Five Central Otago schools will receive funding for learning support co-ordinators (LSC) under the government’s $192M investment into Year 1-8s, but some will have to wait until 2027.

Cromwell College will receive 0.47 full time teacher equivalent (FTTE) in 2026 and Cromwell Primary 0.79 in 2027, while Roxburgh and Maniototo Area schools along with Tarras School will receive 0.2 in 2027.

Some regions currently only have 18 percent access to a LSC and others have 57 percent access. The Ministry of Education is bumping that up to 60 percent access next year across every region, for schools with year 1-8 students that don’t already have one.

Nationally, 101,000 students will benefit from LSCs from the start of next year, under the Government’s $192 million Budget 2025 investment into schools.

The access would then bump up to 80 percent of students in 2027 and 100 percent by 2028.

Maniototo Area School principal Melissa Bell said they were looking forward to the addition of LSC support in 2027, but needed it sooner.

“We know this resource will support meeting students with complex learning needs, but are disappointed to have not received the funding in 2026.

“We have not had access to a learning support coordinator to date, and as an isolated school, this resource would have been a significant support to our students.”

LSCs support both staff and students in schools by working with neurodiverse students and those with additional learning needs.

The government will be providing funded training and induction for new LSCs in literacy and numeracy, and the use of screening tools. The investment will address the equity gap of LSCs across the country.

MP Joseph Mooney welcomed Education Minister Erica Standford’s announcement of the phased implementation of LSCs.

“Increasing access to Learning Support Coordinators (LSC) in Southland-Otago is fantastic news for the Southland electorate. For too long, parents, teachers, and principals have been calling out for this support, right now only 15,664 students have access to a LSC.”

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