11. Question No. 11—Education (School Operations)TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations)Question No. 11—Education (School Operations)11. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations): Does the Ministry of Education meet the full cost of learning support needs for tamariki in Aotearoa?Hon JAN TINETTI (Associate Minister of Education (School Operations)): We know that there are some unmet learning support needs for some tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa. As Associate Minister of Education I have been very open about that. While we have a suite of evidence-based interventions and supports available part of the challenge is understanding the individual needs of students and finding the right intervention at the right time. This is why I commissioned a comprehensive review into the support needed for students who are considered to have the highest needs for learning—and need support as an intervention.Teanau Tuiono: Does the Ministry of Education meet the full cost of teacher aide wages?Hon JAN TINETTI: As I've said we know that there are unmet needs for some tamariki and rangatahi in this country. As such that is why I have commissioned this Highest Needs Review which will report back to me shortly. I will be taking recommendations through to Cabinet in October.Teanau Tuiono: Does she think it's reasonable for parents and school communities to fundraise for a shortfall of teacher aide funding?Hon JAN TINETTI: This is exactly why we have commissioned the review into our highest-needs students in this country. Schools may draw from a variety of funding sources including operational grant funding in addition to that provided by the ministry; there's also funding provided by other agencies and locally raised funds. I will point out that it is inadequate when we hear of those stories of parents supporting teacher aides at that time—it is something that is actually illegal; exactly why we have the High Needs Review in train.Teanau Tuiono: Is she committed to ensuring all students with additional learning needs receive fully funded support to enable them to thrive at school?Hon JAN TINETTI: We know our Government is committed to barrier-free access to education for all students. But we do know that there is more work to do to address the fact that some students aren't getting the right support they need and when they need it. This is exactly as I say why we have commissioned the High Needs Review.Teanau Tuiono: Will the High Needs Review include changes to the funding model to ensure the needs of all children are met and to provide fair pay and good working conditions for learning support staff?Hon JAN TINETTI: The learning support systems we have in place were established over 20 years ago and haven't been reviewed since then. While I don't want to go on what those recommendations will be when they come back to me I have asked officials to be bold. We need to look at the system as a whole; we need to look at a system that works around the young person with that person at the centre not the young person working around the system. That includes the staffing who support that young person.Teanau Tuiono: Does she agree with Te Tai Tokerau Principals' Association president that—and I quote—We always need more support. Schools are used to putting rubber bands and stoppers around things but we have so many kids with needs these days that it's becoming a bottomless pit." and if so what will she do to improve the support given to schools?Hon JAN TINETTI: I have had many robust conversations with that particular president of the Tai Tokerau Principals' Association and I will continue to do so into the future; I'm quite certain of that. I have commissioned the High Needs Review I await those recommendations and I look forward to taking those recommendations through to Cabinet.Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. Members will note that there are 11 oral questions today instead of the usual 12. I understand that this morning accidentally the Office of the Clerk gave the Māori Party advice that they didn't have a primary question today and therefore they did not lodge one by the deadline. I therefore seek leave for the Māori Party to be allocated an additional primary question to make up for that that it be on a day of their choice and that it be inserted into the line-up for that day as question No. 4 which would have been the question that they would have had today.SPEAKER: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. It will be so.Brooke van Velden: Mr Speaker am I able to speak to the point that the Minister has raised? I noted that a few of us have had correspondence with the Māori Party today. They were specifically wishing to seek leave tomorrow to ask a question. So I wondered whether we could actually delay this discussion until the Māori Party are here to speak for themselves on this?SPEAKER: Well I've already declared—sorry. I've already put the leave to the House and there was no objection. The way the leave was put was that Te Paati Māori can indeed choose to have that question tomorrow should they wish. So I think it's entirely up to them."