Special needs education to get shake-up

ANDREW GORRIE/The Dominion Post

SCHOOL CHUMS: Mason Masina, 11, and cerebral palsy sufferer Reid Loach, 10, take a break in the sun during their first day at Evans Bay Intermediate yesterday.

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Schools will no longer be able to refuse to enrol disabled or impaired special needs education pupils under a major shake-up in the sector.

The Government also wants prospective teachers to get extra training at university so they can cope with the pupils, and an overhaul of the funding criteria for schools.

Associate Education Minister Heather Roy issued a special education document for consultation at Evans Bay Intermediate in Wellington yesterday.

"We spend $450 million on special education every year and I want an assurance that the money is being wisely spent. There are significant gaps in many areas and too many children are missing out on getting help," Mrs Roy said.

"I am concerned about some of the things that I have heard and I am determined to find ways that we can do better. We must do better."

About 14,000 children have intellectual disabilities. Any pupil who has difficulty speaking, listening, seeing, hearing, behaving or moving about can qualify for Education Ministry help.

The review seeks feedback on how schools could work together for pupils with special education needs and how funding is allocated.

Karen Loach, 45, whose son Reid, 10, had his first day at Evans Bay Intermediate yesterday, said it was important to have the resources available to help special needs pupils. Reid has cerebral palsy.

"It's important for him to have a teacher aide with him in the classroom all the time. He needs help with his handwriting and to walk and without that help it would be very hard for him to go to school."

The IHC has demanded major changes to the system, saying the status quo is unacceptable.

"We are really concerned about the level of resources available to schools. Big changes are needed to help the children," advocacy director Trish Grant said.

Too many pupils faced unlawful conditions or effective bans, denying them equal access to the curriculum and isolating them from friends and classmates, she said.

Mrs Roy said most schools did a "brilliant" job, but there were some that refused to take pupils with special needs. "We need to change the environment and attitudes so students are welcomed at the school their parents want them to go to."

Funding rules would come under the spotlight during the review. At present, some schools got more money than they needed, she said.

"Some schools are getting funding and have very few, or sometimes, no [special needs] students. Other schools are doing a great job but don't get the funding for moderate-need kids that come from out of their enrolment area."

Trainee teachers also needed to be taught how to deal with special needs pupils.

- © Fairfax NZ News