School and education

When politicians and community leaders are asked about their priorities it is common to hear the response: “education, education, education.”

Gaining skills and knowledge is valued across cultures and age groups.

In families where there is a child with a disability, choosing a school is particularly important. There are very many considerations, including starting points, style, transition, matters of inclusion, support, resources and so on.

IHC is committed to the principle that all New Zealand children should have equal opportunity to attend and successfully participate in inclusive, non-discriminatory schools.

This principle applies to all aspects and stages of schooling, including enquiries, enrolment, course selection, course delivery, assessment, planning, monitoring and transition to tertiary training education and work.

Where there is a shared understanding of disability, everyone learns.

All children and young people with a disability should have the opportunity to access schools, education and training and achieve outcomes not dissimilar to that of their non-disabled peers.

Seven reasons for inclusion:

Inclusive education is a human right. It is good education and it makes good social sense.
Children should have the same opportunities as everyone else to develop relationships and prepare them for life.
Children learn from each other and are surrounded by children with a range of abilities.
Children learn well alongside their peers from their local community.
Children without disabilities learn to accept and understand disability.
Inclusive education is a counter to fear, ignorance and prejudice.
Research shows children do better academically and socially in inclusive settings.

The Ministry of Education aims to raise achievement and reduce disparity among all students, including those with a disability.

Effective teaching, family and community engagement, and developing quality providers are seen as ways of building a better education system and reducing systemic underachievement.

Starting early gives you more time to look around and to seek and secure the support and resources that are central to a happy productive schooling experience for your child.

Below are five starting points that focus on important aspects of choosing and accessing education for your child.

Alphabet Soup
These acronyms and abbreviations will help you to translate the language of education.

ERO:	Education Review Office
IEP:	Individual Education Programme
GSE:	Groups Special Education (formerly SES – Special Education Service)
NASC:	Needs assessment Service Co-ordinator
ORRS:	Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (see ORRS Guidelines (2004) and Using ORRS Resources – a Guide for Teachers and Parents)
RTLB:	Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour
SEG:	Special Education Grant

Funding
For further funding information see: Funding and services for children and young people with special education needs.

For extra support during the school holidays, you can contact Work and Income about the OSCAR child-care subsidy for 5 to 13-year-olds.

You may qualify for Family Assistance and Work and Income or Inland Revenue