Learning support#

Early Intervention Services referrals#

Schools will now be able to make referrals to Early Intervention Services (EIS) for learners in Years 0 to 1 with parental consent.

Learning support in the early years

Staffing entitlement#

Schools getting access to an in-school Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) will now have their staffing entitlement applied in Pourato.

LSC recruitment#

Schools recruiting for in-school LSCs should use the detailed LSC role information available on our website.

Learning support coordinators in schools

Helpful links#

For schools and educators

Learning support in the early years

For parents and caregivers

Learning support when your child moves to school

Curriculum and assessment#

Updated content for Years 0-10 English#

Schools and kura are required to start using the updated content for Years 0-10 English, Te Reo Rangatira, Mathematics and Pāngarau.

Updated Curriculum Content for Years 0-10 English, Te Reo Rangatira, Maths and Pāngaru – Tāhūrangi

Feeback on content drafts#

Schools and kura are encouraged to provide feedback on the following drafts for consultation by 24 April 2026.

Draft New Zealand Curriculum framework – Tāhūrangi

Progress monitoring#

Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool (SMART) is now available to support progress monitoring of Years 3-10 students against curriculum expectations and strengthen achievement planning.

SMART – Overview and access – Tāhūrangi

Required phonics checks and Hihira Weteoro#

Phonics checks and Hihira Weteoro are now required for schools and kura.

Full implementation guidance will follow to support teachers and kaiako to confidently administer the checks and use the information.

Phonics Checks – Tāhūrangi

Hihira Weteoro – Tāhūrangi

Helpful links#

Supporting you to deliver the updated National Curriculum – Tāhūrangi

Strengthen teaching practice through professional learning and development – Professional Learning & Development

Reporting to parents and whānau#

The new Reporting to Parents and Whānau guidance for schools has been released. ​

It includes information about progress markers, progress descriptors, and an explanation of the common components expected in all twice-yearly reports for Year 0-10 for Reading, Writing, Maths, Pānui, Tuhituhi, Pāngarau.

Reporting to parents and whānau – Tāhūrangi

Attendance#

Schools are now required to:

• have an Attendance Management Plan (AMP) in place. AMPs should reflect Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) framework of actions to prevent absences from escalating
• record and report Response Activity through the Student Management System (SMS) whenever students reach absence thresholds.

New attendance services are in place, along with a new attendance service case management system. Engage with your new attendance service provider if this has not already occurred.

Helpful links#

Attendance Management Plans

Stepped attendance response 

Attendance services

Attendance codes

Schools closing for instruction#

Schools can close for an additional 4 half-days per year. This is in addition to the 4 curriculum half-days in 2025 to be made up, provided they:​​

• meet the minimum half-day requirements​
• give 6 weeks' notice to whānau​
• have a clear, justifiable reason​
• consider the impact on learners, whānau, and communities.

Schools are now required to record the days they are closed and the reason for closure.

More information#

School opening and closing for instruction​

New closing for instruction settings

School Attendance Rules 2026 - 2025-go7119 – New Zealand Gazette

Healthy School Lunches#

From Term 1, 2026, participating contributing primary schools with meals delivered through the external, internal, and iwi hapū models will join other schools and kura to receive lunches for lower cost.  

Healthy School Lunches: about the programme

Salary unit and management allowances monitoring#

The Ministry will be monitoring schools’ usage of salary units and management allowances on a quarterly basis. Schools that are overusing will receive a letter showing usage against entitlement by the end of April 2026.

Note that the Ministry will only monitor in 2026, only beginning to recover schools’ overuse in 2027. There will be no recovery from schools for historical overuse.

More information will be posted on the Ministry’s website over the coming months.

Aspiring and beginning principal programmes#

Experienced, in-service principals are encouraged to get involved in the new aspiring and beginning principal programmes as mentors to help new school leaders be well-prepared, confident, and capable of delivering on the Government’s education priorities.

Mentor an aspiring or beginning principal – Education Workforce

Asbestos in coloured sand#

State and state-integrated schools affected by asbestos in coloured sand have until 27 February to apply for a one-off grant to contribute towards asbestos removal, decontamination and building-related remediation costs that have not been covered by their insurer or sand supplier.

One-off grant for state and state-integrated schools affected by asbestos in coloured sand