Minutes
MEETING SUBJECT:
TC Inclusive Education Advisory Group
DATE OF MEETING:
25 September 2020
TIME OF MEETING:
10am-3pm
VENUE:
Matairangi Boardroom, Level 7, 80 Boulcott St, Wellington
ATTENDEES
Frian Wadia (Convenor), Heather Lear, Maree Kirk, Matt Truman, Liz
Cassidy, Tracey McConachie, Jude MacArthur, Chloe Kay, Thecla Moffat,
Michael Thorn (Manager Policy and Implementation), Poppy Shelton
(Policy Analyst), Sal y Macesmith (Board Secretary)
APOLOGIES
Donna Boniface
1.
Welcome / Whakawhanaugnatanga
Frian Wadia (Convenor) and Tamahau Rowe (Tātai Heke Māori) welcomed the members to the
hui and each attendee presented a special object or photo that is important to them.
2.
About the Council
Lesley Hoskin (Chief Executive) introduced the Teaching Council’s Kawa (Te Tiriti o Waitangi and
the Values of the Teaching Profession), Tikanga (how we do our work), Te Aurara (the strategic
priorities for this financial year), and Arapakitū / Wal of Identity. She then spoke of the Council’s
functions and provided an overview of some of the work completed in the last five years.
3.
Work Programme Overview
Pauline Barnes (Deputy Chief Executive - Professional Services) provided an overview of the
strategic initiatives for the 2020-21 financial year and spoke of the levers the Council has to
effect change.
4.
Purpose of Advisory Group
The TCIEAG agreed to the name ‘Teaching Council Inclusive Education Advisory Group’ or
TCIEAG as there was already an IEAG.
The members confirmed the definition of inclusive education in the Terms of Reference was
spot on.
Frian introduced four items the Governing Council had suggested for areas to get TCIEAG input.
A. Physical restraint
The TCIEAG heard that the Teaching Council had a representative on the Ministry of
Education’s Physical Restraint Advisory Group and the Council had been tasked with leading
the examples in practice for the new Guidelines. The TCIEAG would have the opportunity to
feed into the work. The TCIEAG was asked to provide practical scenarios around when to
use and when not to use physical restraint.
B. Change in the Education Act
The TCIEAG discussed the right to attend school in the Education and Training Act 2020 and
how schools did not always have supports or funding in place to implement this provision.
This was an area the Council could not change directly, but there could be other ways the
TCIEAG could help the Council influence change and shift attitudes.
C. Funding for Teaching Aides
The TCIEAG discussed the lack of funding during school holidays for TAs in early childhood
settings, which was an ongoing issue for private centres. The TCIEAG asked for more details
on this funding including what is available for different settings.
The TCIEAG also discussed the pay increase for TAs and how this may be resulting in
reduced hours in schools and centres.
The Council had little influence on TA funding but the TCIEAG could let the Council know the
reality on the ground. At its next hui, the TCIEAG would discuss what, if anything, the Council
could do to support teachers. In the area of physical restraint, the TCIEAG agreed that
access to training and funding for training was key.
D. Leadership
The Governing Council had asked for the TCIEAG’s advice on influencing inclusion in the
leadership space. The Council would provide more background information including the
development of the Leadership Strategy and Capability Framework and the Council’s current
work on Rauhuia, its Leadership Space.
5.
What’s On Top for Members
The TCIEAG members discussed what issues/topics were top of mind for them at the moment.
Topics included:
• Right to attend; breaking down barriers
• Resourcing/Funding: access to it and finding/sharing ways to succeed without it
• Sharing knowledge and celebrating success/good practices
• Driving change when change is hard - people can be stuck in their ways and teachers
are time poor
• Improving professional leaders’ understanding of inclusive education as a lever for
change
• Upskilling teachers: from initial teacher education to professional learning &
development; looking at ecological perspective – look at impairment need, not the label.
2
• Resolution/complaints process for parents
• Helping students/removing hurdles while transitioning through education system
• Technology as an enabler
• Wellbeing of teachers
6.
Administrative Matters
Sal y Macesmith (Board Secretary) spoke briefly about the Guide to Advisory Group Fees &
Expenses. Members were encouraged to get in touch if they had any questions regarding
payments or reimbursements for expenses.
7.
Date and Agenda Items for next hui
Frian thanked the members for their attendance and commitment to the Council. The next hui
was scheduled for Friday 20 November 2020.
Future agenda items included:
• Leadership
• Funding of teacher aides
• Our Code and Standards
• Physical restraint
• Teacher training and resources (ongoing agenda item, to be continued at future hui)
• Celebrating success in inclusion
Signed__________________________________ Dated__19th March 2021_________________
Frian Wadia
Chair
Teaching Council Inclusive Education Advisory Group
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Document Outline
