Does my child need special education support?
If you suspect that your child or young person has special education needs, the information below explains how to go about getting an assessment for them.
Parents are usually the first to notice differences between their child and others of a similar age. A friend, neighbour or early childhood educator may agree with a parent that their child is having difficulty.
Who to contact for help
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 Ministry of Education Special Education office directly.
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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.
Most children and young people with special education needs receive support and services from the school or college they attend. If necessary, schools can arrange for specialist teachers to provide services, or make a referral to the Ministry of Education, Special Education who can assess the child's learning needs, to determine if additional services and resourcing are required. It is important that a child's learning needs are assessed so that the most suitable programme and support can be developed.
An assessment of a child or young person may be necessary, and can confirm whether there is a difficulty and whether they have mild, moderate or high special education needs. When talking about the level of support required, professionals also use terms such as severe, significant, very high, etc.
The assessment will identify whether the child needs:
- special teaching in order to learn
- special equipment to help them see
- special equipment to help them hear
- special equipment to help them move around
Assessment is largely the responsibility of the class teacher and school staff, and specialists from appropriate agencies. This information will form the basis for the Individual Education Programme (IEP) for your child. A range of specialists work with children with special education needs, including specialist teachers, speech-language therapists, special education advisors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and advisors on deaf children.
Assessments are helpful for finding out the child's needs but can be stressful for families. Extra support and understanding by all those involved will ease this process.
Special Note: the Ministry of Education recommends that where parents choose to go to a private practitioner, they establish that the practitioner is registered in their field, has an annual practising certificate if appropriate, and has a credible reputation both in the community and within their profession. The Ministry also recommends you use a practitioner who is prepared to conduct assessments in your child's natural and everyday settings such as the home, early childhood centre and community.
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Who to contact for more information
For more information about Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) funding and services, please