Funding for small schools

Information about funding for primary schools with less than two full-time teacher equivalent (FTTE) employees.

On 26 August 2019 it was agreed as part of the Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement that primary schools with less than two full-time teacher equivalent (FTTE) would receive additional operational funding.

This funding is to engage support staff to make up the difference to two (2) full-time equivalent employees (inclusive of the principal) during the school day.

Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement(external link) 

This payment is based on the difference between your provisional staffing entitlement and two FTTE.

This payment will include an hourly rate, holiday pay and ACC. The table below shows these components, and the rates applicable for the school year 2023.

These rates are set by the Support Staff in Schools Collective Agreement, and the base hourly rate will increase each year in line with the top step of Grade B.

Support Staff in Schools Collective Agreement 

This is an additional payment, and the Ministry calculates how much each eligible school receives annually.

Once payments have been finalised it will appear on your January operational grant instalment notice which will be available mid-December.

Last reviewed: 02 December 2022 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback