Special purpose units (activity centres, teen parent units, other)

This guidance supports schools to understand how special purpose units are resourced.

Level of compliance	Main audience	Other
Inform	Boards Administrators	Principals and Tumuaki

Level of compliance

Main audience

Other

Inform

Boards
Administrators

Principals and Tumuaki

Some school boards operate units that have been set up for specific purposes, such as teen parent units and activity centres.

Special purpose units are staffed according to a special agreement, usually with specific approval of either the Ministry, or the Minister of Education.

Teen parent unit (secondary/composite schools only)

Establishment	By agreement of Minister of Education.
Unique Ministry number	Yes.
Enrolment	For students unable to learn in the mainstream educational system because of pregnancy and child rearing responsibilities. They must be within age range to receive free education when first enrolled with the class, so regular and regular adult students. This is up to age 19 and ending on 1 January after their nineteenth birthday. Where space permits, returning adult students may attend but must be enrolled on the host school’s roll.
March and July roll returns	Eligible students up to a maximum on the supplementary form – not on the host school’s roll. Other attendees – returning adults and/or any other students above maximum roll only on host school’s roll.
Roll used for resourcing	Approved maximum roll, subject to annual monitoring. Actual roll if well below maximum or there are concerns about validity.
Staffing entitlement	One full-time teacher equivalent (FTTE) teacher and one management unit per 10 students.
Staffing notification	Identified in host school's entitlement as attached unit.
Operational funding entitlement	As for activity centre, at decile 1A.
Funding notification	Separate entitlement and instalment notices, but relief and STAR funding on host school's entitlement.
Other resourcing	-
Body responsible for governance, employment, reporting, resourcing, receiving payments	School board of host school.
Enquiries – general	Local Ministry office.
Enquiries – rolls	Data Collection Unit (see supplementary roll return form).
Enquiries – resourcing	Resourcing Division contact centre. Phone: +64 4 463 8383
Useful resources	Education Gazette, Notices: Board's Off-site Class or Use of Alternative Provider Education Gazette 2 April 2001(external link) Education Circular 2004/1: Teen Parent Units (TPUs) attached to secondary schools Education circular 2004/1

Activity centres (secondary/composite schools only)

Establishment	By agreement of Minister of Education – no more to be established.
Unique Ministry number	Yes.
Enrolment	Consult the director of the individual centre about enrolment policy.
March and July roll returns	On the roll of the former school or host school.
Roll used for resourcing	Notional roll of 20: 10 in Year 9–10, and 10 in Year 11–15.
Staffing entitlement	A full-time director with two salary units, plus a full-time base scale teaching position.
Staffing notification	Identified in host school's entitlement as attached unit.
Operational funding entitlement	Base funding at activity centre rate, decile-related at decile 1A, other components depend on roll/property/location.
Funding notification	Separate entitlement and instalment notices, but relief and STAR funding included in host school's entitlement.
Other resourcing	-
Body responsible for governance, employment, reporting, resourcing, receiving payments	School board of host school.
Enquiries – general	Local Ministry office.
Enquiries – rolls	Data Collection Unit (see roll return form).
Enquiries – resourcing	Resourcing Division contact centre 04 463 8383.
Useful resources	Education Gazette 2 April 2001, Notices: Board's Off-site Class or Use of Alternative Provider Education Gazette 2 April 2001(external link)

Alternative education (secondary/composite schools only)

Establishment	Lead school in consortium signs a memorandum of agreement with Ministry of Education, plus a contract with the provider.
Unique Ministry number	No.
Enrolment	Schools have an annual allocation for students aged 13–15 who are alienated from school. Students verified by the Ministry of Education.
March and July roll returns	Separate column provided in returns. Enter on return of the school where the student is enrolled.
Roll used for resourcing	Number of approved students.
Staffing entitlement	N/A – not included in staffing entitlement.
Staffing notification	N/A
Operational funding entitlement	N/A – not included in operational funding entitlement.
Funding notification	N/A
Other resourcing	Funded for each student place through separate contract.
Body responsible for governance, employment, reporting, resourcing, receiving payments	School board of responsible school.
Enquiries – general	Local Ministry office.
Enquiries – rolls	Data Collection Unit (see roll return form).
Enquiries – resourcing	Early Childhood and Regional Education.
Useful resources	Education Gazette 2 April 2001, Notices: Board's Off-site Class or Use of Alternative Provider Education Gazette 2 April 2001(external link)

Other official special purpose unit by ministerial agreement

Establishment	By agreement of Minister/Ministry of Education.
Unique Ministry number	Not usually.
Enrolment	Depends on agreement; usually at discretion of the board of trustees.
March and July roll returns	On roll of host school.
Roll used for resourcing	Depends on agreement – actual or notional roll.
Staffing entitlement	Depends on agreement.
Staffing notification	Identified in host school's entitlement.
Operational funding entitlement	Depends on agreement.
Funding notification	Normally total appears on host school's instalment notices. Separate calculation may be sent.
Other resourcing	N/A
Body responsible for governance, employment, reporting, resourcing, receiving payments	School board of host school.
Enquiries – general	Local Ministry office.
Enquiries – rolls	Data Collection Unit (see roll return form)(external link)
Enquiries – resourcing	Resourcing Division contact centre 04 463 8383.
Useful resources	Education Gazette 2 April 2001, Notices: Board's Off-site Class or Use of Alternative Provider Education Gazette 2 April 2001(external link)

Other official special purpose unit by board decision

Establishment	By decision of a school board, but see Education Gazette notice of 2 April 2001. Resourcing is provided to the school that the student is enrolled at.
Unique Ministry number	No.
Enrolment	At boards' discretion, but the board is responsible for the students. Resourcing is provided to the school where the student is enrolled.
March and July roll returns	Included in host school roll.
Roll used for resourcing	No separate roll.
Staffing entitlement	Part of host school's entitlement.
Staffing notification	No separate notification.
Operational funding entitlement	Part of host school's entitlement.
Funding notification	No separate notification.
Other resourcing	N/A
Body responsible for governance, employment, reporting, resourcing, receiving payments	School board of host school.
Enquiries – general	Local office.
Enquiries – rolls	N/A
Enquiries – resourcing	N/A
Useful resources	Education Gazette 2 April 2001, Notices: Board's Off-site Class or Use of Alternative Provider Education Gazette 2 April 2001(external link)

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