Wrap-around services an alternative to Thurston Place

Ministry of Education news release

Friday, 20 April

Wrap-around education services are effective alternative to Thurston Place

A proposed new education facility for young people will no longer go ahead due to growing evidence of the effectiveness of an alternative teaching model.

The proposed education facility at Bucklands Beach, near Auckland, was intended to deliver education to teenagers with behavioural issues in the care of Child, Youth and Family.

While awaiting a community consultation report, the Ministry of Education has been considering alternative options to effectively deliver education and learning to these young people.

Assessments of a range of options showed that positive outcomes for students were achieved by providing wrap-around services to them within a regular classroom environment. The Ministry of Education and Child, Youth and Family are now working on how the new service will be implemented.

Brian Coffey, group manager special education, said: “Thurston Place was an emotive issue locally. Many residents objected to the proposal but the ministry’s view has always been to consider what was best for the students.

“Education and learning is important for all young people. It is particularly important for these students many of whom have not had the benefit of a supportive family and have suffered other difficulties.

“The interests of these young people have always been our priority and have remained a priority when considering the best educational and learning options.

“The Ministry of Education will not undertake any further development at the Bucklands Beach site. It will instead be working with Child, Youth and Family to develop a service for these young people that allows them to be placed in education provision which best meets their individual needs.

“The aim would be to help learners make the transition into mainstream education placements, with suitable wrap-around support and resources.”

Mr Coffey added: “Each student will be assessed while they attend an ‘education hub’. These assessments will determine whether learners are to remain at that hub for an interim period or be placed in a mainstream setting, an alternative education programme, or in other suitable emerging education service.”

ENDS

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