Supporting our students and whanau

Teachers from the Specialist Teacher Outreach Service travel to schools in their local areas to support students on the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS). To get support, the students must be enrolled in their local school and in the Outreach Service.

The specialist teacher works as part of the student’s support team, which includes their class teachers, support staff, Learning Support staff and family/whānau.

Our teachers have had extensive professional development and knowledge which allows them to raise student achievement. They support classroom teachers and support staff by adapting educational programmes for students.

Specialist Teachers may do a range of activities, such as:

• teaching students in class or in small groups
• assessing a student’s learning needs
• putting together programmes for a student
• monitoring the student’s progress and planning their next steps
• modelling different strategies for teachers and teacher aides
• helping teachers to work with the curriculum
• reworking materials so they meet a student’s needs
• working alongside support from the Ministry of Education
• writing/ contributing to a student’s Individual Education Plan from goals set at the meeting. These are implemented by the teacher and support staff during the child’s day in a familiar learning environment

Teachers work with the therapists and advisors from Ministry of Education and access a wide range of resources.

Teachers work alongside families to ensure the needs of the students are met.