The government wants to overhaul disability and learning support in schools.
New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin tells the Justice and Electoral committee the words chosen to title a bill are crucial to outlining its focus. Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Associate education minister Tracey Martin has unveiled a draft plan, which aims to make schools more inclusive for children with additional learning needs and disabilities.
"We know that for too long, too many children have been missing out on the support that they need to participate and achieve in education.
"Once finalised, the disability and learning support action plan will provide a clear structure and path for delivering this help."
Proposals include beefing up the role of the special education needs coordinator, which is something a school staff member now does on top of their other duties.
That role would become the learning support coordinator.
Ms Martin said there would not necessarily be one in every school - for example, in rural areas, one coordinator could cover a number of smaller schools.
She did not know how many coordinators would be needed and she was seeking feedback from the education sector about what the role would actually involve, and what level of experience, training and skills would be needed.
Another proposal was to screen all children for dyslexia and dyspraxia between the ages of 6 and 8, so they can get the appropriate help early on in their schooling.
The government also wants to collect better data about children's' learning needs, so schools and government have a better understanding of the scale of the need and where resources can be directed.
Consultation on the plan begins next week and will run until the end of October.
The final plan would be phased in over several years and new actions would need decisions on funding before being implemented, Ms Martin said.