Important actions | Me mātua mahi#

• ESOL funding applications for Terms 3 and 4 due 1 August.

ESOL funding applications

Need-to-know | Me mātua mōhio#

H5 bird flu#

New Zealand is well prepared to respond quickly to H5 bird flu. We have added information to our website to support you, should you observe sick or dead wild birds on your property.

Bird flu information for schools and early learning services

For the most up-to-date information go to:

Avian influenza, HPAI, bird flu, risk to New Zealand – Ministry for Primary Industries

Managing emergency incidents#

Recent incidents, like emailed threats or severe weather where states of local emergency are declared, have been disruptive and can be worrying for school leaders, staff and communities.

You will have established emergency plans in place that have been practised through regular drills. This will help you respond quickly to keep students and staff safe and minimise disruption.

If needed, a quick checklist on page 46 of the guide on ‘planning and preparing for emergencies’ can help you review current plans:

Planning and preparing for emergencies [PDF, 1.36 KB]

To support your further understanding about states of emergency and managing emailed threats visit:

Prepare for an emergency or traumatic incident

ESOL funding applications#

All applications for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding for Terms 3 and 4 are due on 1 August. Submit your application, in Excel format, via the secure data portal (SDP).

As 1 August falls in the weekend this year, submissions made on 3 August will be accepted.

Schools that received ESOL funding in period 1 2026

Update the 2026 period 1 Terms 1 and 2 status list (available from the SDP) and add information for new students.

Schools that did not receive ESOL funding in period 1 2026

Use this ESOL funding application form to apply:

ESOL funding application form [XLSX, 75 KB]

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

ESOL funding

Heads-up | He kupu puaki#

Phonics Checks update: Corrections to student records and assessment materials#

Earlier this year, the Phonics Checks tool was updated so that all checks are stopped after 5 consecutive word errors, in keeping with administration guidance. For previously completed checks that continued past this point, the results were recalculated and corrected in student records on 21 May. The student results now showing in the tool are the correct and final record.

We recently updated Phonics Checks student materials for Terms 2, 3 and 4. These updates include corrections to minor errors such as the incorrect labelling of ‘real’ words and ‘pseudo’ words. The errors did not affect the accuracy of any assessments previously completed, and do not need to be redone.

You can access the latest materials for upcoming Phonics Checks on Tāhūrangi:

Phonics Checks – Assessment materials

Applications for Years 7 and 8 Maths Acceleration Programme and Hāpai Pāngarau Years 7 and 8#

Applications for Cohorts 1, 2, and 3 of the Maths and Pāngarau Acceleration Programmes in 2027 will open on 10 August. Applications close on 4 September, and outcomes will be notified by 18 September.

More information about the programmes, funding, and process is available at:

Maths and Pāngarau Years 7 and 8 intervention – Tāhūrangi

Curriculum resources for Wharekura – Teacher support materials for Ko te Hiakai#

Tangata, Te Taniwha o Tuarā, Matariki Te Whetū o te Tau, Living by the Moon, Ngā Hapa Reo, and He Iti te Kupu will be available on Tāhūrangi from week 3, Term 3. These curated te reo Māori texts integrate mātauranga Māori and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, supporting the teaching of Te Reo Rangatira and Pūtaiao in wharekura. The new support materials will help kaiako use these high-quality secondary curriculum resources in their teaching programmes.

Targeted assessment and aromatawai professional learning and development#

Applications for schools and kura to enrol in the second round of assessment and aromatawai targeted professional learning development (PLD) open on 3 August and close on 21 August.

This PLD will strengthen the assessment and aromatawai capabilities of school leaders, tumuaki, and teachers/kaiako. For further details about applying, visit:

Assessment and aromatawai PLD – Professional Learning and Development

PLD workshops and webinars registrations open#

Registrations are open for a range of initiatives to support teachers and leaders to strengthen curriculum knowledge, enhance teaching practice, and build confidence in assessment and learning area implementation:

Mathematics and Statistics Years 9–10 – MoE Events

Maths Knowledge Building Years 7–8 – MoE Events

English Learning Area Years 9–10 – MoE Events 

Assessment – MoE Events

Register early as places are limited and demand is expected to be high.

Mentor teachers and provisional teachers workshops#

Te Poipoi Kaiako workshops are running across the country and online this term to support mentor teachers and provisional teachers. Find out more and register:

Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor Support Programme – Core Education

New measles resources#

Health New Zealand has worked with us to create some collateral that can be used by schools to encourage people (including staff) to check their measles immunisation status:

Measles school resources – HealthEd

Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease that can make people very unwell. It can also cause significant disruptions for school communities. Depending on their immunisation status, school staff and/or students infected with measles, and those caring for them, will need to stay away from school and other activities. For more information, go to:

Measles: A guide for education settings | Health Professionals – Health NZ

2027 School Onsite Training Programme now open#

The 2027 School Onsite Training Programme (SOTP) placement process has been simplified, and you no longer need to make an application to us to be involved – contact your preferred SOTP ITE provider directly.

Contact your preferred provider early as places are limited. A list of SOTP providers and more information can be found at:

School Onsite Training Programme – Education Workforce

Employment-based ITE funding award application round#

The EBITE funding award provides financial assistance to schools and kura and those teaching under a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT holders) to train as a fully qualified teacher while employed.

