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Reporting to Parents and Whānau Guidance Released

Thursday 4 December 2025

Full teacher and kaiako guidance for reporting to parents and whānau is now available on Tāhūrangi. The guidance is available to use when reporting to parents and whānau against the English, Mathematics & Statistics learning areas for Years 0-10 New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau wāhanga ako for Tau 0-10 Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA) from 2026.  

The new guidance provides explanations about using Progress Markers and Progress Descriptors | Tohu Aromatawai, the common components that are expected in all reports from 2026, and information about reporting for diverse learning needs. There are also quick-reference info sheets and posters for schools and kura to download and use, and exemplar reports and rubrics (NZC). Additional rubrics for NZC and TMoA will be released next year. 

There is also information included about using the Progress Descriptors | Tohu Aromatawai for strands within Reading, Writing, and Maths, or Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau, to give parents and whānau a detailed breakdown of their child or mokopuna progress and about how the overall informed decision was made. 

Progress Markers have also been released. Progress Markers describe the proficiency expected at the end of each year of learning for Reading, Writing and Maths (Years 0-10 for NZC) or Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau (Tau 0-10 for TMoA). 

Reporting Requirements 

There is no change to the requirement that at least twice a year schools and kura are required to report to students and mokopuna, parents, and whānau in plain language on the student’s and mokopuna progress and achievement across the curriculum and in literacy and mathematics, Te Reo Matatini and Pāngarau. 

However, there are new common components that are expected in all reports from 2026. These are: 

  1. Progress descriptors | Tohu Aromatawai for Reading, Writing and Maths or Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau.  

  1. A visual representation of the mokopuna or student’s progress over time.  

  1. A narrative about how Progress Descriptors | Tohu Aromatawai were selected, as well as how parents and whānau can continue to support next learning steps.  

  1. An attendance record.  

Schools and kura will already have good practices in place for reporting that may be similar to these, but these common components will still be expected. 

Reporting in 2026 

Schools and kura do not need to use the new Progress Descriptors | Tohu Aromatawai in 2025 reports. However, schools and kura are expected to use them in reporting to parents and whānau from 2026 onwards. 

Checks, assessment and aromatawai tools 

Checks and assessment and aromatawai tools are a part of good-quality reporting, and help teachers and kaiako identify and arrange additional support for those who need it.  From the start of 2026 two assessment checks will be required for Years 0-8: 

  • The use of the Phonics Check or Hihira Weteoro will be required for Years 0-2. 

  • Twice-yearly assessment of Year 3-8 students in Reading, Writing and Maths and Statistics for NZC, or Pānui, Tuhituhi and Pāngarau for TMoA, using specified tools will be required. The specified tools are: 

  • SMART (the new Student Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Tool), which will be available for use from the start of 2026 – TMoA or NZC 

  • PATs (Progressive Achievement Tests) – NZC 

  • e-asTTle, for 2026 only – TMoA or NZC 

Schools and kura should choose one of these options. 

*Note: these assessment and aromatawai tools are not required for Years 9-10, however schools and kura may choose to use these tools. 

More support in 2026 

The Ministry will be providing support to help schools and kura with reporting. Support coming in 2026 will include full rubrics for each element or strand within Reading, Writing, Maths, or Te Reo Rangatira and Pāngarau, as well as webinars and training videos. 

There will also be assessment and aromatawai PLD available, including online learning modules on the principles of effective assessment, quality aromatawai pedagogy and practices, the technical aspects of SMART, and on using SMART effectively. 

Statement for Schools and Kura 

The Ministry has developed a statement that schools and kura may choose to use when reporting to parents and whānau, highlighting that the transition between old and new curriculum may impact on reported student and mokopuna achievement. To download the Statement from the Ministry to Support Schools and Kura with Reporting to Parents, please use these links: NZC or TMoA.