Executive summary

Getting it right also means that we will be moving further toward having a society that highly values the lives of all people, supports diversity, and continually enhances the participation of all.

We know that all students learn best when schools and parents or caregivers have high expectations that they will reach their potential; when there is a strong partnership between schools and parents and whānau; when students feel safe and happy at school; and when teaching and other services and support are high quality. These are the things that we want for all students.

In August 2009 the Government announced a Review of Special Education.

This document is part of that review; it seeks your feedback on the best way to support students with special education needs. It asks how to improve outcomes without spending more money and how to build on things that work well now. This means we need to think hard about how we do things, think innovatively about how we can be more efficient, and consider how we tap into the resources that already exist within the education system, in other government agencies, and within our communities.

In seeking your views on how we can better support students with special education needs we are presenting information about a system that is complex. Changes in one area will impact on other areas and how supports and resources are provided.

This document provides information and seeks your feedback on the following issues:

Successful schools

Many schools are very successful at welcoming and supporting all students; others struggle to support students with special education needs and may be reluctant to enrol these students. Schools can learn good practice from each other. We may also need to change the way we educate teachers and build leadership in the education system.

Changing the way that schools work together

All students are legally entitled to go to their local school and the majority of students do so. Some students go to special schools and they and their parents and caregivers value having this choice available. We are interested in your views on how to improve the interactions between regular schools, special schools and the Ministry of Education in ways that make the most of the specialist expertise in the system and ensure that there is choice about where students go to school.

Improving interagency cooperation and transitions

Students with special education needs often need to interact with other agencies, such as health providers. We want to improve the ways that the education system works with other agencies and organisations to support students and are seeking your views on what would make the biggest difference for students. We also want to improve the support offered when students move from early childhood education into school, between and within different levels of schooling, and from school to the community.

Allocating and using funding and other resources

The way that we allocate funding and who makes decisions about resources are important. We want a system that treats everyone fairly and that is efficient in terms of its administration. The Government also needs to manage the overall cost of support. We want to know your views on the current way funding is allocated and whether there are ways of doing this better.

Improving the quality of services

Improving the quality of services across schools and specialist services will improve outcomes for students. We need to ensure that New Zealand’s geography and widely spread population are not barriers to services being of high quality.

Improving accountability

Having good accountability for student outcomes and for using government funding wisely requires setting clear expectations, monitoring and reporting effectively, making good quality information available, intervening when things are not going well, and spreading good practice where they are.