Applications are open for LATs working in immersion settings and teaching te reo Māori as a subject, and close on 20 August. To find out more, visit:

Kaupapa Māori | Māori Medium EBITE Programme Funding Award – Education Workforce

TeachNZ scholarships – Applications open 3 August#

Applications for the 2027 TeachNZ scholarships will open on 3 August and close 31 August. Applications for the following scholarships can be submitted:

• Career changers scholarships (Te Huawhiti Career-Changer and Te Waka Whakarei Career-Changer).
• Scholarships for undergraduate or graduate study (Te Huarau and Te Tipu Whakarito).
• The Kupe Scholarship for Māori and Pacific high achievers.

Teacher aides, LATs, kaiāwhina and other school staff are welcome to apply. To read more, go to:

TeachNZ scholarships – Education Workforce

Changes to how teaching standards are set, reviewed and maintained#

From 6 July new legislation changes how teaching standards are set, reviewed and maintained in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Responsibility for setting, maintaining and reviewing teaching standards has transferred from the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand to the Secretary for Education.

The Teaching Council remains the independent professional regulator. There are no immediate changes to existing teaching standards, registration, or practising certificate requirements.

You will continue to work with the Teaching Council as usual. Any future changes to standards will be developed with the sector and clearly communicated.

For more information, visit:

Regulation of the teaching workforce

Poipoia te kākano launched#

Poipoia te kākano (Teacher Aide PLD) launched this week providing free, flexible online professional learning to support teacher aides working with Year 1 ākonga.

The online programme is available to all teacher aides in state and state-integrated primary and area schools and kura and will support release time reimbursement for approximately 6,500 teacher aides. It will build practical skills and a deeper understanding of how to support ākonga experiencing behaviours linked to unmet needs.

Applications are based on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted or until 30 June 2028.

Teacher Aide Professional Learning and Development – Education Workforce

New learning support coordinator PLD – Role Essentials#

From Term 3, new PLD is available for learning support coordinators (LSCs).

‘Role Essentials’ is a self-paced PLD and includes:

• clear links between responsibilities, processes, and outcomes
• activities that support decision-making and problem-solving
• flexible pathways depending on an LSC’s role (for example, part-time, full-time, shared role)
• practical, real-world scenarios reflecting common LSC situations.

Read more here:

LSC factsheet, role essentials PLD July 2026 [PDF]

Role Essentials is accessed through the LMS at:

Login – Learning Management System

Requests for learning support going digital#

We will be digitising requests for learning support. Digital applications will be introduced in 2 phases:

• ORS and SHHNF – 31 August
• requests for support (RFS) – mid November.

There will be no change to criteria or the assessment and verification process.

You will be able to access the online application through your Education Sector Logon (ESL).

If you currently submit applications for the ORS or SHHNF, look out for more detail in upcoming Bulletins, including links to user guidance and support.

Banking staffing funding codes#

Check the funding codes for your teachers are correct as this impacts your banking staffing. If you have teachers or a principal on study/sabbatical leave, make sure the teachers covering them have been coded correctly.

To change funding codes, contact EdPay. For retrospective funding code changes past 2 pay periods, contact us..

Email: [email protected]

Read more at:

Apply for a funding code adjustment or a banking staffing credit

Guidance for the General Election 2026#

As the New Zealand General Election 2026 will be held on 7 November, it is timely to remind you of the requirement to act with political impartiality. Please make sure all staff at your school are familiar with your school’s code of conduct, policies and procedures relating to personal and professional behaviour.

For more information and guidance refer to:

2026 General Election information for schools

Update to surplus teaching spaces policy#

The policy on surplus teaching spaces has changed since 1 July and is now based on the roll size of your school. The new thresholds determine how many surplus teaching spaces you can retain.

Surplus school property

When you are next completing a 10-year property plan, the consultant will discuss the updated policy to determine if you need a rationalisation plan.

Any queries, contact your property advisor.

Have your say on proposed changes to police vetting#

New Zealand Police is consulting on proposed changes to the Police Vetting Service, including potential changes to vetting fees, fee waivers and the introduction of an optional urgent processing service. The consultation is an opportunity for those who use Police vetting to share feedback on the proposed options and their potential impacts.

Consultation is open until 21 August, and feedback will help inform Police recommendations on the future funding of the service.

To find out more about the consultation and/or make a submission, go here:

Proposed changes to the Police Vetting Service – New Zealand Police

Multi-factor authentication for ENROL – Activated#

We are enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the ENROL system from 12 August. This change improves protection of personal and organisational information and supports government cyber security standards for accessing sensitive data online.

You’ll need to review your ENROL access, making sure you have enough authorised users. As privacy is critical to ENROL, you should never share login details or passwords. If additional staff require their own accounts, read about this at:

How to get access to ENROL – Applications and online systems

New users need to complete ENROL training before access can be granted. We encourage planning ahead and submitting access requests early to maintain access to ENROL.

Print device contracts#

New Zealand Government Procurement (NZGP) has been contacted by those of you having difficulties with their print device contracts, outside of the All-of-Government (AoG) framework. Common areas of concern are early termination fees, increasing cost per copy rates and unrealistic minimum volumes.

In some cases, these issues are costing schools thousands of dollars. NZGP recommends you seek advice by emailing [email protected] before signing contracts outside of the AoG framework. The AoG print device contract sets clear terms and conditions.