About Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga / Southern Health School

Teachers at Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga / Southern Health School work with ākonga, their families, and their schools to provide an adapted programme that supports ākonga learning during illness and recovery.
We also support students to return to full-time education at their school when they are able.

If you are considering whether your child should attend Te Kura Whaiora ki te Tonga / Southern Health School, the information below outlines who may be admitted and how to apply.

Who can be admitted to the school?

1. Year 0–13 ākonga with high health needs identified by a registered medical practitioner, and who are undergoing one of the following:

• • An active treatment programme for their medical condition

OR

• • A health-funded mental health programme

2. In addition, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• • In hospital and/or recuperating or rehabilitating for more than 10 school days
  • Likely to have, or have had, six hospital admissions within a 12-month period
  • Absent from school (or likely to be) for more than 40 school days in any one school year

Student admissions to Southern Health School

Step 1: Complete our Medical form

Please have the following medical form filled in by the GP or Specialist that is treating your child and also signed by a parent/caregiver in the designated spot. If possible have this scanned so it can be attached electronically to the online application.

• Verification of Medical Condition (Word document)

OR

• Verification of Medical Condition (PDF)

If possible, obtain your child’s attendance record

A copy of your child’s attendance record for the current year from their school assists us in assessing their eligibility. This can be attached electronically at the end of the online application.

Step 2: Complete the online application form

Please complete the online application form here.

Any issues?

If you have any questions or difficulties with this process or need a printable version of the form please contact us.

Email: secretary@southernhealth.school.nz

Or phone: 03 366 6739 ext 1

If your child does not have a regular school

If your child does not have a regular school, this can be discussed during the enrollment process. It may be appropriate for your child to re-enrol at a school or Southern Health School may become their main school for a period of time.

If Southern Health School is to become your child’s school of enrolment a Section 37 Agreement for special education application will be completed. Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga/Ministry of Education will consider whether to approve the Section 37.