Attendance, achievement and assessment#

The attendance service case management system is now live#

You can now refer ākonga | students to your attendance service provider using the new attendance service case management system.

Find guidance on referring students, information about the system and a map of attendance service catchments here:

Attendance services

Attendance webinars#

We are running a series of optional attendance related webinars. Each webinar topic will be delivered twice to provide flexibility for attendees.

The first webinars on 11 and 12 February covered an introduction to attendance for Term 1, 2026. A recording and transcript of the webinar will be available on our website this week, along with questions and answers from the session.

The next webinar, covering the changes to attendance services, will be held on:

• 17 February, 4–4.45pm
• 18 February, 7–7.45pm.

You can find out more and register for upcoming webinars at:

Attendance webinars

Recording school closed days and reasons in SMS#

The reasons for any full-day closures during term time need to be recorded in your student management system (SMS) calendar. This will make attendance data more accurate and provide better insight into attendance trends.

SMS vendors will make this update in their systems. In most cases, the functionality will be available on or before 19 February. Your SMS vendor will communicate with you about their system changes.

If you have existing board-approved teacher-only days already entered for 2026, update them with the reasons for closure. You can enter or amend closed days and reasons for future, current, or past days.

Find more information here:

School opening and closing for instruction

Recording school closed-day reasons [PDF, 137 KB]

‘Phones away for the day’ good practice guide#

The Education Review Office’s good practice guide has actions you can take and links to other resources and tools.

Good practice guide – Education Review Office

You can provide exemptions for students to use their cell phones if it’s connected with a health, disability or learning support need. Please communicate these exemptions to your staff.

For more information, refer to the 9 December bulletin.

Positive impacts of ‘phones away for the day’ – Bulletin 9 December

Small change to 2027 Term 1 latest start date#

So that schools can meet their minimum opening requirement, we’ve shifted the latest starting date in 2027 by one day from 4 February to 3 February. No other changes have been made. Our website was updated in October 2025 – this is a further reminder. You can read the term dates at:

School terms and holidays dates

Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro digital tools live#

We've launched new online tools to support the requirements for schools and kura to use Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro. Information about the support and guidance available, including links to the tools is available at:

Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro online tools and guidance – Tāhūrangi

SMART report samples and guidance available#

The student monitoring, assessment and reporting tool (SMART) report samples and supporting guidance are now available. These are designed to help teachers and kaiako understand what SMART progress information will look like, and how it can support classroom planning, reporting, and conversations with teachers, parents and whānau. You can access the reports and guidance at:

SMART overview and access – Tāhūrangi

New TMoA teaching resources available#

Online resources have been released to help tumuaki and kaiako unpack and understand the new wāhanga ako. There are seven new sets of texts to support Te Reo Rangatira and STEM for Years 9 to 13, a linguistic items handbook for Years 4 to 8, and a range of Pāngarau products for Years 0 to 8. These resources will be arriving with you from this week.

Curriculum implementation products – Tāhūrangi

New Te Reo Māori training for teachers#

Te Kura Raunui, an online te reo Māori training programme for teachers and kaiako, is launching in Term 2. The programme is designed to build fluent and confident use of te reo Māori across English-medium classrooms (Years 0 to 13) and is aligned to ‘Te Aho Arataki Marau mō te Ako i te Reo Māori – Kura Auraki | Curriculum Guidelines for Teaching and Learning Te Reo Māori in English-medium Schools: Years 1 to 13’.

Te Reo Māori Training – Te Kura Raunui – Tāhūrangi

A four-week taster starts 2 March. Register your interest at:

Te kura raunui – Monday workforms

Structured literacy approaches (SLA) staffing and Maths Acceleration Programme (MAP) guidance available#

Those who have received SLA staffing for years 0 to 6 or are a part of the Maths Acceleration Programme (MAP) for years 0 to 6 can access guidance on using the additional staffing and applying for PLD. The new guidance includes information on the FTTE allocation, using the FTTE, and what PLD is available.

For more information, visit:

SLA PLD for targeted teaching to support staffing entitlement teachers – Professional learning and development

Ministry-funded SLA staffing resource for 2026 – Years 0–6 – Tāhūrangi

Maths and Pāngarau years 0–6 staffing resource – Tāhūrangi

Reminder – Apply for cohort 8 PLD for structured literacy approaches and te reo matatini#

A reminder that applications for cohort 8 of the Ministry-funded PLD for structured literacy approaches and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā (structured te reo matatini) are open and will close on 6 March. Cohort 8 PLD will be delivered over Terms 2, 3 and 4 of 2026.

If approved for this PLD, you will receive an application reference number (ARN) that you can use to enrol with an approved provider.

For more information on how to apply, the list of approved providers of this PLD, and deadlines for enrolment, visit:

PLD for structured literacy and te reo Matatini approaches – Professional learning and development

New operating standards and procedures for RTLB#

The new operating standards and procedures for Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) are now available. These operating standards support the RTLB to operate consistently across Aotearoa, delivering a high-quality service in schools for ākonga who need additional learning support.

Developed in collaboration with the RTLB executive and a joint working group, this work reflects a strong partnership and shared commitment to providing the right support early, so every ākonga can make progress and achieve their learning goals.

Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour

Professional development fund for principal leadership#

Principals covered by the PPCBU Collective Agreement (or relevant IEA) can access $6,000 in both 2026 and 2027 for professional learning, in line with our criteria.

The 2026 payment will be made to schools in late March based on employment agreement coverage recorded in Education Payroll as at 3 March.

