Learning Support

Children with additional needs

Firstly, know that Arakura School offers a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all our children.  We have the following in place:

• Pathways to support children with learning and behaviour needs, namely through Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or Individual Behaviour Plans (IBPs).  

• We work closely with parents and caregivers, agencies and services as required, to ensure we have effective plans in place for our children

• We tailor transition to school programmes for the needs of the child

• SENCo and teachers create Classroom Education Plans (CEPs) to ensure the wider needs of the whole class are met

• Learning assistants in every classroom

• Smaller classrooms as much as we are able

• Learning Support Hub with Sensory Room - see below

• Arakura Autism Network - see Parent Networks

• Regular professional learning and development for all staff.  This year our focus is on understanding Autism and are working with Autism New Zealand

• Strong partnerships with key services including:

  • • Social Worker in Schools

    • Public Health Nurse

    • Resource Teachers Learning and Behaviour (RTLB)

    • Ministry of Education Learning Support Specialists - Speech Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Educational Psychologist

    • HVDHB Child Development Service

    • Awhi Attendance Service

Learning Support Hub with Sensory Room

We have established a Learning Support Hub with a purpose-built sensory room primarily for our ORS students and generally for other children with high or complex needs.  The programmes offered in the Hub are based on the Attention Autism Programme with a workstation approach modelling the TEACCH programme.  Participating students are taught through engagement in sensory play/activities, high interest toys and resources.  

Our Arakura Autism Network meets regularly in the Learning Support Hub.  We are also working with HVDHB Child Development Service to trial running clinics for our Arakura whānau, from our Learning Support Hub - watch this space for more information on this exciting initiative to reduce the barriers of access to health services.

For more information about our Learning Support Hub and programme please contact our ORS Specialist Teacher, Whaea Cathryn Briggs on (04) 564 6920 or email her on cathrynb@arakura.school.nz.

MSD Care in the Community Disability Welfare Fund

Our 2022 application to the above fund for our Learning Support Hub programme and Arakura Autism Network, was successful.  The funding will be used for the following aims:

• Providing an individualised programme for our children, with opportunities for therapy through external service providers. By doing so, we are helping and empowering our children to develop the skills of self-regulation and to understand and independently manage their own sensory needs. These are lifelong skills that will help them connect to, engage with, participate, and contribute to, their school and wider community.

• Providing a wraparound support network for parents and whānau raising children with Autism. This looks like

  • • Creating a safe space to share personal experiences, knowledge and understanding with others who are walking the same path 

    • Learning about the various services, they can access, and connecting them to the service coordinators through the network meetings 

    • Building connection, confidence and understanding, especially to navigate education, health, and social services 

    • Creating opportunities to access local services (e.g. public libraries, theatre shows, swimming pool, and indoor play areas like Jumperama), with their children 

    • Contributing to building an inclusive learning environment and community for all children at Arakura School