There are positive benefits for Pītau Uru students when sharing a site with mainstream schools, Tuia Burnside Primary and Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate.

As a full class, Pītau Uru students mix and mingle with mainstream students on the main playground during the week and this provides our students with the opportunity to interact alongside a diverse group of schoolmates, fostering an environment of empathy, understanding, and mutual respect.

This term two of our senior students, Legionce and Damien, attend Science lessons with Tuia Burnside Primary and Woodwork classes at Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate.

For special needs students, being included in classes such as woodwork can significantly enhance their confidence. This was very evident when the boys returned with their completed tables. The pride and sense of accomplishment on their faces was quite magical. These classes are often hands-on, and can boost their sense of accomplishment. The opportunity to work with tools, create something from scratch, and see the final product provides a tangible result that builds self-esteem.

Inclusive education, especially through shared learning environments like woodwork classes, offers great benefits for both special needs students and their mainstream peers. It fosters understanding, builds confidence, and equips all students with practical and social skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Pītau Uru would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to the staff at Tuia Burnside Primary and Wairarapa Cobham Intermediate for the opportunities they have made available to some of our students within their classrooms.