please ring your nearest Special Education District Office or the Special Education Information Line 0800 622 222 or you can email special.education@minedu.govt.nz.
Practical information
Read a publication called Listening and speaking: A resource about children and young people with moderate communication needs.