IHC’s Consultation on the Government’s

Review of Special Education

The Review of Special Education is an important chance for family/whanau, advocates,

educators and all members of the public to have their say about the changes they think need
to happen in the New Zealand education system. IHC is aware of the longstanding concerns
about the current system and we have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights
Commission about the difficulties experienced by children, parents and schools.

IHC is holding consultation meetings in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to gain as

wide a view point as possible for its submission to Government. We will be explaining the
document and the context in which the review is taking place

Meeting Details
Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm

When: Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Where: Elevate Lounge

Elevate Bar and Function Centre
2 Colombo Street, Corner Dyers Pass Road and Colombo Street Roundabout

Free parking is available just off Colombo Street behind the building. If the
car park is full, there is street parking within a one minute walk.

RSVP: Danette Wilson by Monday 22nd February 2010

danette.wilson@ihc.org.nz
(04) 471 6569

We are very keen to hear about parents’ / caregivers initial reactions / feelings to the
discussion document and also responses to the following questions posed by government.

Schooling
1. (a) What is needed to help schools succeed?
(b) How could schools work together to succeed?

Transitions and agencies working together

2. What needs to be done to make transitions work better?
3. How could services be better coordinated and focused on the needs of students and
families?

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Funding and resource use
4. What arrangements for funding, decision-making, verification, and fund holding should
we have?
5. (a) How can individually targeted services and supports be made more efficient?
(b) Is the current mix of programmes, services and supports right and does it
provide value for money? What changes would you suggest?

High quality services and being accountable

6. How can the quality of services be improved?
7. How can families and schools be better informed?
8. What does successful special education look like and how should we measure it?
9. When things do not go well, what arrangements should be in place to resolve issues?

In closing
10. What is the most important change that would improve outcomes for children and
young people with special education needs? – This question provides an opportunity
to discuss issues which have not been covered in the above questions.

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