Information for Whānau
What RTLB do
Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) are funded to work together with teachers and schools to support the achievement of students in Years 1-10 with learning and/or behaviour difficulties.
They have a particular focus on supporting Māori and Pasifika students and children and young people moving into state care. RTLB support and up-skill teachers to better meet the needs of students within an inclusive education system.
Requests for support
Schools are able to request service from RTLB to support them meet the needs of students experiencing learning and behaviour difficulties.
If a whānau/family thinks their child may benefit from additional support they can talk to the classroom teacher to discuss the option of the school making a request for RTLB support.
Each cluster (a regional group of RTLB) has established its own process for managing requests for support.
The role of RTLB
RTLB work in a cluster or team. The work of the team, and workload of RTLB, is managed by the cluster manager. RTLB support schools to meet the learning and behaviour challenges of students in the cluster.
They do this through:
networking
school policy development
working with kaiako/teachers to meet needs in the classroom
initiatives such as peer reading
supporting individual student needs, for example facilitating the generation of Individual Education Plans (IEP).
When working in kura/school or wharekura/secondary school settings, RTLB support the learning and behaviour needs of students through negotiation with a range of people. These may include:
the class kaiako/teacher
Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCO)
parents
whānau/families.
Programmes and initiatives
RTLB may support and use the following programmes and initiatives to support the learning and behaviour needs of children.
Gateway Assessments
Gateway Assessments provides health, educational, and emotional status of all children and young people entering state care. This means the children’s identified needs can be catered for promptly by the appropriate agency. Gateway is a joint inter-agency initiative between Child, Youth and Family (CYF), the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.
Gateway Assessments
Clarifies what a gateway assessment is, when to use it, who uses it, and how to use it. Also has guidance a resources.
Awhiawhi Tamariki ki te Panui Pukapuka (HPP) – Supporting children with storybook reading
"Supporting children’s oral language development within English-medium storybook reading contexts”
HPP is a tutoring programme where parent tutors are trained to support their child’s oral language development.
High and Complex Needs Service (HCN)
An inter-agency unit from CYF, MOE, and MOH that assists agencies to identify and effectively respond to children with high and complex needs
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)
Promotes programmes and initiatives to encourage pro-social behaviour and reduce problem behaviour in classrooms.
PB4L has several programmes are attached to it, for example, The Incredible Years.
Positive Behaviour for Learning action plan update 2011.pdf 3 MB
Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour and Social Workers in Schools
This is a school-based social service where a social worker is placed in low decile schools.
A non-government organisation (NGO) social service providers employ social workers and provide early intervention to assist children who are struggling with educational, health, or social development.
Students with learning support needs: Specialist Service Providers
Students with learning and behaviour needs may receive support from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists from the Ministry of Education.
Te Kotahitanga
Te Kotahitanga is a research and development programme designed to support kura, schools, and teachers to improve Māori achievement.
The purpose is to create a culturally responsive environment for teaching and learning by encouraging school structures and teaching strategies that support this.
Complaints about the service
The Ministry of Education takes all complaints seriously. Parents, whānau, or families who are not satisfied with the RTLB service can contact the RTLB Cluster Manager:
Lyn Evans
levans@nbrtlb.com
If the problem is not resolved, contact: