Kia ora koutou
We’ve been receiving feedback about the level of information and number of links contained in the school bulletin. We want to provide the updates you need in a format that’s easy to navigate. We will be making some changes to respond to what we’ve heard from you, which you will start to see from Term 2. We probably won’t get it right straight away but be assured we are listening and appreciate receiving your feedback.
We have also published a new edition of the Education Gazette which has a focus on leadership in education.
Issue 2 2026 – Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero
Kia ora rawa atu
Ellen
Attendance, achievement and assessment#
Attendance Management Plans – Recording and reporting absence response activities#
As part of the attendance management plan requirements in effect from the start of Term 1, schools need to record in their SMS and report response activities undertaken when any student reaches 5, 10 or 15 days of absence in a term.
New functionality includes drop down fields to capture response types, and editable descriptions to support your AMP response activity. This information should be recorded as soon as possible once the response activity has occurred. Guidance to support recording your AMP response activities can be found on our website.
Recording response activities at AMP thresholds [PDF, 336 KB]
If you need help with your SMS functionality, contact your SMS provider directly.
Attendance Service Case Management System (AS-CMS) update#
Some recent system issues have prevented some schools from submitting requests for support from an attendance service provider through the AS-CMS. We apologise for the disruption this caused and appreciate your patience while the issues were resolved.
To stay up to date on any new features within the AS-CMS, go to:
Updated information sharing protocol with Oranga Tamariki#
We have an information sharing protocol that enables safe and timely referrals to Oranga Tamariki using Section 19 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
The Oranga Tamariki Section 19 referral process for requesting a Family Group Conference has been updated. You’ll find the updated protocol at:
Curriculum and achievement: Years 0 to 13#
Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool (SMART) launching next week
Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool (SMART) will be available from the week of 23 March for loading class and student details. Instructions on how to log in to SMART will be sent directly to schools and kura on 20 March, along with guidance on how to get started.
If you need help, the service desk will be available for technical support, and the dedicated SMART inbox for all other queries.
Email Service desk: [email protected]
Email SMART queries: [email protected]
Online writing acceleration tool for Years 6 to 10 extended
Due to demand, we are extending the opportunity for state and state-integrated schools teaching the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) to register their interest to access the new online writing tool, Scribo.
This tool is for Years 6 to 10 students who are one or more years behind curriculum expectations in writing.
Writing acceleration supports – Tāhūrangi
Targeted structured literacy approaches with a focus on writing Year 7 to 10 PLD
We are funding professional learning and development (PLD) to support targeted teaching with a focus on writing for Year 7 to 10 teachers.
One teacher of Year 7 to 10 literacy from any intermediate, area, composite or secondary school may enrol in this PLD. Enrolments for cohort 1 close on 10 April, with PLD commencing from Term 2.
Find more information at:
Targeted SLA with a focus on Writing Year 7–10 PLD – Professional learning and development
Any pātai, email [email protected].
Te Rākau Taumatua, Term 1 advanced Te reo Māori PLD – Registrations opening soon
Te Rākau Taumatua is an online programme that builds advanced skills in Māori language, grammar, and te reo Māori teaching strategies. It supports kaiako to strengthen the capability needed to teach a knowledge-rich curriculum in te reo Māori.
The programme is also for support staff, in Māori-medium levels 1 and 2 settings, as well as kaiako in level 4b who teach te reo Māori as a subject for at least 3 hours a week. It is intended for kaiako who are proficient in te reo Māori.
You can read more at:
Curriculum leadership online professional learning and development resources available
We are funding online professional learning and development (PLD) resources to support curriculum changes. This is for school or kura leaders and will be made available on 27 March.
Access them at:
Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for Māori Medium – Tāhūrangi
Curriculum Leadership PLD resources for English Medium – Tāhūrangi
Financial Education Implementation Guides available
We’ve released new Financial Education Implementation Guides that offer practical support to plan and deliver high-quality financial education aligned to the curriculum.
Developed in partnership with Te Ara Ahunga Ora – Retirement Commission, the guides outline what effective, age-appropriate financial education looks like, how learning progresses over time, how to design programmes, and work well with external providers.
You can read them at:
Financial Education Implementation Guides – Tāhūrangi
New Zealand Education Excellence Awards launched
Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford has announced the New Zealand Education Excellence Awards | Ngā Tohu Kairangi Mātauranga o Aotearoa. The award nominations close on 10 April and applications close on 1 May.
