$9m plan to improve behaviour in schools

Marilyn Gwilliam. Photo / Supplied

About 3000 parents of children with behaviour problems will be offered free parenting programmes every year under a long-awaited Government plan being unveiled today.

The plan, promised at a school behaviour "summit" in March, also provides intensive "wraparound" support costing $40,000 to $70,000 a child for about 100 children with the most extreme behaviour problems from 2011.

Deputy Secretary of Education Nick Pole said the total cost of the five-point package, about $9 million a year, would be taken from other contestable funds in the Special Education budget.

"We are saying a priority for that resource is around this programme. We hope this will bring a substantial improvement in behaviour," he said.

The plan represents, in part, the ministry's alternative to the Waimokoia Special School, which catered for 50 primary-aged children with behavioural problems each year at a cost of $60,000 a student. Education Minister Anne Tolley closed the school last month.

Auckland Primary Principals Association president Marilyn Gwilliam said then that not all mainstream schools would take the Waimokoia children back.

"Schools may simply refuse to re-enrol them because it's just all too hard," she said.

Last night she welcomed the new plan, saying: "Anything that supports parents is welcome."

NZ Educational Institute president Frances Nelson said sector groups had worked with the ministry on the plan and it covered "all the bases that we know need to be covered".

"The next step is to find our way to the point where we have capacity in the sector to do what the plan says," she said.

Mr Pole said about 1000 parents a year were already being funded by the ministry to do the "Incredible Years" parenting programme, an American course of two-hour group sessions once a week for 14 weeks, plus supportive phone calls to parents during each week to check on how they're doing.

That number will go up over the next five years to about 3000 a year, or 5 per cent of the target group of parents of children aged 3 to 8.

Most will be identified through a "strengths and difficulties" questionnaire which is included in the B4 School health check for all children about to turn 5.

Others may be referred by preschool and school teachers, doctors, other health services or Child, Youth and Family Services (CYFS). Parents will also be able to volunteer for the programme and attend free of charge.

About 1000 teachers in preschools and primary schools will also be offered training each year - the first time the programme has been extended into schools.

About 400 low-decile intermediate and secondary schools will be invited to develop school-wide behaviour management programmes, including "coaches" who may be guidance counsellors or "strong and effective classroom practitioners who have the confidence of their colleagues".

Schools will be able to join the programme only if their boards and staff commit to it for up to five years.

Mr Pole said the wraparound support for the 100 most difficult children a year would be co-ordinated by Special Education but would bring in other agencies as required such as CYFS, health services and drug and alcohol services.

"The programme will be individualised" he said.

It will be piloted with 40 to 50 children in South Auckland and the Waikato next year, extending to 100 a year nationally from 2011.

The ministry will also provide "crisis response teams" to go into any school that suffers a serious incident, such as a serious assault on a teacher or a child.

* Helping out

"Incredible Years" parenting programme for 3000 parents a year.

Teachers' programme for 1000 preschool and primary school teachers a year.

School-wide behaviour management plans for 400 low-decile intermediates and high schools.

Intensive wraparound support for 100 children a year aged 7 to 13.

Crisis teams for any school where a serious incident happens.