Accommodation for Learning Support Coordinators

The Government announced $95 million in capital expenditure as part of Budget 2019 to create suitable working spaces for Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs). Accommodating schools (where LSCs will primarily be based) are being prioritised to meet demand for LSC space.

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Required

  • Boards
  • Administrators
  • Principals and Tumuaki
  • Learning Support Coordinators
  • SENCOs

Schools that host Learning Support Coordinators must provide them suitable working space.

About accommodation for Learning Support Coordinators

Property funding is available to all state and state integrated schools that were part of the announced Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) allocation in August 2019 to support LSCs to operate effectively in all schools they service.

The funding is intended to support schools to make any property modifications needed to create a suitable working space for their LSC. Any remaining funding not required to deliver an appropriate LSC space will be returned to the Ministry. 

Description of a Learning Support Coordinator space

An LSC space is non-teaching space, with each LSC allocated 15m2. The space needs to provide an office space for the LSC to work out of, and allow them to meet privately with students, staff and whanau as required. The space also needs to provide ramp access or be otherwise fully accessible to all students, staff and whānau.

Prioritisation for accommodating schools

Schools identified as an accommodating school through the existing cluster notification process (the schools at which LSCs will primarily be based) are being prioritised to ensure an LSC space is available for each LSC as soon as practicable.

Funding for LSC space

Funding for LSC space is one-off. We expect all schools to be delivering their LSC space from within the allocated funding. Any funds not required for the LSC space will be returned to the Ministry.

Funding from the LSC budget provided to schools can only be used to build or repurpose 15m2 space, which has a ramp or is otherwise fully accessible.

As long as the allocation for an LSC remains with a school, the space will be ‘legitimate space’ and will therefore generate 5 Year Agreement (5YA) funding. As per current policy, the space will also generate Property Maintenance Grant (PMG) funding, whether or not a school remains entitled to an LSC.

Where an LSC is being accommodated in an existing space which requires the relocation of other staff or functions to another part of a school, that refurbishment can be paid for using LSC funding.

The existing space must already be Ministry-owned.

All boards that accommodate LSCs on their school site will receive funding for associated furniture and equipment. Note that Furniture and Equipment funding is GST exclusive - please refer to the Accounting rules for furniture and equipment for further information.

Furniture and equipment funding for state schools

Funding for LSC space will be made available upon completion of a Property Occupancy Document variation, recording which space will be available to the LSCs.

Property Occupancy Document (POD) variations

The purpose of a POD variation is to record the space that is being set aside at the Accommodating School, for use by the LSCs that are employed by the Employing School.

The POD variation follows the Ministry’s standard template. It includes a recommended occupancy fee, which will be paid by the Employing School to the Accommodating School from existing LSC programme funding. This is set out on page 11. This occupancy fee is recommended based on the way the Ministry funds the LSC programme.

To complete a POD variation, please follow these steps:

  1. The Accommodating School needs to:
    • Download and print a copy of the standard POD variation
      Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) POD Variation [PDF, 250 KB]
    • Fill in school specific details, and sign on page 12
    • Attach a site plan with the approximate area to be set aside for the LSC drawn on. A screen shot from Google Maps or the school’s CAD plan is often useful
    • Forward the signed POD variation and site plan to the Employing School.
  2. The Employing School needs to:
    • Review the POD variation and site plan, and sign on page 12
    • Forward the signed POD variation and site plan to their Ministry Property Advisor.
  3. The Ministry will arrange for the Secretary for Education’s consent to the document, and return a consented copy to both school.

Please do not make any changes to the standard POD variation. If you have any questions or concerns about this POD variation, please contact your Ministry Property Advisor.

The POD variation is not complete until it has been consented by the Secretary.

Planning and delivery timeframes

Schools should work with their Property Advisor to agree on the scope and budget of the LSC property project.

If it makes sense for both the school and the Ministry, the LSC space can be delivered as part of Ministry work that is already planned at a school.

Your Property Advisor will work with you to progress your LSC project as soon as is practicable after your cluster’s employment and accommodation arrangements have been confirmed with the Ministry. As a first step, the Ministry will work with the schools identified as ‘accommodating schools’ to ensure all LSCs at least have a base to work from.

Delivery timeframes will depend on the nature of your LSC project.

LSC spaces at state-integrated schools

Property funding for LSC spaces will be provided to all state integrated schools that were part of the LSC allocation announced in August 2019 and that do not have appropriate existing facilities for an LSC to work in. 

The Ministry is working with the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools to establish which schools will require additional support. Your Property Advisor will work with Proprietors of affected Integrated Schools to make funding available to their Proprietors (capital funding) and boards (furniture and equipment funding).    

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