In 2010 the Education Review Office (ERO) was tasked with reporting on the progress of New Zealand schools in the inclusion of students with high needs. This paper will explore how ERO limited the concept of inclusion to suit Government policy and limit discussion of inclusion to the parameters set by the resource allocation scheme known as…

In May 2012, after a long and impressive career, Luanna Meyer retired from her role as Professor of Education and Director of the Jessie Hetherington Centre for Educational Research at Victoria University. The tributes paid at her retirement ceremony bear testament to a woman who is held in high esteem in the educational community. In this…

The Ministry of Education's special education policy (commonly referred to as SE2000) has been progressively implemented since 1996. Although it is a funding rather than a professional-practice policy, it has had some negative and unintended consequences for the practice of educational psychology, for special education and it is suggested, for…

This study investigated the transition of a child with moderate special education needs to a primary school setting. It was generated out of the professional interest of the author and a prevailing concern over the apparent delay in providing support for children with moderate special education needs within the primary school system. A case study…

A significant challenge for all participants in the autism spectrum disorder participatory action research (ASD PAR) project, including the Ministry of Education, the local project teams (LPT) and mentors, was the lack of availability of a single ethics approval process for the project in its entirety and, in particular, one that could accommodate…

A delegation from the Ministry of Education, Special Education (GSE) went to Tokelau in 2007 in response to a request from the Tokelauan government to help establish services for children with special education needs. The team was led by Ezra Schuster and made up of a special education advisor, a speech-language therapist, an advisor on deaf…

Research is an essential aspect of the music therapy profession. Practice is grounded in theoretical frameworks based on research studies and the evaluation of clinical interventions. Early research drew heavily on behavioural principles, observing measurable change in response to musical interventions. As the profession gained stature, music…

This qualitative study sought to describe the shared "culture of practice" of a group of Ministry of Education, Special Education occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Data from individual semi-structured interviews, enriched by insider observations, were thematically analysed within a cultural constructs framework. An ethos of…

This article defines assessment exemplars and considers their purpose in New Zealand school and early childhood contexts. The role of exemplars in supporting assessment for learning and the extent to which education rights and inclusive practice are evident in exemplars are considered. The article suggests that learners with special education…

This paper presents findings from two studies that each aimed to develop understandings of how to more effectively support Maori learners with special education needs. The first study occurred just prior to Specialist Education Services (SES) move into the Ministry of Education. The second study comes from the Enhancing Effective Practice in…

The Ministry of Education (MOE) funds a range of specialist education services for children and young people with special education needs. To ensure consistent quality service provision, generic Specialist Service Standards have been developed through a collaborative process involving representatives from the broad range of special education…

This is a series of light-hearted reflections from a person who has worked in special education her entire career. After moving from the United States to New Zealand, she uses her experience adjusting to her new country, to better understand the perspectives of the children and young people with whom she works.

This article provides an overview of the process of EEPiSE from conception to conclusion. It attempts to outline the extent of cooperation and collaboration among educators across sectors in identifying what works for children and young people who require significant adaptation to the curriculum. Outlined are the sequence of events, and the people…

This article describes an action research project, based within a school, to develop and increase the social resiliency of students with special education needs in both school and community settings. The programme included role-plays, scenarios and problem solving. An assessment tool was developed to measure self-esteem amongst the students and…

This article presents the findings of a survey to gather information about the scope, prevalence and effectiveness of programmes and services for Maori children and youth with special needs. Analysis of relevant organisational documentation including a postal survey completed by 78 people from 56 different special educational, Maori, support and…