Ngā mihi o te ata
The updated curriculum content for Years 0 to 10 in English, te reo rangatira, mathematics and statistics, and pāngarau will be available on our website from today.
The draft New Zealand Curriculum content is being made available for remaining Years 0 to 10 learning areas so schools can provide feedback. For Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, the remaining draft curriculum framework and wāhanga ako for Years 0 to 10 will be available soon. You can read more in this bulletin.
Last week we held the Curriculum Roadshow for Leaders in Christchurch, Lower Hutt, and Auckland, finishing in Rotorua later today. It has been great to see many of you using this opportunity to engage with practical strategies that will support you and your teams through the upcoming curriculum changes.
Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei
Ellen
Attendance, achievement and assessment#
Attendance management plans #
Subject to legislation and regulations being passed, all state and state-integrated school boards will be required to have an attendance management plan by the start of Term 1, 2026.
Information on how you can prepare for the new requirements is now available at:
Implementation information and optional templates are available to support you in developing your attendance management plan.
Updated English, te reo rangatira, mathematics and statistics and pāngarau learning areas released for Years 0 to 10#
The updated curriculum content for Years 0 to 10 English and te reo rangatira, mathematics and statistics, and pāngarau is now available on Tāhūrangi.
Draft learning areas and wāhanga ako released for Years 0 to 10#
From today, the draft New Zealand Curriculum content is being made available for remaining Years 0 to 10 learning areas you can provide feedback from now until 24 April 2026.
NZC learning areas – Tāhūrangi
For Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, the remaining draft curriculum framework and wāhanga ako for Years 0 to 10 will be available soon. Once available, kura can provide feedback on wāhanga ako up until 24 April 2026.
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – Tāhūrangi
From Term 1 2027:
- Years 0 to 8 content for science and pūtaiao, social sciences and te ao Māori, health and physical education and waiora will need to be used.
- All Years 9 to 10 learning areas and wāhanga ako will need to be used.
From Term 1 2028, Years 0 to 8 content for the arts and toi ihiihi, technology and hāngarau, learning languages and ngā reo, and te reo Pākeha (Te Marautanga o Aotearoa only) will need to be used.
Terms 1 to 3 Phonics Checks results show significant progress#
We recently published Terms 1 to 3, 2025 Phonics Checks results, which show significant achievement increases across all ethnicities and equity index groups.
In 2026, Phonics Checks are planned to be required at 20 weeks and 40 weeks, and an online platform is being developed to streamline administration and reporting for schools.
More information, including the Terms 1 to 3, 2025 Phonics Checks results, can be found at:
Terms 1 to 3, 2025 Phonics Checks Results – Tāhūrangi
Register for 2026 Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programmes#
Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programmes guide teachers, provisional teachers on their journey towards full certification and ongoing professional growth.
Registrations for regions and online workshops in 2026 are now available:
Ngā Awheawhe ā-Rohe | Regional Workshops – Tātai Aho Rau Core Education
Reminder – Apply for cohort 7 PLD for structured literacy approaches and te reo matatini#
A reminder that applications for cohort 7 of the Ministry-funded PLD for structured literacy approaches and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā (structured te reo matatini) are open and will close on 31 October.
Cohort 7 PLD will be delivered over Terms 1, 2 and 3 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 information on how to apply, approved providers of this PLD and enrolment deadlines, visit the PLD website.
PLD for structured literacy and te reo matatini approaches – Professional Learning and Development
Reporting to parents’ guidance coming in November#
Full teacher and kaiako guidance for reporting to parents and whānau in 2026 will be provided next month, in line with Years 0 to 10 in the English and mathematics and statistics learning areas and Years 0 to 10 in te reo rangatira and pāngarau wāhanga ako released this week.
This will include a comprehensive guidance document, and one-page quick user guides for teachers and kaiako. There will also be reporting templates, an explanation of expected common components in reports to parents, and information about upcoming webinars and guidance videos.
Reporting to parents and whānau – Tāhūrangi
Future information about reporting to parents and whānau will be released via the Bulletin.
Strengthen Pacific capability: Talanoa Ako professional learning development programme#
Talanoa Ako: Pacific Talk about Education and Learning is a 12-session professional learning and development (PLD) programme tailored for teachers, principals, boards across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Delivered by Tātai Angitu Massey University and CrossPolynate, the 12-session programme supports schools to strengthen their Pacific cultural capability. Participants will explore:
- reflective teaching practices
- privileging Pacific voice
- success factors and barriers
- achievement from a Pacific-centric base
- building a community of learning aligned with the Action Plan for Pacific Education.
