Why engage your community?
Building partnerships for special education needs
Effective partnerships between schools and parents, caregivers and families, whänau will provide a strong platform for meeting special education needs, and for readily resolving any issues as they arise. Schools are encouraged to:
- acknowledge and promote opportunities for parent, caregiver and family, whānau involvement in the development, review and implementation of all learning programmes and strategies related to their child
- promote the elements, and short and long-term benefits, of building and maintaining successful partnerships
- encourage open consultation and communication with and between staff, specialists, parents and caregivers and families, whānau, agencies and the community
- create an environment where everyone listens to and respects others' point-of-view.
Adapted from Meeting Special Education Needs At School: A Quick Guide for Boards of Trustees