$266 Million To Expand Early Intervention And Clear Waitlists For Children With Additional Needs

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3 days ago

Press Release – New Zealand Government
This Government is absolutely focused on getting help to the child, wherever they are, and however its needed. If that means using trusted private providers and NGOs to deliver services at pace, thats exactly what well do, Education …
Minister of Education
'Every child deserves the chance to thrive and today I'm proud to announce a $266 million investment in Budget 2025 to clear waitlists, expand the Early Intervention Service, and reach thousands more children with the support they need to succeed,' Education Minister Erica Stanford says.
'For too long, families have faced unacceptable delays accessing the Early Intervention Service. This investment will fix that by clearing the backlog, expanding support to the end of Year 1, and significantly increasing our workforce capacity,' Stanford says.
'We are not only expanding the size of the service, we are changing how it's delivered,' Stanford says. 'We will contract NGOs and private providers to deliver specialist services alongside the Ministry, ensuring children with additional needs get the support they need faster.
'This Government is absolutely focused on getting help to the child, wherever they are, and however it's needed. If that means using trusted private providers and NGOs to deliver services at pace, that's exactly what we'll do,' Stanford says. 'Families don't care who employs the speech-language therapist or the psychologist, they just want the support their child needs. And we are determined to do whatever it takes to make sure they receive it.'
As part of the Budget 2025 package, the investment will deliver:
More than 560 additional full-time equivalent specialists, including educational psychologists, speech language therapists, occupational therapists, and early intervention teachers.
An expansion of the Early Intervention Service through to the end of Year 1, reaching around 4,000 additional children with learning and behavioural needs.
Reduction of existing waitlists, ensuring more than 3,000 children currently waiting will receive support sooner.
Increased support for the 7,100 children already in the service, with greater access to specialists and interventions.
900,000 additional teacher aide hours per year from 2028, to assist young learners receiving EIS support.
This investment reflects the Government's commitment to a social investment approach by targeting resources early, where they will make the greatest long-term difference. 'The evidence is clear: the earlier we intervene, the better the outcomes for children, families, and New Zealand. Early intervention reduces the need for more intensive support later and gives every child that needs it the best possible start.
'To parents across the country, this is my message to you: help is on the way. We are clearing the backlog, building a stronger and more responsive service, and putting your child's needs at the centre of our education system. You shouldn't have to fight to get support—and with this investment, we're making sure you won't have to.
'This is a transformational shift,' Stanford says. 'We're building a future-facing service that keeps up with demand and delivers for kids. Every child deserves that chance and this Government is backing them from day one.'
Notes:
Learning support funding – detailed breakdown
Budget 2025 includes a total of $2.5 billion for Vote Education.
The Learning Support Budget has $645.8 million in operating funding and $100.9 million capital for learning support initiatives. This includes:
$266.0 million to extend the Early Intervention Service (EIS) from early childhood education through to the end of Year 1 of primary school. This will fund more than 560 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) over the next 5 years for EIS teachers and specialists. This investment includes:
$74.9 million to extend the Early Intervention Service (EIS) into Year 1 of primary school
$127.7 million to reduce wait times and meet the growing demand for the EIS
$40.0 million for 900,000 additional Teacher Aide hours for young learners in the EIS
$23.4 million for early intervention specialist service providers and specialist workforce development.
Overall, there is funding for more than 2 million additional teacher aide hours into the system, every year, from 2028.
Budget 2025 also provides:
$192.5 million so that all state and state integrated schools and kura with Year 1 to 8 students get access to a Learning Support Coordinator (around 650 additional FTTE), enabling improved identification of, and response to learner needs.
$122.5 million to meet increased demand for the Ongoing Resource Scheme (ORS), for students with high and complex needs. This includes a structural change to the funding model so every child who is verified for ORS funding receives the support they need. This investment will also increase the number of specialists and teacher aide time to support the more than 1,700 additional learners forecast to access ORS over the next 4 years.
$41.5 million of operating and $1.4 million of capital funding for an extra 78.5 FTE speech language therapists, 6.2 FTE psychologists, and supporting teacher aide hours to help meet the growing demand of students with communication and behaviour needs. This will provide specialist suppxxxorts to around 2,500 students over the next 4 years.
$7.3 million for 45 more places in the Intensive Wraparound Service | Te Kahu Tōī (a 7.5% increase), so more learners with the most complex social, emotional and behavioural needs can get tailored supports.
$4.2 million to employ 25 intern education psychologists each year to enable a more sustainable pipeline of locally trained workforce.
$3.0 million of investment in our teacher aides with targeted professional learning and development to help them support learners with social, emotional, wellbeing and behavioural needs associated with disability and neurodiversity.
$90.0 million of capital funding and $18.4 million of operating funding for 25 new learning support satellite classrooms to provide around 225 new student places across the Ministry's specialist school network, and up to 365 property modifications to make schools more accessible.