Field           Education

 

Review and revision of Special Education unit standards

 

Subfield

Domain

ID

Special Education

Assessment and Programming in Special Education

7299, 7310, 9144

Behaviour Assessment and Intervention in Special Education

7282

Physical Needs in Special Education

7289, 21224

Professional Practice in Special Education

9135, 9143

 

NZQA National Qualifications Services has completed the review and revision of the unit standards listed above.  The unit standard in bold above was revised only.

 

Date new versions published                                                               October 2019

 

Planned review date                                                                              December 2023

 

Summary

 

These standards were due for review and needed updating to reflect current educational policy and sector focus.

 

Their falling usage over the last few years can be directly attributed to their previous lack of fitness for purpose and an interest remains in having up-to-date professional development tools available for teacher aides and similar education support roles.

 

The standards were reviewed by sector experts with interests in the development of teacher aides and the draft standards were then circulated to the wider sector for feedback.

 

Main changes

 

·      The standards were amended to reflect the latest template, where Explanatory Notes were renamed Guidance Information, and Evidence Requirements have become Performance Criteria.

·      All standards were reclassified into newly registered classifications.

·      Standards 9135 and 9144 both decreased in level to better reflect what is expected of teacher aides.

·      Standards 9144 decreased in credits to better reflect the amount of work required to achieve the standard.

·      Standard 7282 was expired without formal replacement; its outcomes will be covered in two new standards at a substantially lower level.

·      Standard 9135 was replaced by a new standard.

·      A new Level 3 standard was created to provide an entry point to Level 4 standard 7299.

·      Outcomes and performance criteria for many of the standards were changed significantly to reflect current practice and terminology.

·      Guidance information was updated across the set of standards.

·      Standard 9143 was expired without replacement as the skill set is covered in other standards and there was little demonstrated support for a standard at Level 4 in this area.

 

Category D unit standards will expire at the end of December 2021

 

The last date for assessment of superseded versions of Category B unit standards is 31 December 2021

 

Impact on existing organisations with consent to assess

 

Current consent for

Consent extended to

Nature of consent

Classification or ID

Level

Nature of consent

Classification or ID

Level

Subfield

Special Education

4

Subfield

Inclusive Education

4

5

5

7

7

Domain

Assessment and Programming in Special Education

4-6

Standards

7299, 7310

4

Standards

9144, 31907

3

Domain

Behaviour Assessment and Intervention in Special Education

4

Standards

31905, 31906

3

6

Domain

Physical Needs in Special Education

4

Standards

7289, 21224

3

Domain

Professional Practice in Special Education

4

Standard

31999

4

 

Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits

 

All changes are in bold.

 

Review

 

Key to review category

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID

D

Standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Education > Special Education > Assessment and Programming in Special Education

Education > Inclusive Education > Inclusive Education Practice

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

7299

Participate in the development and implementation of an individual learning plan for a young person with special needs

Contribute to developing and implementing individual education plans for young people with learning support needs

4

4

B

9144

Assist with implementation of strategies to facilitate learning for young people with special needs

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of learning and strategies to support a young person with learning support needs

4

 

3

10

 

4

B

31907

Demonstrate knowledge of individual education plans for young people with learning support needs

3

2

New

 

Education > Special Education > Behaviour Assessment and Intervention in Special Education

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

7282

Assist with behaviour change for young people with challenging behaviour in education settings

5

10

D

 

Education > Special Education > Physical Needs in Special Education

Education > Inclusive Education > Inclusive Education Intervention and Support

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

7289

Assist young people to increase physical function through positioning and mobility

Support young people to enhance physical function through positioning and mobility

3

4

B

21224

Demonstrate knowledge of challenges and issues related to young people with specific physical needs

Demonstrate knowledge of challenges faced by, and related to working with, young people with specific physical needs

3

3

B

 

Education > Special Education > Professional Practice in Special Education

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

9143

Describe and support a collaborative consultative team approach for young people with special needs

4

6

D

 

Education

ID

Subfield

Domain

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

9135

 

 

 

 

 

31999

Special Education

 

 

 

 

Inclusive Education

Professional Practice in Special Education

 

 

 

Inclusive Education Practice

Identify and apply ethical guidelines for working with young people who have special education needs

Describe and apply relevant guidelines for working with young people with learning support needs

5

 

 

 

 

 

4

6

 

 

 

 

 

6

C

 

Education > Inclusive Education > Inclusive Education Intervention and Support

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

31905

Contribute to implementing behaviour support plans for young people with learning support needs in an education context

3

4

New

31906

Plan for and carry out an observation of a young person with learning support needs in an education context

3

5

New

 

Revision

 

Education > Special Education > Assessment and Programming in Special Education

Education > Inclusive Education > Inclusive Education Practice

ID

Title

Level

Credit

7310

Assist in reading programmes for young people with reading difficulties

4

4