May 14, 2018
Early childhood special needs funding boosted
Green's co-leader Marama Davidson is welcoming a $20 million injection into special needs education at early childhood level.
The extra funding is expected to halve the current waiting list for services, as well as help meet future demand pressures.
Another 1750 children receive will help in this coming year and contracted early intervention specialist service providers will support an additional 150 children with the highest needs.
Ms Davidson says there's a lack of support for learning disabilities for tamariki that were identified in an inquiry led by former Green MP Catherine Delahunty.
Intervening early can make a real difference to children’s development and learning.
"Anything that we can do before school to help those tamariki and that whanau better adjust to school is going to be enormous and is going to save stress and more funding down the line if we can get the support at the other end," Ms Davidson says.
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