For more information, visit:
New Zealand Education Excellence Awards
Curriculum and achievement Year 0 to 8#
Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro online tools – Submit results
This year we released online tools to help you to meet the requirements for using Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro. The delegated authorisers in all schools and kura were emailed on 13 February with instructions to assign user roles for the new tool. Please ensure your school or kura has completed this step so you can carry out checks.
For Phonics Checks, please enter all Term 1 results into the online tool by 17 April before the tool updates with Term 2 materials.
Phonics Checks and Hihira Weteoro online tools and guidance – Tāhūrangi
Any pātai, email [email protected] or [email protected].
Applications for Year 7 and 8 Maths and Pāngarau acceleration programmes – Cohort 3
Additional spaces have now become available in cohort 3 for these programmes. You can apply for the cohort 3 funding from 23 March until 1 May. Decisions will be notified by 15 May.
For information about the programmes, cohort dates and how to apply go to:
Maths and Pāngarau Years 7 and 8 intervention – Tāhūrangi
New handwriting resources
Playwrite NZ, a purpose-built handwriting font family, is available with handwriting guidance for Years 0 to 8, example lesson plans, editable monitoring PDFs, and a full letter formation guide are also available. These resources work together to strengthen handwriting instruction and help learners build confidence and writing fluency.
Access the activity guides and fonts here:
Teaching Handwriting – Tāhūrangi
Curriculum and achievement Year 9 to 13#
Registrations for English Years 9 to 10 PLD workshop and webinars
Registrations are open for the upcoming English PLD workshop for Years 9 to 10. This PLD is designed to build teacher and kaiako confidence and capability in delivering high-quality English instruction. You can register at:
English Learning Area for Years 9–10 PLD – Professional Learning and Development
Mathematics and Statistics PLD for Years 9 to 10
We have opened applications for teachers in Phase 4 to register for either four full-day in person workshops or a series of 1-hour webinars. These workshops and webinars will be offered throughout the year in phases.
Teacher release funding will be provided for those participating in the in-person workshops. Payments will be made directly to schools by the end of the term following the workshop.
For further information on key dates and the application process, visit:
Mathematics and Statistics PLD Years 9–10 – Professional Learning and Development
Education Review Office releases resources for schools to help with cellphone rules#
An Education Review Office (ERO) review into the effects of removing cell phones from classrooms has found improvements to student learning, achievement, and behaviour and reduced bullying.
Compliance in secondary schools is still only about 50%, with the most common cause for rule-breaking being contact with parents or whānau.
The ERO has developed a parent information sheet and guidance you can read at:
Insights for parents and whānau: Cell phone rules and how you can help – Education Review Office
Removing cell phones from New Zealand’s classrooms: Four good practices – Education Review Office
Workforce and resourcing#
New Individual Employment Agreements for primary teachers and speech language therapists who are not NZEI members#
The Public Service Commissioner has promulgated new Individual Employment Agreements (IEAs) that include increased salary and unit rates. The IEAs cover teachers and speech language therapists whose work falls within coverage of the Primary Teachers’ (including Deputy and Assistant Principals and other Unit Holders) Collective Agreement 2023–2025 (PTCA).
The new IEAs for permanent staff and long-term relievers should be offered to current and new employees who are not members of NZEI Te Riu Roa (NZEI).
A Circular with details can be found at:
All IEAs for primary teachers and speech language therapists can be found at:
Primary teachers' collective and individual employment agreements
For more information, contact Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) for employment advice on 0800 782 435 or email [email protected].
Guidance and FAQs can be found here:
Confirmed entitlement staffing#
Confirmed entitlement staffing will be published on the ‘your entitlement’ screen in the ‘staffing entitlement’ tab in Pourato on 26 March.
Roll resubmissions or roll audits may result in an update to your school’s entitlement staffing at any time. Pourato emails a notification to your school for all changes. Review the updated staffing position in the banner following a roll resubmission or audit.
Operational funding#
The Quarter 2 operational funding instalment will be published on 26 March and paid on 1 April. If you have any questions, email [email protected].
Principal’s Nominee Allowance – secondary and specialist schools#
The Secondary Teachers Collective Agreement (STCA) introduced a Principal’s Nominee Allowance (PNA). This allowance begins on 26 April for teachers (part time or full time) who are appointed to the Principal’s Nominee role.
When a teacher at your school is selected as a Principal’s Nominee, you will need to use the ‘allowance changes for teachers and principals (EP16t)’ form to update this with Education Payroll Limited. The teacher will keep their current pay code for their role and have a new pay code of PNA for the Principal’s Nominee role.
