Referrals process for MOE

The MOE (Ministry of Education) provides a free service for speech language therapy. However, the referral process is not always straight forward and not everyone who makes a referral will get the service. This guide will walk you through the referral process, explain who to talk to, and offer practical tips to help you get the support your tamaiti or student needs.

Talking to Key People

Before making a referral, gather observations from those who spend time with the mokopuna. This includes:

• Whānau: If you are making a referral on behalf of the whānau, ask them what they notice and what their concerns are. Ask them: How does the mokopuna communicate their wants and needs? For example, how do they let you know they are hungry? When do they get frustrated?

  
  

• Kaiako: If you are a whānau making a referral, talk to you kaiako. They can provide valuable insights into your tamaiti's communication in a learning environment. Ask what they have noticed and how they support language development.

  
  

• Your GP: Share your concerns with your GP. Whānau often tell me their GP has said 'wait and see'. I encourage whānau to keep bringing it up with their GP. You don't need a referral from you GP, so I encourage whānau to go ahead and make a referral anyway.

Gathering information to include in referral

Plunket Website: It can be hard to describe communication! The Plunket website offers helpful information on typical communication milestones and what to expect as mokopuna grow. While it does not focus specifically on te reo Māori, the general guidelines can help you describe what your mokopuna is and isn't doing. For example, "our mokopuna is 2 years old but is not yet using 50 words" - https://www.plunket.org.nz/child-development/communication/

Hearing Tests: A hearing test is important because hearing issues can affect communication development, if you can't hear language, then its hard to learn it! If the mokopuna doesn't already have one, you can ask your GP for a referral to an audiologist (who does the hearing test). Include any information you have about hearing, including hearing tests.

How to Make a Referral to the Ministry of Education

You can make a referral for speech language therapy directly to the MOE yourself. Kaiako and GPs can also make a referral. Here’s how:

1. Contact your local Ministry of Education office or visit their website to find the referral forms and guidelines.

2. Complete the referral form with detailed information about your the mokopuna's communication difficulties, any assessments done, and observations from whānau, kaiako or health professionals.

3. Include any reports or hearing test results if available.

4. Submit the referral by mail, email, or through your child’s school or early childhood centre.

   
   

If you prefer, your GP or kaiako can help you with this process. They often have experience with referrals and can ensure all necessary information is included.

Make a referral earlier rather than later

Our babies are rapidly growing language in the early years. The earlier we can get them support, the more effective that help is. We might be tempted to 'wait and see' and others might encourage us to do this. But it doesn't hurt to make an early referral and explore ideas to grow communication in the meantime.

Wait times can be long. They can be anywhere from a few months to 12 months. Here is an example timeline: A referral is made when the mokopuna is 3 years old, and they end up on a wait list for 12 months. They are seen by someone at 4 years old and only have an opportunity to see an SLT a few times before they start school at 5 years old. When a referral is made sooner, there are more opportunities to provide that support in the early years.

When your tamaiti is under the age of 5 years old, the whānau or kaiako can make a referral to MOE. You don't need a referral from the GP. However, the process can get more complicated when over the age of 5 years old. A teacher may need to make the referral, and then the process may continue with conversations between the school and MOE.

What to Expect After Referral

The speech language therapy service through MOE is free. Once your referral is accepted, someone from MOE will contact you to arrange an assessment. This assessment helps identify your mokopuna's specific needs and develop a plan.

Supporting Language Development While Waiting

While waiting for an SLT, you can support communication skills at home and in early learning settings:

• Share bedtime stories about what mokopuna did that day. Click here for a simple tūpuna practice we do in my whānau.

• Describe the world and around them - Check out other ideas on my blog post here.

• Talking Matters shares ideas and resources here.

• Read pukapuka and talk about the pictures they point at.

Considering Private Speech Language Therapy

If the wait for MOE services is long or you want additional support, private speech language therapy is an option. Private therapists can offer more flexible scheduling and tailored sessions.

If you want to explore this, I offer a free 20-minute call to discuss whether private therapy might be right for your family. This can help you understand the process, costs, and what to expect. You can get in touch with me here.

Early action can make a big difference in your child’s communication journey. Reach out to the right people and gather information so you can make a referral. If you want to talk about private therapy options, feel free to contact me for a free introductory call.