Kia ora koutou,
Thank you for everything that you’re doing to improve attendance and achievement. It was good to see that the Term 2 attendance data shows some improvement, with 58.4% of students attending school regularly – an increase of 5.0 percentage points from 53.4% in Term 2 last year. This is the first time that any term’s attendance has been higher than the same term pre-COVID-19. This improvement comes from maintaining focus, which we need to continue.
The Government has approved curriculum days for 2026 and 2027 to support you with planning and professional learning for the curriculum and assessment changes. You can read more about these days in this bulletin.
Nāku, nā
Ellen
Attendance, achievement and assessment#
NCEA consultation – Reminder#
Consultation on the proposal to replace NCEA is open until 5pm on 15 September.
Information about the consultation is available on the NCEA consultation page. This includes the consultation discussion document (including new summary versions in several different languages), helpful guides for parents and whānau, teachers and employers, and online surveys designed to help you share your thoughts with us.
Everyone has a stake in the success of our young people, so do let us know what you think.
Consultation on proposal to replace NCEA – Ministry of Education
You’re invited: Curriculum Roadshow for Leaders#
We, along with the regional Principals’ Associations, invite education leaders (Years 0 to 8) to attend the Curriculum Roadshow for Leaders this October.
Join international thought leaders and local experts to explore how to lead and sustain a knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the science of learning.
Afternoon sessions are practical and peer-led, designed to equip leaders with the confidence and tools to lead curriculum change, focusing on:
- strategic leadership
- leading change
- timelines and active implementation.
These events support leaders through the most significant curriculum changes in a generation. There’s no cost to attend, and you can register at:
Curriculum Roadshow for Leaders – EventsAir
2026 and 2027 curriculum days approved#
The Government has approved four curriculum half-days each year in 2026 and 2027 to support staff with planning and professional learning for curriculum and assessment changes. You will not need to make up these half-days, they are officially approved under the Education Regulations: 8(5) and 9(1).
Boards may close schools for up to four half-days per year, and schools and kura need to give at least six weeks’ notice to parents and whānau before any closure. These days are part of the Government’s commitment to lift student achievement through a clearer curriculum and smarter assessment.
Maths check trial#
An early maths and pāngarau check will be available next year to help Year 2 teachers | kaiako check children’s maths and pāngarau understanding. These checks will give kaiako the chance to see how children are progressing in line with the refreshed curriculum, and support effective planning with the next steps in student learning.
A trial of the check will take place in both schools and kura in November. If you would like to participate in this trial, email [email protected].
For more information, visit:
Maths and Pāngarau Year 2 check – Tāhūrangi
Applications for cohort 3 targeted structured literacy approaches PLD#
Enrolments for cohort 3 Ministry-funded targeted professional learning development (PLD) to support structured literacy approaches (SLA) staffing entitlement teachers are open.
Cohort 3 is open to schools receiving the staffing entitlement for literacy support. Any staff member who holds the SLA staffing resource role can enrol for this PLD.
Enrolments for cohort 3 will close on 24 October, with PLD commencing from Term 4.
For information on how to enrol and the list of approved providers of this PLD, visit:
Any patai, contact [email protected].
Applications for maths and SLA accelerated support staffing open#
Applications are open for schools to apply for new and on-going Structured Literacy Approaches (SLA) staffing for Years 0 to 6.
Schools and kura can now also apply for new maths acceleration staffing. Applications are open until 19 September, for both.
The SLA staffing allowance is available for those teaching the New Zealand Curriculum to support SLA interventions for Year 0 to 6 students in 2026, and the maths acceleration staffing is to deliver the 12-week Maths Acceleration Programme (MAP), which focuses in 2026 on accelerating progress in Years 3 to 6 and Tau 3 to 6.
For more information, go to:
Ministry-funded SLA staffing resource for 2026 Years 0 to 6 – Tāhūrangi
Maths and Pāngarau Years 3–6 staffing resource – Tāhūrangi
Final webinar for Te Poipoi Kaiako mentor support programme#
Te Poipoi Kaiako Mentor Support Programme's final webinar for 2025 is on 20 October at 3.30pm and 21 October at 7pm for Pou Tautoko and mentor teachers. Explore strategies for working with your mentees or Pia to support critical reflection, encourage inclusive pedagogy, and design for learner variability.
Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programme webinar 8 – Humanitix
