Including Students with High Needs (June 2010) 30/06/2010

Introduction

This evaluation examines how well students with high needs are included in New Zealand schools. The focus of this review is the enrolment, participation, engagement and achievement of students with high needs in schools. This report also provides examples of good practice for including students with high needs.

Students with high needs make up approximately three percent of the student population. These students have significant physical, sensory, neurological, psychiatric, behavioural or intellectual impairments. Some students with high needs qualify for support funding from Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS). Others may be eligible for other forms of assistance including Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) funding, high health needs funding, supplementary learning support (SLS), input from educational psychologists, assistive technology, physiotherapy, speech-language therapy and other support related to hearing or vision impairments.

Some students with high needs may have their education supported through the involvement of Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs) or through additional resources provided by their school. This may include extra time from classroom and specialist teachers, teacher-aide support and individual programmes.