Skip to main content
Tāhūrangi
Tāhūrangi
My Wishlist
  • Reo Māori
  • English

Teaching the Basics Brilliantly update

16 October 2025

  • As part of Teaching the Basics Brilliantly, today Minister Stanford announced important updates about the curriculum, assessment, and supports.

Curriculum Release 

  • The final curriculum content for Years 0-10 English and Te Reo Rangatira and Years 0-10 Mathematics and Statistics and Pāngarau will be available on Tāhūrangi from Monday October 20, 2025.
  • For the New Zealand Curriculum, the remaining draft curriculum framework and learning areas for Years 0-10 for consultation will be available from Tuesday, October 28, 2025 on Tāhūrangi.
  • For Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, the remaining draft curriculum framework and wāhanga ako for Years 0-10 for consultation will begin to be available on Tāhūrangi from Tuesday October 28, 2025.

Effective implementation and sustainable change cannot be achieved overnight – it is a shared and ongoing commitment. To support the updated curriculum timeline schools and kura will be supported every step of the way, supports will include:

  • Quick guides and revised teacher support materials to help use structured literacy approaches
  • Targeted professional learning and development (PLD) including subject specific PLD and change leadership PLD
  •  Teacher Only Day and Curriculum Day materials to support leaders to lead curriculum implementation in 2026
  • Curriculum Advisory Service will support you to unpack the curriculum during Term 4 and beyond
  • Curriculum Roadshows for Years 0-8 and 9-13 for school and kura leaders
  • Regional workshops to unpack the curriculum from Term 4 in November
  • Targeted Structured Literacy Approaches and writing PLD for every school with students in Years 7-10
  • Subject Associations to deliver aligned supports and resources focused on Year 9 students (through Networks of Expertise (NEX))
  • Cross-curricula resources for teachers of Year 9 students, these include:
    • annual and unit plans
    • learning kits with lesson plans. 

New Supports for Years 9–10 Maths and Pāngarau

From Term 1, 2026, Year 9-10 teachers will be provided with PLD and resources to support the implementation of the revised curriculum. This provides the same level of support we provided to Years 0-8.

The resources will provide teachers with digital materials that include lesson plans, teaching materials, and student practice materials.

Changes to the implementation timeline for Years 0-8

We’ve listened to feedback from the sector and are slowing the pace of change.

  • We have rephased implementation of learning areas and wāhanga ako for Year 0-8 so that they are introduced in stages:
    • 2026: English, Te Reo Rangatira, Mathematics & Statistics, and Pāngarau
    • 2027: Science, Pūtaiao, Social Sciences, Te Ao Māori, Health & Physical Education, and Waiora
    • 2028: The Arts, Toi Ihiihi, Technology, Hangarau, Learning Languages, Ngā Reo, Te Reo Pākehā
  • The full curriculum will still be required to be used with Year 9 and 10 students from the start of 2027, so that they are well placed when the new senior secondary curriculum is introduced from 2028.
  • Timelines for English and Te Reo Rangatira, Mathematics and Statistics, and Pāngarau remain the same, and will be required through to Year 10 from the start of 2026.

Assessment and Aromatawai Requirements for 2026

With the release of the final curriculum content for Years 0-10 English and Te Reo Rangatira and Years 0-10 Mathematics and Statistics and Pāngarau, we are moving to support consistency in the monitoring of student progress against the curriculum.

From the start of 2026:

  • The use of the Phonics Check and Hihira Weteoro will be required.
  • Twice-yearly assessment of Year 3-8 students in Reading or Pānui, Writing or Tuhituhi, and Maths or Pāngarau 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
  • Common descriptors for assessing student progress against the national curriculum will be required, we consulted with you on these throughout the year.

The Minister has agreed to bespoke arrangements in relation to these requirements for kaupapa Māori education. The Ministry will follow up with relevant settings with more information on these.

Download the Fact Sheet: Teaching the Basics Brilliantly update (October 2025)

PLD for Teaching the Basics Brilliantly

We are committed to ensuring teachers and leaders are well supported to implement our strengthened knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the science of learning.

Professional learning and development supports will be made available to align with the rollout and implementation expectations for the new learning areas and wāhanga ako.

The PLD web pages have information about new PLD, various focus areas and how to access it, including a detailed list of current and upcoming PLD opportunities. 

For 2025 this includes: 

As we strengthen our professional support so it is clear, coherent, and consistent, a range of current and new opportunities for professional learning and development (PLD) will be available.  

For 2026, PLD will include:

  • Current PLD in these areas will continue to be available in 2026:
    • Foundational Structured Literacy Approaches and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā PLD for Years 0-8
    • Maths & Poutama Pāngarau PLD for Years 0-8
    • Targeted SLA PLD for Years 0-6

New PLD available from 2026 will include:

  • From Term 1, 2026 PLD and resources will be available to support
    • assessment and aromatawai practices including the use of the new SMART tool. 
    • Curriculum Leadership PLD for principals & tumuaki
    • Maths & