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Date
20 April 2024
Link
inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/transitions-managing-times-of-change/address-parent-and-whanau-concerns-particularly-around-safety-and-making-friends

Address parent and whānau concerns, particularly around safety and making friends

Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Getting to know, and involving, the student’s family/whānau and the community’

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Discuss processes and rules

Discuss processes and rules

Make time for in-depth discussion with the student and all members of the team.

Discuss any additional needs your student may have and how these will be catered for.

Your discussion may include:

  • processes for contacting the school if there are any concerns about bullying
  • school boundaries and safety measures that ensure students remain within the school grounds
  • processes to ensure safety on school trip
  • processes for storing and giving medication and for dealing with allergies or medical conditions
  • familiarisation with the school rules
  • developing a care plan or a health plan
  • safety plans for eating and toileting.

Minimise parent anxiety

Minimise parent anxiety

Successful transitions minimise risks and anxiety.

  • Ensure students and parents/whānau know who is who in the school.
  • Provide names (with photos) and contact details of the team who will be working with the new student.
  • Share contact details and set up a process for regular on-going contact with parents/whānau so that concerns can be addressed as they arise.
  • Make a point of regularly calling the student’s home, blogging, or sharing a student’s work when they have done something positive.

Transfer supports

Transfer supports

As students transition between environments, identify specific supports and the way they are used to facilitate learning.

Plan to provide these in the new environment.

6767 [class 4.jpg]

Source: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

Source:
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga

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Use Social Stories™

Use Social Stories™

Create Social Stories™ that enable the student to practise strategies and behaviours that address specific situations of concern, and that support social interaction and participation.

Useful resources

Useful resources

Website

Groups that can support you

A list of national organisations that support students with additional needs and their families.

Visit website

Website

Learning support

Information for parents and caregivers on the learning support available to them and how to access it from the Ministry of Education

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Partner with the family/whānau”:

Return to the guide “Transitions – managing times of change”

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Transitions – managing times of change

How to use this site

Guide to Index of the guide: Transitions – managing times of change

Strategies for action:

Key resources:

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This is a Ministry of Education initiative​​​​​​​. We shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes.

This information was downloaded/printed from the Ministry of Education's website "Inclusive Education". Except where otherwise noted it is Crown Copyright 2018.

Information on the Inclusive Education website is regularly updated so we recommend you check the website version of this information to ensure it remains current.