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THE NEWS There’s a lot to consider when it comes to getting your child (and yourself) ready to start school. But, there are plenty of extra processes, steps to navigate, and decisions to be made, when a child with Cerebral Palsy starts school. Your child can start school, or kura, in New Zealand between the age of five and six, and all children must be enrolled at school by their sixth birthday. Under New Zealand law, schools are required to be inclusive. Every child’s needs are different and the school your child goes to needs to cater to his/her individual needs to help them reach their full potential. It is also worth noting that where you live will determine the supports available to you and your child. What school will cater to my child’s needs? In New Zealand, all children have the right of enrolment at their local mainstream school. You may want to visit your local school to make sure every area is accessible for your child. If not, you can apply to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for funding to provide a barrier free school environment. One of the MOE’s roles is to provide support for children with special needs. The MOE does this by providing the following services/funding: • Early Intervention Services (EIS) • Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) – funding for school (read on for more information) • Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) • Specialised School Transport Assistance (SESTA) • Special Education Grant (SEG) Special Schools: If your child has very high needs, choosing a Special School may be an option for them. When considering which school your child attends, there are questions you may want to ask around class sizes, accessibility in the classroom and around the school, administering medication, teacher aides, classroom technology, curriculum modifications, involvement in school productions/outings/ sport events/camp. When it comes to preparing your child, and the school, for your child’s arrival, consider asking how you can be involved in preparing the school, how other students and staff will be prepared for your child’s arrival, can you observe the class before starting, and details around frequency and duration of school visits. There are a number of support services available to children once they start school, including: The Ongoing Resource Scheme (ORS): This is available if your child is considered as having high or very high needs. There is a comprehensive list of eligibility criteria for students to qualify for ORS funding and an assessment will look at the criteria level your child will need to help them throughout their schooling. Find out about ORS here: www.tinyurl.com/mr2p2kds Speech Language Therapy: A Speech Language Therapist (SLT) can help your child with speech, language and communication and liaise with the teacher. Students who are hard of hearing: Advisors on Deaf Children (AoDC) can help with the wellbeing of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Specialised equipment: Assistive technology can be funded to increase or improve a child’s ability to learn and participate. Find out about assistive technology here: www.tinyurl.com/48zs9ca8 . TalkLink Trust offers information about assistive technologies in terms of communication. Go to www.talklink.org.nz For more information, go to: www.tinyurl.com/bddjduud and www.tinyurl.com/2p9haw5p If you’d like information about Cerebral Palsy to pass on to your child’s school or teacher, take a look at the CP Society website – www.tinyurl. com/54nwfh86 or email us at cpsociety@cpsociety.org.nz Services and supports for children starting school 8 | THE REVIEW JAN–APR 2023
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