Ask your child's kaiako | teacher or healthcare provider#

All tamariki | children develop at their own pace, but at times you may still have concerns about your child's learning. For example, you might notice differences in how they are learning to communicate or with their behaviour.

If you are worried, talking with someone knowledgeable who also knows your tamaiti | child is a great place to start. You can:

• talk to your child’s teachers
• ask at your Well Child/Tamariki Ora visit (Whānau Āwhina Plunket)
• talk to your doctor.

They may be able to help you with strategies you can try at home to support your child and let you know if more support is needed. They can also help with any next steps you might need to take.

Talk to our learning support team#

Our learning support early intervention team members can talk to you about your concerns. They can help clarify whether you and your child may need extra support, and what options are available.

For more information, contact your nearest office.

Regional offices

What happens after a request for support#

A learning support team member will contact you to talk to you about your child. Together you can work out what level of support may be needed at this time.

If they think support is needed, they will ask to meet with you. At this meeting, the team will talk with you more about your concerns.

How we will work alongside you and your early learning service#

In many cases, children's needs can be met by their early learning service.

We aim to support early learning educators to meet the needs of all learners. Often, we provide resources for educators to use. Our support team also works directly with teachers to help them meet children's needs.

If your child needs more tailored support, learning support might provide specialist help. We may do this by supporting you and your child's teacher or by working directly with your child. This may be at home or at the early learning service.

Who will be involved#

Our specialists work in collaborative teams. Any specialists who work with you and your child's early learning service will be able to access a wide range of resources and expertise. Our specialists include:

• early intervention teachers
• speech-language therapists
• Kaitakawaenga
• advisers on Deaf children (aoDc)
• psychologists.

If your child does not attend an early learning service#

For children who are not yet enrolled in an early learning service, we can support you at home.

We can also support you in finding a suitable early learning service if your child is not enrolled in one. All children have the right to attend. We know that being around other children is good for learning and wellbeing.

Support plans#

Some children and their whānau | families will need tailored support plans to meet their needs.

Support plans are focused on the needs and aspirations of the family and child.

Our specialists work with families and make decisions together. You will usually have a lead worker from the learning support team who will be your main point of contact.

The learning support team will work with you and other agencies to make sure support plans are integrated with other services such as child development teams.

Learning support resources for parents#

Incredible Years are programmes for parents of children with learning support needs to gain skills and confidence.

These programmes are government-funded and free.

Incredible Years parents programme – Te Kete Ipurangi

Incredible Years Autism programme (for caregivers) – Te Kete Ipurangi