The New Zealand Education Institute believes extra funding for special needs students only just scratches the surface. 

A lift in funding for special needs students has been announced, it'll see an extra 15,000 students get an hour more a day with a teacher aide.

But NZEI says with 40 to 60 thousand students with moderate special needs, a large number get minimal classroom assistance.

President, Louise Green says the current funding model just doesn't provide enough support.

"Children with high special education needs, there's 30,000 of them in New Zealand. 10,000 children get funded and the rest miss out, and they have to be funded and supported through their schools."