Dear parents and caregivers,

Last year a new provision for 600 Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) was announced by the Coalition Government. This was a move welcomed at the time to address support for the rising number of students with additional learning needs across the entire schooling system. It was the belief of the sector that these positions would be divided across the country by need.

It was with great surprise and disappointment that Nayland College was informed last week that we would receive no LSCs in this first round of funding, whist the other two Nelson City secondary schools would receive three between them. The reasoning given for this allocation was that clusters of schools (or Kahui Ako/Communities of Learning) the Ministry has engaged with around their new ‘Learning Support Delivery model’ would be funded first. This decision means that no school in the Stoke, Tahunanui or Richmond region have received an allocation of LSCs, whilst schools in Nelson City and Motueka have 14 positions between them. There is no guarantee that further positions will be allocated in future years, particularly if there is a change in government.

This decision is an absolute slap in the face for those schools that have large rolls and subsequently high learning support needs, that have not been allocated any funding for LSCs. There has been absolutely no consideration of school need in this decision and instead the Ministry have used arbitrary system requirements to this allocate resource. For further information please refer to the following media articles:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/114753283/some-nelson-schools-miss-out-on-learning-support-coordinators
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/114870157/tracey-martin-to-investigate-education-ministrys-failure-to-alert-schools-to-special-needs-support

If you feel strongly about this issue, like I do, I encourage you to voice your concern to our local Ministry of Education office or directly to the Minister, the Honourable Tracey Martin (NZ First):

• Robyn McLeary-Hooper, Manager Learning Support | Nelson Marlborough West Coast
  Robyn.McLearyHooper@education.govt.nz
• Tracey Martin, Associate Minister of Education
  t.martin@ministers.govt.nz

As always Nayland College has been an extremely busy place over the past fortnight, with Nayland College hosting (and our students participating in) the Top of the South Model United Nations and the Junior Philosophy Conference.  Our very talented dance students performed in the VAST Dance Festival on Thursday and the girls and boys hockey teams produced some great results for the Top of the South Hockey Championships.  

We have also had several groups of Year 8 students visiting the school.   I would like to thank all staff and students involved in making our visitors feel so welcome. It is obviously a very anxious time for young people and their families considering their next education steps.

Finally I would like to extend best wishes to NayCol Chorale as they compete in the South Island Cadenza final of the Big Sing this weekend.

Ngā mihi nui

Daniel Wilson
Principal