In-class support funding

In-class support funding provides a contribution toward a teacher aide for students with continuing high learning needs who are not funded through the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS).

Level of compliance Main audience Other

Inform

  • Principals and Tumuaki
  • Teachers and Kaiako
  • Learning Support Coordinators and SENCOs
  • Resource Teachers
  • Boards
  • Parents, Caregivers and Whānau

Who is in-class support for?

If you have a student whose needs are beyond what your school can provide for with existing school supports, you may be able to access in-class support.

In-class support is for students who:

  • are in Years 1 to 13
  • have been prioritised by schools, Ministry Learning Support teams, and the Resource Teacher Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) service as having the most significant learning needs
  • are not part of the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS).

Many of these students will be achieving within Level 1 of the curriculum for an extended period of time.

What does the funding achieve?

In-class support funding provides a contribution toward a teacher aide.

A teacher aide is a valuable, extra resource in the classroom. Their time and role is directed by the classroom/subject teacher, who is the expert in teaching and learning.

Teacher aide time supports students to be fully engaged in their learning alongside their peers and improves students' presence, participation, and educational outcomes.

We have published resources to encourage schools to make the best use of teacher aide support in inclusive environments.

Teachers and teacher aides working together – TKI(external link)

How does the funding work?

In-class support is managed by the Learning Support teams in the local Ministry offices. 

It is allocated to students for the school year and remains with each student even when a student changes schools.

The funding is paid to schools and contributes to teacher aide support for each of the identified students.

The support is likely to differ for each student and for each school.

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