More focus on skilled special education support needed

More focus on skilled special education support needed

11 May 2016

NZEI Te Riu Roa says it welcomes the roll out of funding for a further 1250 students to get teacher aide support in this year’s Budget and the Minister of Education’s pledge for further funding for teacher aides in future.

But National President Louise Green says there is a real need to target resourcing to formalise the role of Special Education Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) in schools.

“The additional $15.3 million to fund more teacher aides is desperately needed but is only one part of a much bigger picture. It will not go nearly far enough to support the tens of thousands of children who need additional learning support.

“That’s why we’ve been calling for acknowledgement and formalisation of the SENCO role."

SENCOs are teachers who play a key role in schools by ensuring that students and their families get the learning support they need.

“But it is a role that is often made more difficult because of a lack of formal recognition and a shortage of resources.”

Two-thirds of SENCOs who responded to a survey earlier this year by NZEI said they did not have enough time to fulfil this role adequately.

“Currently, schools face major and systemic problems in meeting additional learning support needs for children.”

Louise Green says this is compounded by the government’s public sector funding cap which has created shortages of specialists and longer waiting lists for children that require assessment and support through the Ministry of Education's Special Education staff.

ENDS

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