Source: https://files.cry.co.nz/naenae-college%2Ffacultyreports%2F2023%2Fsnu.pdf
In 2023 staffing inaequacies in SNU reached crisis. The BoT provided extra teaching hours and meeting was held with MoE
With another intake (11) students there were again behavioural issues in Term throughout the year
We still have an aging staff and some are needing extended leave for age-related illness (e.g joint operations). In 2024 almost half of SNU staff will be 60+. How do we prepare for a large proportion of our experienced staff who may want to retire at about the same time?
In 2023, the BoT returned a SNU student who had been suspended to the BoT for continuing disobedience and abusive behaviour.
SNU is necessarily a closed community and we are locked into together all day. This is a different situation to one in which a student has three different classes a day. I understand the BoT's reasons for returning the student but I think that a representative needs to come and spend some time in the SNU to see the challenging nature of the environment we are dealing with, if you are going to be making critical decisions regarding our safety and well-being.
On-going certainty of levels of staffing: both teachers and teacher-aides.
How to manage extreme and complex behaviours which we are seeing more frequently now than in previous years.
In 2023 our on-going relationship with the t faded out after she ecame seriously ill. Currently there is little progress in the communication area for our non-verbal students.
In 2024 we are trialling a new sensory-based learning programme (called Super Sensory class) for ten of our students. These students have largely not been responding well to some of our curriculum-based programmes, e.g Sensory Health, Sensory Art, Sensory Integrated Studies. The extra staffing provided by the school supports this programme, in which most of the students are Very High Needs.
SNU staff need support and training in order to manage the higher numbers of students enrolling with complex learning and behaviour needs. We are planning some more professional development in the area of trauma-based practice. We are also investigating the possibility of providing supervision for staff to reduce burn-out.
This year (2024) we have fewer students who can undertake mainstream subjects (with support). There-are no students currently with the prospect of achieving NCEA at any level.
We are still noticing that, as projected, the ability levels of students are dropping. However these students are designated High Needs, not Very High. We have more students in our Sensory Needs group, and fewer students who are capable of engaging with any main school classes, even LAR.