From 26 April, secondary school boards will receive an additional staffing allowance of 0.04 full-time teacher equivalent (FTTE), which is equivalent to 1 hour per week. Secondary schools will be able to view the additional staffing in Pourato.
The additional staffing allowance of 0.04 FTTE will also be provided to specialist schools that hold New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) consent to assess, employ teachers covered by the STCA, and appoint a Principal’s Nominee. Once allocated, specialist schools will be able to view the additional staffing in Pourato.
See more information and actions by month here:
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, your eligibility and to apply, visit:
Sabbaticals, study awards and study grants – Education Workforce
Any pātai, email [email protected].
Register to mentor an aspiring or beginning principal#
The new aspiring and beginning principal programmes start in Term 2. There is still an opportunity for experienced principals to support the sector and the next generation of school leaders by registering as a mentor. Principals will receive a mentor allowance of up to $5,000 per year if they are selected as a mentor for a participant in one of these programmes.
All you need to know to register as a mentor is available here:
Mentor an aspiring or beginning principal – Education Workforce
Quarter 2 estimated pay equity and collective agreement funding and 2025 wash-up calculation#
On 1 April, state and state-integrated schools and kura will receive the next instalment of estimated funding for non-teaching pay equity settlements and collective agreements. This payment also includes annual wash-up funding based on complete payroll data for the 2025 year. Payment will be made via Pourato under the payment type ‘Non-teach support PE and CA funding.’
A letter outlining your Quarter 2 estimated funding and the 2025 wash-up will be available on the secure data portal (SDP) on 20 March. Download and save a copy of your funding letter as it will only be available on the SDP for 6 months.
You can find more information on our website:
Pay equity and collective agreement settlement funding
Any pātai, email [email protected].
ACC-funded teacher aides – Invoicing service change by 2 April#
Schools that invoice the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) for teacher aides via the eBusiness Gateway will need to transition to ProviderHub, ACC’s new digital service, by 2 April. If you don’t onboard to ProviderHub, you will not be able to complete your ACC tasks online.
Find out how to move to ProviderHub here:
Governance, planning and infrastructure#
Weather-related damage to school buildings#
If your school sustains building damage due to a weather event, contact your emergency response coordinator for immediate assistance. If you have any questions or need further support, reach out to your Ministry Property Advisor.
Emergency response coordinator contacts
Guidance for checking property after a major weather event:
Checking your property after a major incident
Safer Technologies for Schools (ST4S) catalogue available#
ST4S provides independent privacy and security assessments of digital products to assist schools when selecting and using these tools. State and state-integrated school staff can log into the catalogue using their Education Sector Logon (ESL).
For more information on ST4S and the catalogue:
Choosing safer technologies for schools and kura
Access to school buildings for the New Zealand General Election 2026#
The Electoral Commission has the legislative right to request access to schools from 4pm the day before election day and election day (6–7 November 2026). They anticipate needing over half of New Zealand schools to serve as voting places on election day.
Local Electorate Managers will be getting in touch with selected schools to discuss the use of the school facilities and to provide further information about the process.
While we encourage you to make facilities available, there may be local circumstances that mean that it is not appropriate. This can be discussed with the local electorate manager.
Access to buildings outside polling day
In addition, the Electoral Commission may wish to access the building for other days in the run up to polling day. You can agree to this, ensuring that you manage health and safety obligations and the impact on the operation of your school during that period.
Casual use agreement
The Electoral Commission will need to enter into the standard casual use agreement with the school, which is here:
Leasing school property to casual users
There is no rental fee for use of the buildings to be charged. Compensation amounts for costs incurred will be discussed by the electorate manager.
Any patai, contact [email protected].
In this issue
Attendance, achievement and assessment
- Attendance Management Plans – Recording and reporting absence response activities
- Attendance Service Case Management System (AS-CMS) update
- Updated information sharing protocol with Oranga Tamariki
- Curriculum and achievement: Years 0 to 13
- Curriculum and achievement Year 0 to 8
- Curriculum and achievement Year 9 to 13
- Education Review Office releases resources for schools to help with cellphone rules
Workforce and resourcing
- New Individual Employment Agreements for primary teachers and speech language therapists who are not NZEI members
- Confirmed entitlement staffing
- Operational funding
- Principal’s Nominee Allowance – secondary and specialist schools
- Study awards and grants round
- Register to mentor an aspiring or beginning principal
- Quarter 2 estimated pay equity and collective agreement funding and 2025 wash-up calculation
- ACC-funded teacher aides – Invoicing service change by 2 April
