Funding cuts for disability support will stop children attending support programmes, says Teacher in the Paddock founder Kevin Powell.

“What it means is that parents are either having to forego attending the programme or come up with the cash themselves, which in a lot of those instances is just not going to happen simply because of the other pressures that are on these families.”

Kevin and his wife Jane of Toi Toi Charity run ‘Teacher in the Paddock’ for students to learn through connecting with nature.

Here, students of various ages grow and prepare their own food, one of the ways connections ‘to self’ is fostered, he says.

“Children connect with our animals, whether it’s horses, cows, chickens through engaging in daily farm life.

“There’s conservation work we do like rat trapping. The latest thing at the moment is skinning the rats. In the afternoons, the day’s catch is taken to our small stream and fed to the eels.

“They’re learning all about the cycles of life.

Students of Teacher in the Paddock.

“We’re outdoors all the time. It doesn’t matter what the weather’s like.”

Kevin says it’s about giving children a space to learn, away from the noise and the bustle, and where they can feel comfortable.

“There are still boundaries. There are still expectations around behaviour but the pressure’s off. It’s all about relationship and connection and just providing opportunities for them and encouraging them.”

This programme is loved by many who will be affected by these funding cuts and may no longer be able to attend the programme.

“We’ve had a child that’s been coming to us for a couple of years now,” he says.

Kevin explains that for weeks, the child had been out of sorts, and no one could figure out what was going on.

The child had picked up on the funding being cut; “and was devastated by the thought they wouldn’t be able to come anymore”.

“It wasn’t until one day, two or three weeks down the track the child just happened to be in a space where they could have a conversation with one of the staff members and mentioned: ‘I don’t think I’m going to be coming anymore because of the funding cuts’.

“You see the positive impact that this programme is having on these children’s lives. It’s just heartbreaking to see the anxiety this is causing some of these children and their families.”

Kevin says funding cuts “affect probably many of the families that come to us, in some way or another”.

“We’ve got parents that are already making alternate arrangements for funds elsewhere. Some can manage, some can’t. I believe that the impact is going to be long term and it’s not going to be good.

“It’s hard because it’s not just the ones that we have coming already, but the ones that could be coming.”

Teacher in the Paddock holds sessions of 10-12 students, capped at 15.

“We keep numbers lower for the simple reason smaller groups is where these children thrive.”

Teacher in the Paddock is a charity model.

“It’s about profit for purpose. The profit goes back into making sure children can come to this programme.”

Kevin says the profits that the company generates, enables some sponsorship.

Students of Teacher in the Paddock.

“If it was up to us, these children could attend without paying; if we could do that way sustainably.

“The biggest struggle of all of this, is that we’re seeing schools increasingly exclude children from attending, yet funds to provide alternative programmes is inadequate.

“So, these kids are caught in the middle. The education system doesn’t and can’t cater for them.”

Kevin speaks about his teaching degree where he learnt about the ‘beautiful philosophy’ of Inclusive Education.

“It’s a beautiful philosophy, but that’s all it is. It’s underfunded, undermanaged, under resourced, under everything.

“The long-term effect on the Bay will be a huge drain on resources going forward. This will come by way of increased absenteeism in the workplace, higher than necessary demand for social and medical services.

“In terms of how this is going to look in the community going forward. We’re going to see a lot more teachers in schools quitting because they can’t handle these children in class because the classroom is not suited for all children’s learning needs.

“Programmes like ours have such a great impact that is contributing to the wellbeing of families, the communities and local businesses.

“One solution we see is for local business and community members to support local solutions to local issues.

“We know the Bay of Plenty has many generous people with the capacity to give, and we would like to challenge them to support programmes that may be impacted by the coming funding changes.”