See the criteria, which set out the approved use of the fund and administrative conditions, here:

Professional development fund for principal leadership

Te Poipoi Kaiako mentor support programme – Regional workshops#

Te Poipoi Kaiako provides support and guidance for mentor teachers and provisional teachers, including overseas trained teachers. It is delivered by Tātai Aho Rau Core Education and is fully funded by us for kura, schools and early learning services.

Registrations for face-to-face and online workshops in Terms 1 and 3 are open.

To find out more and register, visit:

Te Poipoi Kaiako mentor support programme – Core Education

Kōtui Ako VLN primary programmes registrations closing 23 February#

Extend curriculum choices for students and increase your school's confidence and capability in online learning. A wide range of language programmes are available and you can read about them and register your interest at:

Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network – Hail

Education Gazette out now#

Issue 1 of the Education Gazette is out now. Read and subscribe at:

Education Gazette

Workforce and resourcing#

Study awards and grants round#

Applications for the 2027 round of study awards and grants for teachers and principals open 1 April and close on 30 April. For more information, eligibility requirements and to apply, visit:

Sabbaticals, study awards and study grants – Education Workforce

Any patai, email us.

Email: [email protected]

Funding applications for English for speakers of other languages#

Applications for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) funding for Terms 1 and 2 are due on 10 March. Submit your application from 1 March via the SDP.

Schools that received ESOL funding for Terms 3 and 4 2025

Update the 2025 period 2 Terms 3 and 4 status list (available from the SDP) and add information for new students. Upload your updated status list in Excel format via the SDP by 10 March.

Schools that did not receive ESOL funding for Terms 3 and 4 2025

Use the ESOL funding application form to apply for ESOL funding:

ESOL funding application form [XLSX, 75 KB]

Additional information about the ESOL funding application process can be found at:

ESOL funding

Secure Data Portal (SDP) – Applications and Online Systems

Additional relief teacher funding#

We are receiving a high volume of requests that do not have the required information attached. To ensure prompt process please note the supporting documentation required to process your Additional Relief Teacher Funding requests.

Schools funding – Applications and online systems

Eligibility criteria and further details are also on our website:

Additional relief teacher funding

2026 staffing roll increases#

The confirmed rolls and staffing entitlements will be visible in Pourato on 26 March. If your roll grows after 1 March, you may be eligible for a Staffing Roll Increase. Refer to our website for further information:

Request a staffing roll increase when your school's roll grows

Applications for roll increases can be accepted from 26 March.

March roll return#

The March roll count date is 2 March with returns due no later than 10 March. The 2026 School Roll Return Guidelines along with a school roll return ‘how to’ sheet are available to download at:

School roll return guidelines – Education Counts

Preparing to complete your roll return

If you have students in secondary tertiary programmes, check with your providers to make sure the correct details are in your student management system (SMS).

Check you are using the latest SMS version at:

School SMS roll returns 2026 – Education Counts

If you don’t use an SMS, complete the ‘March roll return’ template spreadsheet available on Education Counts from 2 March and send it to us via the SDP. Read the instructions tab on the template for more information.

School roll return forms (March 2026) – Education Counts

Any questions, email us.

Email: [email protected]

International assessments data collection#

If your school offered an assessment alternative to NCEA in 2025, such as Cambridge exams or International Baccalaureate (IB), complete the International Assessments Collection form available through the SDP by 3 April. This data makes sure your school leavers’ achievement data is reported accurately.

If you have not yet received the form in the SDP, or have questions, contact us.

Email: [email protected]

Governance, planning and infrastructure#

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State Care survey#

We are contributing to the Crown’s Response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care and have created a brief survey that seeks your input into helping to understand how schools manage requirements under the Children’s Act 2014, record keeping responsibilities, contemporary complaints, and any historic claims of abuse within school settings.

Your completion of the survey will help to improve key areas such as care safety, redress for claims of historic abuse and record-keeping. Participation in this survey is voluntary, and responses will be entirely anonymous.

The survey closes 5pm, 3 March:

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based care – Survey Monkey

More information

Sensitive claims process: Sensitive claims of abuse in state schools

Record-keeping requirements: Managing school records

Children’s Act 2014 requirements: Child protection in schools

Any questions, email us.

Email: [email protected]

Learner Identity Broker access#

The Learner Identity Broker (LIB) service manages complex logins, passwords, and access processes across different applications. It allows students to sign in to Ministry-approved applications using their existing school credentials (Google or Microsoft).

Connecting to the LIB is simple and can be completed quickly by yourself or your IT partner.

You can register your school using this form:

Register your school for Learner Identity Broker (LIB) access – Survey Monkey

For more information about LIB:

Learner Identity Broker

Changes to Government Procurement Rules#

On 1 December, the fifth edition of the Government Procurement Rules were released. You are expected or encouraged to follow the rules when purchasing.

Of note in the changes is that schools should support New Zealand’s economic growth by seeking economic benefits in each procurement and engage New Zealand businesses where they can deliver the goods or services.

The full suite of changes can be found on the New Zealand Government Procurement website:

Shifting to the new Government Procurement Rules – New Zealand Government Procurement

For advice on goods and services procurement, contact [email protected]. 

For advice on property procurement, contact [email protected].

AoG workplace and classroom furniture supplier panel update#

Sebel NZ Limited has been removed from the Workplace and Classroom Furniture common capability contract, effective 18 December 2025. Sebel therefore cannot fulfil any outstanding statements of work or purchase orders entered under the common capability contract. New Zealand Government Procurement has contacted known affected schools.

Current details of the Workplace and Classroom Furniture contract, including the value that the contract offers and the current suppliers available, can be found at:

Workplace and classroom furniture – New Zealand Government Procurement

If you have any questions, contact us.

Email: [email protected]