We understand that when your school requests the support of a Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), you want clear information about what that means for your child and your family. Our service is designed to work with you and the school to ensure every student successfully engages with learning and positive behaviour.
The RTLB service is a free, government-funded service provided by the Ministry of Education to support schools in meeting the needs of their students.
To help you understand our role, the process, and how we collaborate, we have compiled the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) from parents across our cluster. We aim to provide clear, reassuring answers about this specialist, strengths-based support. If you require more information at any stage please feel free to contact us.
The button below supplies some links that may provide additional information for some families.
You are a Key Partner
An RTLB is a Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour. They are fully registered, specialist, teachers employed by schools to work with children and young people (Years 1–10) who have significant learning or behaviour needs that are challenging for the school to manage with their own resources.
RTLB doesn't usually work one-on-one with your child for long periods. Their main job is to support the teacher, school, and whānau to create effective, inclusive learning environments.
RTLB provide expertise, training, and strategies to help the school better meet your child's needs within the regular classroom.
They work in a strengths-based and ecological way, meaning they look at the child's strengths and the whole environment (home, classroom, school) to find solutions.
Your child's teachers and school have done all they can with the resources they have, and they are seeking specialist advice to ensure your child can succeed.
The school is recognising that your child has substantial challenges to learning or participation and is proactively asking for external, specialist help to support their progress and well-being.
The RTLB service is about finding solutions and building capability in the school so that all children, including yours, are fully supported and can achieve their potential.
The process must involve you from the start, and your input is essential.
It starts with the school. The SENCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator), the Senior Leadership Team or the Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) will initiate a Request for Support.
Your Consent is Mandatory. The school must get your consent before they can officially request RTLB support or share information about your child. You can withdraw consent at any time.
Once the Request for Support is completed then it is submitted for discussion at an RTLB Allocation meeting. RTLB have a priority based waiting list.
You are a Key Partner. Once the RTLB is allocated, they will meet with you to gain informed consent.
They will work collaboratively with you and the school team to understand your child's strengths, interests, and needs, and to develop a joint action plan. Your unique perspective on your child's learning and behaviour is highly valued. You know your child best.
The Informed Consent form is a formal agreement that makes the RTLB accountable for the ethical and secure use of sensitive information, ensuring transparency and protecting your child's privacy while allowing them to receive necessary support.
What you agree to: You consent to the RTLB service collecting information about your child and their learning or behaviour needs (e.g., assessment results, observation notes, background history).
Who has Access: Consent specifies who will see the information. Generally, this is limited to the RTLB, your child's school principal, and the classroom teacher(s) involved.
Need-to-Know Basis: Information is shared only on a "need-to-know" basis to support your child. The RTLB is bound by the Privacy Act 2020 (NZ) and ethical guidelines to protect your child's personal information.
Secure Storage: The consent process implies that the information collected will be stored securely, both physically and digitally, and retained only for the necessary period according to Ministry of Education guidelines.
Internal Sharing: You are consenting to the RTLB sharing their findings and recommendations with the school staff directly involved in your child's education (Teacher, SENCo/Learning Support Coordinator, Principal).
External Sharing (Requires Separate Consent): Your initial consent does not cover sharing information with external agencies (like health services, Ministry of Education, or other specialists) unless it is necessary and you provide separate, specific written consent for that particular disclosure.
Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the information the RTLB holds about your child.
Right to Correction: If you believe any of the information is incorrect, you have the right to ask for it to be corrected.
Right to Withdraw Consent: You can withdraw your consent for the RTLB service at any time. If you do, the RTLB will stop working with your child, and the process for retaining or destroying the collected information will be followed.
The RTLB follows a structured process:
Information Gathering/Assessment: They might observe your child in the classroom, talk with your child, hui with you and the teacher, and review existing school data to get a full, holistic picture.
Collaborative Planning: They work with you and the school team to set specific, measurable, and culturally responsive goals for your child.
Intervention: They provide strategies, advice, and sometimes professional development to the teacher or school. This could include adapting the curriculum, suggesting specific behaviour management techniques, or recommending adjustments to the learning environment.
Monitoring and Review: They regularly check in to see if the strategies are working and adapt the plan as needed.
Closing the Case: When the goals are achieved, and the teacher has the skills to sustain the successful strategies, the support is formally closed.
We are always our children's greatest advocates! If you have concerns:
Talk to the team first. The best first step is to speak with the RTLB and the teacher directly. Discuss what's working well and what isn't, and suggest adjustments to the plan.
Talk to school leaders. Contact the Senior Leadership team, SENCO or LSC of the school to discuss your concerns.
Contact the RTLB Cluster Manager. If your concerns aren't resolved, you can contact the RTLB Cluster Manager. They oversee the RTLB team and their service quality.
Let a loving heart guide your decisions