Luxon: Helping pupils who need more support

• By Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister and MP for Botany

From early next year, over 100,000 more Year 1-8 students will have access to a Learning Support Co-ordinator to provide the support they need so they can thrive at school.

By 2028, more students will have access to this support, with almost 300,000 students expected to benefit as a result of funding announced earlier this year.

Learning Support Co-ordinators support both staff and students in schools, working with neurodiverse students and those with additional learning needs.

This increase in support will help schools identify student needs earlier, bringing learning support closer to young people who need it most.

For too long, parents, teachers, and principals have been calling out for more support, which is why Budget 2025 delivered the largest investment in learning support in a generation.

We want every Kiwi child to get the support they need, no matter where they live, but right now, access to learning support varies across New Zealand.

We’re removing inequity and inconsistency, and we’re being flexible for our rural and smaller schools that struggle to fully staff their classrooms.

Parents can be confident that we are putting their child’s needs at the centre of the education system.

We want every child to thrive. This investment will raise achievement and ensure every Kiwi student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.