Choosing a school or preschool for your autistic child can seem like a daunting task.
This resource is designed to help with the process of investigating schools in your area, visiting a potential school, and finding out whether a school or preschool will work for your family.
A good place to start is by finding out what schools or early learning services are available in your area.
Head here: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-an-els to find a preschool or early learning service, or here: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school to find your closest school, and find out if the schools near you have an enrolment zone.
Many schools are part of an enrolment scheme, meaning that prospective students who live outside the defined home zone around the school can apply to enrol, but their application may not be accepted.
You can find more information about enrolment schemes and how to apply to an out- of-zone school at these links: https://www.education.govt.nz/school/new-zealands-network-of-schools/about-enrolment-schemes/
https://www.education.govt.nz/school/new-zealands-network-of-schools/about-enrolment-schemes/pre-enrolment-processes/
https://www.education.govt.nz/school/new-zealands-network-of-schools/about-enrolment-schemes/frequently-asked-questions-about-enrolment-schemes/
New Zealand promotes an inclusive education system, where children with disabilities are encouraged to be in a mainstream classroom alongside other children, with the necessary extra support they may need. Schools are expected to use their funding to support students with learning support needs.
If you feel that your child has higher or more complex needs than a mainstream school will be able to support, you can find information about specialist schools here: https://www.education.govt.nz/school/student-support/special-education/specialist-schools-for-students-with-high-needs/
There are specialist schools in most areas of New Zealand that cater for a variety of student needs, as well as three schools specifically for students who have highly complex social, behaviour and/or learning needs: Westbridge Residential School in Waitakere, Halswell Residential College in Christchurch, and Salisbury School in Nelson (girls only).
The best way to judge whether a school will be right for your child is to contact the school, talk to the principal (or assistant principal), the class teacher for your child’s age group, and the school’s special education needs coordinator (SENCO) or learning support coordinator (LSC).
Most schools will have either a SENCO or an LSC, and it’s their job to help you access and coordinate services and resources for your child.
If possible, try to visit the school during class time. Some information you may want to gather during this visit:
- What visual supports are used in the classroom?
- Is there a classroom schedule explaining what will happen at each point in the day? Or if not, is the classroom teacher open to making and displaying a schedule?
- How many children are there in the class? What is the teacher/student ratio like?
- Are there teacher aides in the classroom? What other extra supports are available for specific students?
- Are there any particular facilities or accommodations that your child needs? Is the school either already providing these, or willing to provide them?
Some more questions to ask schools and teachers:
(This list is intended as a starting point/idea generator – not all of these questions will be relevant to you and your child, and you may have questions of your own that aren’t included here. You are the expert on what your child needs; if you think something is important, it is).
- What experience does the classroom teacher have with autism and autistic children? If they don’t have much or any experience, are they willing to learn?
- Is there a low-sensory space that your child can go when they are overwhelmed or need a break?
- Will your student have access to a tablet or other communication device?
- What extra supports are available to help your child participate in potentially messy or loud activities like art and music?
- How often will your child be going on field trips? What accommodations and supports are available when your child is participating in a school activity outside of the school grounds?
- If your child will be taking a bus or train to school, is the trip from the bus/train stop to the school grounds supervised? If your child will be dropped off and picked up by car, will there be supervision to prevent them getting onto the road?
- Are there appropriate toilet facilities for your child’s needs?
- What sorts of discipline does the classroom teacher use?
- Are there extracurricular clubs and activities that your child can join? What is the school’s policy around parents observing in the classroom?
- Who is responsible for writing IEPs (Individualised Education Plans), how is progress monitored, and who is involved in implementing the plan?
- What systems are in place for communicating with parents/caregivers?
- If your child has any behaviours that could be particularly challenging for school staff, do they have a policy or strategies for these?
- How will the school support your child’s peers and classmates in understanding them?
- Will the school provide any sensory accommodations necessary for your child?