Specialist schools are an option for children who need more support. For your child to go to a specialist school, you need to have a specialist education agreement in place with the Ministry of Education. For information on a specialist education agreement visit the Ministry of Education.
Some children may be able to enrol in a local day specialist school. These schools are for children who have high or complex learning support needs or qualify for the Ongoing Resource Scheme (ORS).
Children can go to a day specialist school short term, or sometimes for all of their schooling.
Specialist schools employ a range of specialist staff. This can include:
- specialist teachers
- speech language therapists
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- psychologists.
Specialist school classes held at other schools
Many specialist schools hold classes in local mainstream schools. These are called satellite classes. Students are enrolled with a specialist school but attend classes at a local school. This gives students opportunities to learn alongside their peers, while still having access to specialised teaching and smaller class numbers in most cases.
Outreach services
Some specialist schools provide an outreach service for students who are supported through the Ongoing Resource Scheme. The specialist school’s teachers travel to other schools in an area. Children can be enrolled at their local school but be supported by a teacher from the specialist school.
Residential specialist schools
There is one residential specialist school in Auckland for students aged from 8 to 15 years old. They take students with needs relating to:
- socialisation
- behaviour
- learning.
Students live at the school during term time.
Enrolling in a residential specialist school follows a specific application process. Talk to your child’s learning support lead worker to find out more about residential specialist schools.
For children who are blind and have low vision
Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand (BLENNZ) provides support for students with a visual impairment. They deliver support in early childhood centres, schools, kura, and in the home.
Most children and young people with a visual impairment attend their local school. Specialist teachers called Resource Teachers Vision (RTV) support them.
BLENNZ also has a residential specialist school and several satellite classes in the Auckland area.
For children who are Deaf and hard of hearing
Ko Taku Reo | Deaf Education New Zealand provide education and specialist services for children that are Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). For many children, this means attending their local school with support from a specialist teacher.
Ko Taku Reo operate bilingual classes at partner schools in the Auckland. In these schools, students attend classes taught by Ko Taku Reo staff. They are also supported to join classes alongside their non-DHH peers.
Ko Taku Reo also has a live-in residential campuses in Auckland.
Parents and whānau – Ko Taku Reo | Deaf Education New Zealand
Regional Health Schools
If your child can’t attend their local school for health reasons, they may be able to get help from a regional health school. These schools provide short-term education support until a child can return to their regular school.
Teaching can take place anywhere. Your child usually remains enrolled at their local school. The regional health school works with their regular school to create an individualised learning plan.
To qualify for support from a regional health school, your child needs to be in the care of a health specialist and participating in a therapeutic programme.
Please note that when high health needs funding is utilised this can affect the long-term funding post school as Very High Needs funding is determined during the school years. Your specialist school should be able to provide you with the information regarding these types of funding.
