wigmore.

Hi,

Advice needed please please please. I have a son that is 6 years of age and has no health needs as such except his hearing which is corrected by hearing aids.

Now I have spoken to several migration agents who all seem to think that this will not be a problem with immigration, probably need a medical waiver. However my son has significant behavioural problems due to his sensory needs and developmental delay. In school he receives 75% of his day has one to one support.

However he has made significant progress in twelve months as he was excluded from school, unable to read or write attain to activities and form friendships. He is now in school can read, write and has friends, behaviour is still there but not all the time.

My question I suppose is how much different the schools are in NZ to the UK in dealing with children with complex needs.

My son is a bright boy and as such does not tick the right boxes in the UK, he is classed as too bright for special needs school, but not able to cope with main stream. There is talk that if I stay in the UK he will end up in residential school as they do not have an in between provision to meet his needs. Which I really dont want to do to him. He is a very active child and I think the outdoors lifestyle that NZ can offer will really benefit him in a multitude of ways.

He needs smaller class sizes and one to one support in school and thats it really. His one to one support works on keeping him focused and behaviour management strategies

I hope this makes sense as I am not sure it does, but advice on education system would be really appreciated.

Thankyou

blackburn lass

Hi,

I don't know a great deal about the ed system in NZ, but as a SEN TA in the uk I would want to continue this in NZ, when searching for TA jobs in NZ the majority seem to be for one to one work with SEN rather than general TA's.
So it would seem that they do make provision for SEN children in mian stream schools. Whether they make as much provision as they do in the UK I don't know.

Hope so for both our sakes!!!

I found this website, it may help.

www.minsdu.govt.nz/NZEducation


Dawn x

blackburn lass

Sorry typed the website wrong.

www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation

wigmore.

Hi,

Thankyou for that, it's just so difficult trying to make sure you make the right decision .

Regards

Caroline

luvwelly

From what I understand every case is assessed on its own merits...however a requirement for 'one to one' support is getting dangerously close to maybe requiring ORSS funding and as far as I am aware a child with needs severe enough to require ORSS funding would likely not be granted a visa.
There's more info here: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducatio...emes/ORRS.aspx

Sorry to be the bearer of what is probably less than welcome news.

lardyl

Yeah I'd have to second that - there is very little ORRS funding around and the MoE is being cut along with other public services. Schools do have individual support workers assigned to some kids but these are often part paid for by the school and they sometimes spread around the support workers between kids with the funding and others who are borderline.
However, there is RTLB suport (from specialist "learning"/"behaviour" teachers) who can help with these issues.

To the OP, I feel for you - stick with it and keep working, we used the programme from "The Incredible Years" book and video and this has helped heaps.