Date
04 December 2024

Partner with whānau, parents and caregivers

Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Identifying needs and strengths, and accessing support’

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Act on whānau expertise

Act on whānau expertise

A family share their strategies for communicating and interacting with their Deaf son.

Support home-school continuity

Support home-school continuity

Invite families to share approaches that are successful at home to build continuity and strengthen engagement and learning approaches.
  • Communicate and share information in a meaningful way, demonstrating understanding and support for parents’ concerns.
  • Value what parents and caregivers have noticed or assessments they have had done outside school.
  • Involve parents and caregivers in determining strategies to support student learning and well-being.
  • Work with any programmes or materials they are using at home, to maximise consistency and support for the student.
  • Develop systems for passing on information about a student’s needs, progress and next steps in ways that are meaningful.
  • Share information about out-of-school programmes (for example, classes or groups for music, art, debating or sport).
  • Actively and regularly communicate positive information and achievements to the family.

Establish collaborative partnerships

Establish collaborative partnerships

A successful partnership involves the teacher, the family, the student, and support staff such as resource teacher of the deaf.

What to ask

What to ask

Connect with parents, whānau, and caregivers to understand the strengths and needs of students.

Practical elements:

  • the language(s) spoken at home
  • medications and allergies
  • equipment used at home
  • what they do at home to support learning

Students' likes and dislikes:

  • likes, interests, strengths, what they’re good at, can do independently
  • dislikes, what can upset them, how they express this, calming skills
  • favourites (TV programmes, hobbies, books, songs, sports)

The people in the students' lives:

  • parent and whānau hopes and priorities
  • important people in the student’s life
  • best methods and times to communicate with the family
  • professionals working with the family
  • questions they have and support they would like from the school.

NCEA explained in NZSL

NCEA explained in NZSL

Share this is a brief animated overview of The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) with parents who communicate using New Zealand Sign Language. 

Useful information for parents

Useful information for parents

Family whanau file2

Family/whānau file

A booklet to help parents of students with additional needs to brief their child’s school.

Visit website

The family book

The family book: Te pukapuka o nga whānau

Read time: 125 min

An introduction to services and supports for families and whānau of children who are hard of hearing.

Download PDF

Website

New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children Inc.

This website includes videos, access to specialist support and practical tips and strategies for families.

Publisher: Deaf Children New Zealand Tamariki Turi o Aotearoa

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Identify needs and how to provide support”:

Return to the guide “Deaf or hard of hearing students and learning”

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