Choices, rights and obligations
You have a range of choices when it comes to enrolling your child at school. Discuss your child’s needs with his or her support specialists, disability groups and other parents. Listen to their advice – but remember that at the end of the day it’s your decision.
Local schools
The Education Act 1989 makes it clear that every child from the age of five has the right to go to their local school and that this right applies equally to children with special education needs.
The New Zealand Disability Strategy and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also support children with special education needs having the same right to go to school as every child.
Most children with special education needs will be in regular classes and have extra help provided by the school.
Sometimes, for children with high needs, the school will approach Special Education to provide direct help for each of these children.
You and your child should be made to feel welcome when approaching any school to enrol If your local school has an enrolment scheme then your child usually has to live within the school’s enrolment zone.
If you feel a school is being unwelcoming or is reluctant to enrol your child because they have special education needs then this is of concern to the Ministry - please let us know at Special Education if this happens to you and we'll look into it - phone 0800 662 222.
Schools must make sure students have a safe physical and emotional environment. If this involves making changes to buildings, the school will work with your local Ministry of Education office to provide this support.
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Special schools, satellite classes, and special units within regular schools
If your child has high needs, they may be able to go to one of the 28 day special schools around the country.There are also residential schools and health schools, each helping children with different needs.
The terms ‘moderate’, ‘high’ and ‘very high’ are special education terms. These words are only used to describe how much help your child will need to join and learn alongside the children in their class. They don’t relate to a medical diagnosis or to the degree of your child’s difficulty or disability.
Children with high needs may also be able to go to a special class, sometimes also known as a satellite class. These are run by a special school but sit on the grounds of a regular school. Some special schools also offer a special education mobile teaching service where children with high needs can be enrolled in their local school but are taught by specialist teachers from the special school.
If you’re interested in enrolling your child in a special school you’ll need to have what is known as a Section 9 Agreement. It is called this because it is Section 9 of the Education Act that covers enrolment at special schools.
Some regular schools also have units that provide specialist support for children with special education needs. Your child can move between regular classes and the unit.
Special Education staff will give you the information you need to help you work out the best option for your child.