Nelson school for high needs students struggling with low enrolment numbers

Salisbury School says the application process is too long and complicated.

A Nelson residential school for girls with high needs says it's not their fault they have just three students.

Salisbury School, which has come back from the brink of closure twice, says the application process is too long and complicated.

Salisbury School board chairperson Janet Kelly told 1News demand for a school like theirs has decreased slightly in recent years, but there are still students wanting to enrol.

"It's sad to think we only have three students when we know we certainly could have 20... Three students through no fault of our own. We believe that the applications are being blocked," she said.

The application process for Salisbury School, and the two other special schools in New Zealand, is complex. It's overseen by the Ministry of Education and students have to fit a range of criteria.

Students need to be eight to 15 years old, have highly complex and challenging needs, and other educational options need to have been considered. Last year, there were 33 applications for the country’s three special schools, with the Ministry approving just 12.

Kelly says even if students meet all the criteria that doesn't mean they'll get a spot.

"It is complex, it's complicated, it's time-consuming and people find it very frustrating."

Salisbury School wants to be able to oversee the enrolment application process themselves as it would increase their roll.

"If we could manage our own enrolment processes life would be a lot better, a lot easier for everybody," Kelly said.

Nick Armstrong is on the Salisbury School board after his daughter Molly attended the school. The impact on her was profound.

One memory of a visit to a busy restaurant shortly after Molly enrolled sticks with Armstrong.

"We sat down and we had pizza and she coped, and she had the skills to be able to cope," an emotional Armstrong said.

Molly has a chromosome abnormality which means she struggles with learning and behaviour. At Salisbury, she made her first friends and learnt the basics like taking care of herself and cleaning her room.

"She'll need support her whole life but the future's not terrifying anymore," he said.

Salisbury School is the only residential special school in New Zealand for girls. In 2012, Hekia Parata tried to close the school but was stopped by the court.

The school was set to be closed again before the then-new Labour Government saved it in 2017.

A decade ago the school had 70 students but that's declined rapidly in recent years. Various changes have been made to enrolment criteria and processes but none seem to have made much difference.

The school is funded for 20 students and received almost $3 million in Government funding last year.

National's education spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says there's a role for a school like Salisbury, but something needs to change.

"I believe in the school but you can't just let it drift year in, year out with no students," he said.

Associate Education Minister Jan Tinetti has tasked officials with gathering advice on why the three special schools have low enrolment numbers.

"I want to know what it is that is the big barrier for those schools so that's the advice that I've asked the ministry to come back on," Tinetti said.

A former principal herself, the minister says she has had students attend Salisbury and knows the impact it has. She is expecting the advice back before the end of the year.

"Closing the school is not an option at this stage. I really want to get to the bottom of this."

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