Learning Support Action Plan & Learning Support Coordinator role allocation

Learning Support Action Plan proactive release of papers

These papers relate to the release of the draft Disability and Learning Support Action Plan, the engagement process and the outcome of that engagement.

They set out advice to Ministers leading to the agreement by Cabinet of the final Learning Support Action Plan and preparations for its publication and launch.

You can read the Learning Support Action Plan on Education Conversation.(external link) 

Date of paper
Title of paper
METIS/Cabinet reference
23 August 2018 Briefing Note: Cabinet Paper: Approval to consult on the Disability and Learning Support Action Plan [PDF, 1.7 MB] 1137722
12 September 2018 Cabinet paper: Disability and Learning Support Action Plan: Approval to Consult [PDF, 6.2 MB] CAB-18-MIN-0449
14 September 2018 Education Report: Proposed engagement plan for the Disability and Learning Support Action Plan [PDF, 5 MB] 1148219
19 November 2018 Briefing Note: Disability and Learning Support Action Plan - draft documents [PDF, 2.5 MB] 1166581
30 November 2018 Education Report: Feedback on the Disability and Learning Support Action Plan [PDF, 2.4 MB] 1169860
28 January 2019 Briefing Note: Disability and Learning Support Action Plan sequencing of decisions [PDF, 3.2 MB] 1174646
15 February 2019 Briefing Note: Learning Support Action Plan - revised draft plan, analysis of feedback and timeline [PDF, 3.4 MB] 1176358
21 February 2019 Briefing Note: Learning Support Action Plan - draft Cabinet paper and communications plan [PDF, 3.1 MB] 1177780
7 March 2019 Education Report: Learning Support Action Plan: departmental feedback on Cabinet paper [PDF, 1.5 MB] 1180104
26 March 2019 Education Report: Learning Support Action Plan: Cabinet paper for lodging [PDF, 866 KB] 1182975
8 April 2019 Cabinet Paper: The Learning Support Action Plan 2019-2025 [PDF, 1.1 MB] CAB-19-MIN-0139
12 June 2019 Education Report: Learning Support Action Plan: update of the final text for translation and design [PDF, 1.5 MB] 1194964
20 June 2019 Briefing Note: Designed version of the Learning Support Action Plan [PDF, 2 MB] 1196408

 

Learning Support Coordinators proactive release of papers

These papers relate to decisions on the first tranche of Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) roles, including allocation to schools and kura, the final role description and remuneration approach.

You can read about the allocation of Learning Support Coordinators on Education Conversation.(external link)

The allocation of LSCs has been an iterative process, with refinements and adjustments made in each briefing to the Minister. The LSC role is an integral part of the new approach to how learning support is provided, the Learning Support Delivery Model. For this reason, LSCs have been allocated to clusters of schools that are the most advanced with implementing the delivery model while providing a broad geographical coverage and a wide variety of types of schools and settings. The final allocation model sought to ensure a broad coverage across the country so that LSCs are allocated to a variety of types of schools and kura and settings, including rural and urban, to get a full picture of how the role will work before it is rolled out more widely.

To develop the LSC role description we drew on the findings of the Select Committee Inquiry to improve identification and support for children and young people with dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autism spectrum disorders; feedback and submissions from engagement on the draft Disability and Learning Support Action Plan; and key studies on SENCOs in New Zealand schools.

The remuneration approach for LSCs reflects the dedicated, full time nature of the role and the requirement to be an experienced teacher in order to engage with kaiako/teachers to support the development of their practice in working with children and young people with a range of learning support needs.

Date of paper
Title of paper
METIS number
20 November 2018 Briefing Note: Allocation options for the Learning Support Coordinator roles [PDF, 1.9 MB] 1166577
21 February 2019 Education Report: Allocation of the initial tranche of Learning Support Coordinators [PDF, 7.3 MB] 1174979
13 February 2019 Briefing Note: Implementation of LSC roles and timelines for announcements [PDF, 2.7 MB] 1176526
1 March 2019 Education Report: Further advice on the provisional allocation of the initial tranche of Learning Support Coordinators [PDF, 4.6 MB] 1179102
15 April 2019 Education Report: Confirming the allocation approach for the initial tranche of learning support coordinators [PDF, 5.3 MB] 1180348
14 June 2019 Education Report: Learning Support Coordinator role: summary of role description feedback, finalised role description, and remuneration approach [PDF, 8 MB] 1195011
28 June 2019 Education Report: Allocation and travel and networking support for tranche 1 of Learning Support Coordinators [PDF, 13 MB] 1196295
16 July 2019 Education Report: Learning Support Coordinators - Tranche 1 [PDF, 8.6 MB] 1199224
19 July 2019 Education Report: Final Adjustments to Learning Support Coordinators - Tranche 1 [PDF, 9.7 MB] 1199794

Allocating Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) roles

Implementation of the Learning Support Delivery Model (LSDM)

The LSDM brings local early learning services, kōhanga reo, schools and kura together to work together with the Ministry, other agencies, iwi and service providers, to identify local needs and resources, and plan support based on what they know works. It relies on schools working together collaboratively in a cluster.

In November 2016, Cabinet agreed to a pilot in three Communities of Learning in the Bay of Plenty - Waiariki region from the start of the 2017 school year to test the appropriateness and practicality of the LSDM for national implementation.

