1. Schools—Violence Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnosis Support for Northland and Education Support WorkersTRACEY MARTIN (NZ First) to the Minister of EducationORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSSchools—Violence Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnosis Support for Northland and Education Support Workers1. TRACEY MARTIN (NZ First) to the Minister of Education: Does she agree with the Ministry of Education's National Director for Learning Support that schools in Northland should contact the police when primary school children threaten teachers and other students with violence?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): Tēnā koe Mr Speaker. Yes I agree with the full quote that the ministry's National Director for Learning Support made and the context in which it was given. For the benefit of the House he stated: I would certainly see suspension as being a last resort. If we're talking about very violent behaviour then that's a matter that schools need to be discussing with police." As per the Guidance for New Zealand Schools on Behaviour Management to Minimise Physical Restraint released by the ministry in October last year schools across the country should call the police in situations when a student cannot be managed safely and the imminent danger to students staff or themselves remains after all alternatives have been explored. As we expect in all situations the police are the most appropriate people to deal with violence.Tracey Martin: Is it acceptable that schools on behalf of students in Northland are having to wait for up to 12 months for a diagnosis of foetal alcohol syndrome between 6 to 12 months for an attention deficit disorder diagnosis and are finding it almost impossible to gain access to suitable support even after a diagnosis?Hon HEKIA PARATA: This Government has increased funding for special education or for learning needs support by nearly 30 percent—up to $590 million. Schools in Tai Tokerau have the highest special education grant per child funding in the country and the highest per child staffing entitlement rate in the country. There are also opportunities for schools of the kind that have been reported in the media most recently to participate in other initiatives that are occurring in Tai Tokerau which are all aimed at supporting every child according to the needs that they have.Tracey Martin: In light of that answer can she explain why there are now only 367 Ministry of Education - funded education support workers compared with 502 education support workers in 2013-14 a drop of over 100 support workers?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I cannot answer the member's question because I do not know where those numbers come from but what I can tell—[Interruption] What I can tell the member and perhaps the member's own party would like to listen to the answer is that the ministry has nearly 40 specialist staff in Tai Tokerau dealing with children with additional needs. The ministry also provides funding for approximately 22500 hours of behaviour teacher-aide support to schools in Tai Tokerau. The two resource teacher of learning and behaviour clusters employ 51 resource teachers of learning behaviour which is an increase. Additionally 63 schools in Tai Tokerau have signed up to the Positive Behaviour for Learning programme and it is available to many more up there and we have formed six kāhui ako in Tai Tokerau.Tracey Martin: Is it not a fact that the freeze on specialist Ministry of Education staff is now seriously impacting on schools' abilities to access diagnosis and appropriate support?Hon HEKIA PARATA: There is no freeze and those members who keep insisting on that in the face of actual facts to the contrary—it suggests mischievous carrying out of their responsibilities because the facts are that Vote Education is now over $11 billion when in 2008 it was $8 billion. The facts are that special education funding is now—[Interruption] Look I know the members are not interested in actual facts but these are those. Special education funding has gone up to $590 million and the facts for Tai Tokerau are those that I have already outlined to the member.Tracey Martin: Will the Minister commit to immediate emergency funding perhaps from the $300 million underspent on the communities of learning for experienced teacher or student support for Northland schools which are reporting that staff are buckling under the pressure of severe behavioural or suicidal children while her department works with other ministries to sort out what is an unacceptable situation?Hon HEKIA PARATA: The underspend to which the member refers is precisely for the recruitment and appointment of expert teachers so yes I will commit to that. I have already committed to it our Government has committed to it there is funding for it and now we need the schools forming communities of learning to get on and appoint those expert resources."