Register your interest by emailing [email protected]. To find out more, visit:
Talonoa Ako Suite of Programmes – Tāhūrangi
To order hardcopies of resources, visit:
Home – Down the Back of the Chair
Teaching English in Schools for Speakers of Other Languages scholarships#
Applications for Teaching English in Schools for Speakers of Other Languages (TESSOL) tuition fees scholarships for 2026 are open.
Teaching English in Schools to Speakers of Other Languages scholarships
Registered teachers in early learning, primary, and secondary state and state-integrated schools are welcome to apply.
Application closing date is 16 November.
2026 International studies#
Beginning this week, invitations are being sent to schools selected for participation in 2026 international studies. We use international studies to monitor trends and provide insights into student achievement and experiences at school.
Two data collections are scheduled for 2026:
- March: The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) field trial – Year 6 and Year 10 students from approximately 40 schools per year level.
- Term 4: The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) main study – Year 5 students from approximately 150 schools.
If you receive an invitation, review it as early as you can and get in touch with the study teams by the end of this year.
Email: [email protected]
Registration open for Kōtui Ako Virtual Learning Network primary programmes 2026#
Extend curriculum choices for ākonga | students and increase confidence and capability in online learning. Registrations are open for a wide range of language programmes including te reo Māori and New Zealand sign language, numeracy, literacy, financial literacy, digital technologies, AI digital literacy, sciences and creative arts.
Find out more and register.
Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa – Hail
Updated Education Outside the Classroom guidelines#
The refreshed Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) guidelines are now published and can be found online.
Guidelines for education outside the classroom
You can also access need-to-know information and wider learning resources on Tāhūrangi.
Bringing the Curriculum Alive EOTC Guidelines 2025 – Tāhūrangi
We encourage EOTC coordinators to register on the National EOTC Coordinator Network to receive updates, build capability, and access inclusive education supports.
Health, safety and wellbeing#
Updated guidance on infectious illnesses#
Health New Zealand has updated the national ‘Infectious illnesses: Symptoms, spread and exclusion guidance' resource.
The resource will help schools, parents and whānau decide whether a person (child or adult) should be excluded from an education facility in times of sickness. It has also been reformatted with a clear layout and updated with more concise information and guidance for additional illnesses.
Two versions are available to download.
Workforce and resourcing#
Settlement of the Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement (PPCBU)#
A Circular is available about the recently ratified Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement 2025–2027 (PPCA-PPCBU), effective from 17 October for 26 months. This collective agreement covers principals in primary schools who are members of the Primary Principals’ Collective Bargaining Union.
A new individual employment agreement for employees who are not covered by the collective agreement will be published by 7 November. Principals will need to sign the new agreement to access the improved pay rates and conditions. Read more online
Any patai, contact Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa | NZ School Boards Association Advisory Support Centre on 0800 782 435 or email the team.
Email: [email protected]
Governance, planning and infrastructure#
Call for open plan classroom retrofit expressions of interest#
We are seeking expressions of interest from state schools, kura and Public Private Partnership schools wanting to modify their Ministry-owned open plan classrooms to create enclosed classrooms.
You can register your interest by emailing us and a short online survey will be sent to complete the registration process.
Email: [email protected]
Registrations of interest close at the end of Term 4. Note this step is an information-gathering exercise only and not a commitment to modify.
Support for charter school sponsors and applicants#
Comprehensive support is available for sponsors and applicants who want to open a new charter school or convert a state or state-integrated school to a charter school. Visit the website.
Support for new and converting schools – Charter School Agency
Support partners can help sponsors prepare an application, assist them to navigate through processes such as property arrangements and asset reviews, and support sponsors and schools with the community consultation process.
Support partners – Charter School Agency
If your application is successful, support partners can provide further support to assist your school to become a charter school. This advice includes guiding the sponsor and board to manage the change with their staff and community.
Sponsors can access initial support after completing an expression of interest.
In this issue
Attendance, achievement and assessment
- Attendance management plans
- Updated English, te reo rangatira, mathematics and statistics and pāngarau learning areas released for Years 0 to 10
- Draft learning areas and wāhanga ako released for Years 0 to 10
- Terms 1 to 3 Phonics Checks results show significant progress
- Register for 2026 Te Poipoi Kaiako | Mentor support programmes
- Reminder – Apply for cohort 7 PLD for structured literacy approaches and te reo matatini
- Reporting to parents’ guidance coming in November
- Strengthen Pacific capability: Talanoa Ako professional learning development programme
- Teaching English in Schools for Speakers of Other Languages scholarships
- 2026 International studies
- Registration open for Kōtui Ako Virtual Learning Network primary programmes 2026
- Updated Education Outside the Classroom guidelines
