Supplementary Learning Support

Supplementary Learning Support (SLS), aims to better support students with special education needs including students with significant - and ongoing - learning needs.

Around 550 students were supported by Supplementary Learning Support in 2004. In 2005 this was increased to 1000 students and by 2006 the number reached 1500 students supported by SLS. This number of students continue to be supported in 2007.

The initiative aims to better support students who have missed out on Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS) support by building on their existing range of support.

Educator and researcher, Dr Cathy Wylie, in a major review of special education policy in 2000, recommended expanding the ORRS support to include more students.

To implement this recommendation, the Ministry of Education modified the entry criteria to ORRS, but without success. The Supplementary Learning Support initiative arose following consultation with stakeholders on alternative ways to provide more support to students with significant - and ongoing - support needs.