Response to the Highest Needs Review

Improvements to the education system are being designed to better support children and young people with learning support needs.

Improvements to the education system

The purpose of the Highest Needs Review was to understand how the system was enabling children and young people with the highest needs to achieve their full potential in an inclusive education system that delivers fair and excellent outcomes.

One in five children and young people need extra support for their learning which includes learning difficulties, disadvantage, physical or mental health, or behaviour. Learning supports are critical for learners who face persistent barriers to attending, participating, and progressing in education.

We received about 1,100 submissions on the Highest Needs Review between April 2021 and October 2022. This feedback and input from an Advisory Group helped inform options for change presented to Cabinet.

The scale of change envisaged by the review will require significant time and investment to achieve, and further work with representatives from various communities on those initial options provided to Cabinet identified that we needed to consider our approach again. This further work led to updated advice to Cabinet (July 2023) noting the need for, more work to co-develop and design options and solutions with Māori, Pacific people, people with disabilities, people with learning support needs and communities.

As at early 2024, we are in the process of providing an update to the Government on the performance of the education system for children and young people with learning support needs. This will include the findings of the Highest Needs Review and will inform options for the next steps on addressing the known issues.