On this page
The purpose of the Highest Needs Review#
The purpose of the Highest Needs Review was to understand how the system was supporting children and young people with the highest needs to achieve their full potential in an inclusive education system that delivers fair and excellent outcomes.
What the review told us#
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 expected by the review required significant time and investment to achieve. 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 in July 2023, which noted 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.
Insights and evidence gathered through the Highest Needs Review has since informed a learning support work programme.
Report on stakeholder views#
The Highest Needs Review had 2 phases of engagement, with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER) developing an analysis of stakeholder feedback.
Background documents#
The key documents below have background information about the Highest Needs Review.
2023 background documents#
2022 background documents#
Announcement of the Highest Needs Review
Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti announced the Highest Needs Review in 2022. The media release was translated into several languages which are available on request. You can see it in English on the Beehive website and translated into te reo Māori and Braille below.
New model to better support kids with the highest needs – Beehive.govt.nz
Cabinet paper and minutes – recommendations for change
The Cabinet paper from November 2022 was translated into several languages which are available on request. Versions in English, te reo Māori and Braille are below.
Stakeholder research
Stakeholder research informed the Cabinet paper and work programme of October 2022. The research was translated into several languages which are available on request. Versions in English and te reo Māori are below.
2021 background documents#
Cabinet paper and minutes – scope and terms of reference of the review
The Cabinet paper from September 2021 was translated into several languages which are available on request. Versions in English and te reo Māori are below.
Briefing note – talking points for Social Wellbeing Committee
Request a translated document#
Some of the documents on this page have also been translated into:
- Chinese
- Cook Island Māori
- Fijian
- Hindi
- Kiribati
- Korean
- Niuean
- Rotuman
- Samoan
- Tokelauan
- Tongan
- Tuvaluan.
The translated documents are:
- The Executive Summary of the Cabinet paper (2022)
- Summary of Engagement (2022)
- Terms of Reference (2021).
To request translated and other accessible version of the documents, contact us.
Email: [email protected]
