What ORS is#
ORS is a package of support for tamariki | children who have the highest need for learning support. The scheme helps them participate alongside other children when they start school.
Applications for ORS can be made at any time for children 4 years and 8 months or older. Children who receive ORS will start receiving support when they enrol at school.
Who makes the application#
An educator takes responsibility for completing the application form. This person is usually a:
- registered early learning teacher
- early intervention teacher
- key worker for a child.
They will work with the parents, whānau | family, specialists, teachers and others who know the student well to understand the student's needs. They will write the application and submit it using the online form on Education Sector Logon (ESL).
Find out more about requesting learning support.
Application process#
Educators should prepare the application in collaboration with whānau | family and parents and the team around the child. Writers of the application should have worked with the child directly where possible and know them well.
Read the ORS information sheet and guide before you start the application process. You should also use it for guidance as you complete the application.
Completing the application#
Children must meet at least 1 of 9 criteria. The criteria are outlined in our guidance. The guidelines also outline what happens after you apply.
Use our early childhood ORS applications for all applications (high and very high needs) unless your child clearly meets 1 of the very high criteria. You should submit these applications 3 to 4 months before the child enrols in school.
Apply using the digital application form on Education Sector Logon (ESL).
Digital application form – Online services
If you do not have an ESL, complete the appropriate ORS application form below.
Use our streamlined Very High Needs ORS applications for children who clearly have very high needs. It is important to identify which criterion the student meets. Choose the form that fits the criterion most relevant for your child. Each application has a character and page limit.
Once the above form is complete, email it to us or contact your regional office.
Email: [email protected]
More information about the forms#
| Competencies | EC ORS (full) application form | ECVH Needs C1 (streamlined) | ECVH Needs C2.1, 2.2, 2.3 (streamlined) | ECVH Needs C3 (streamlined) | ECVH Needs C4 (streamlined) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belonging | Yes | Yes | |||||
| Wellbeing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Exploration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Communication | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Contribution | Yes | ||||||
| Interventions | Yes | ||||||
| Other information | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Letter explaining reasons for decline | Yes | ||||||
| Request a review | Yes | ||||||
| Add info request | Yes | ||||||
The table above shows you the difference between using a full early childhood application and the streamlined early childhood application.
It is best practice to use a full application in most situations. The streamlined application should only be used when the needs of the child are very clearly and obviously at the Very High Level of the ORS and only limited information from you is needed to evidence this. It is for this reason that you:
- will not get a detailed letter explaining the reasons for the verifiers decision even if an application is declined
- cannot request a review, and
- will not be asked to provide additional information.
Streamlined applications were introduced to reduce the burden on applicants for when there were no doubts the child’s needs were at the Very High ORS level. For example, a child who is deaf or blind.
If you use this application and do not agree with the outcome, then you will need to complete a new full Early Childhood application.
A streamlined application is likely to have been declined or verified at the high level if there was not enough evidence that the child’s needs were at the Very High ORS level.
In this situation, use a full form to come back to us on.