The Ministry began a pilot of the LSDM in the Ōtūmoetai (Tauranga), Whakatane and Taupō Communities of Learning in early 2017. In August 2017, the decision was made to begin implementation by going to another 30 clusters in the ten Ministry of Education regions. Subsequently, the aim was to achieve close to full implementation by the end of 2019.

The LSDM is voluntary. Until 2 August 2019, there was no resource available for schools implementing the LSDM, and schools did so with the understanding that there was no additional funding.

By the end of 2018, 203 clusters comprising 1,659 schools and kura were at different stages of LSDM implementation. The Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) were allocated to 124 of these clusters at a ratio of 1 LSC for approximately 500 students in a cluster. The allocation of the first tranche of LSCs covers 300,750 children and young people in 1,052 schools.

As at March 2019, there were 225 clusters with 1,863 schools progressing the LSDM. A further 660 schools had not begun to engage with the LSDM.

Of the clusters progressing the LSDM, 101 clusters covering 811 schools did not receive an LSC allocation in this first tranche.

A number of clusters not involved in the LSDM or in early phases at the end of 2018 have made progress since December 2018, and some may have even surpassed the progress of others on the list receiving allocations. However, it was necessary to pick a specific data point from which to base the modelling of various allocation options to inform Ministerial decisions. The complexity of the variables and analysis meant that it was not possible to update data on cluster progress as we carried out this modelling work.

In addition, some individual schools have been actively working to embed the principles of the LSDM in their practice. However, a collective approach was not as visible across the school’s cluster or Kāhui Ako and, as at December 2018, the cluster was not considered to be active in the LSDM.

Planning for the future tranches will be worked through once schools and kura have had time to implement the first tranche. We will be taking into account a variety of insights gained from experience with the first tranche and will be open to considering feedback from sector organisations to inform the allocation process. Any subsequent tranches will be subject to future budget processes.

Progressing the LSDM implementation 

Regional implementation of the LSDM is measured using guidance developed by the Ministry known as the BERPI. The BERPI is used internally by the Ministry to provide a view at a point in time of progress at implementing of the LSDM. The letters BERPI stand for the five phases of implementation progress:

  • Beginning
  • Engagement
  • Refining
  • Pre-implementation
  • Implementation

The BERPI is not a linear process. Implementation activity is not confined to a particular phase. Local and regional factors and available resources will influence the approaches used by clusters at each phase to implement and work in the LSDM way.

For each of the five phases there are a number of indicators that characterise likely engagement and activity by the cluster at that phase [PDF, 818 KB].

Each school term the Ministry’s regional learning support teams provide an update on the clusters in their area, basing their update assessment of where each cluster is at in respect of the five phases

This provides a national view of implementation progress of the LSDM over time and indicates where new clusters have begun engaging in the model.

The December 2018 Regional Rollout Map can be found here [PDF, 821 KB]
It shows:

  • total number of clusters at each BERPI phase by region
  • total number of early learning services, schools and kura at each BERPI phase by region
  • total number of children and young people involved at each BERPI phase by region
  • total number of Māori medium kura and kōhanga reo at each BERPI phase by region.

Allocating the first tranche of Learning Support Coordinators

LSCs have an important role in implementing and strengthening the delivery model. They work with other LSCs in their community to understand local needs and are part of the LSDM to access available supports and services.
For the allocation of the first tranche of LSCs, the level of engagement with the LSDM was determined by Ministry staff working with clusters to implement the model using information from December 2018.

When allocating the Learning Support Coordinator (LSCs) a range of factors have been considered.

To make sure LSCs get the support they need to be effective, we have prioritised allocation to clusters in the three most advanced phases of LSDM implementation – the Refining, Pre-implementation and Implementation phases, based on the BERPI guide as at December 2018.
It was not possible to allocate LSCs to all clusters, particularly, those in the first two phases – Beginning and Engagement. Within these two phases, the allocation has also taken account of specific characteristics, including:

  • the proportion of rural schools in a cluster
  • proportion of Māori and Pacific students
  • the number of Māori medium in a cluster
  • the total number of students in a cluster.

In some instances, the distance between schools or the number of small schools in a cluster can mean that adjustments were needed to make sure LSC roles are distributed more equitably. To address this, other factors are taken into account including:

  • the schools’ geographic distance from each other
  • the number of schools in the community 
  • the number of LSC that would be allocated.

This ensures that LSCs are allocated to a variety of schools and settings so we can test and refine the allocation model and role before it is rolled out more widely.

Information about the rationale for the allocation decisions is public and can be accessed here(external link).

The following 3 attachments provide further information about the allocation of LSCs:

  1. Progressing the Learning Support Delivery Model Implementation Process [PDF, 818 KB]
    This table shows in more detail the five phases of LSDM implementation progress using the Ministry’s BERPI guide. Each phase provides additional potential activity.
  2. Learning Support Delivery Model: Implementation Regional Rollout December 2018 [PDF, 821 KB]
    This map is produced quarterly to provide a national view of implementation progress of the LSDM including how clusters are progressing over time and where new clusters have become engaged.
  3. Clusters progressing the LSDM as at December 2018 [PDF, 1.7 MB]
    This table shows the names of clusters in each region implementing the LSDM, implementation phase and whether or not they were allocated an LSC.

Last reviewed: Has this been useful? Give us your feedback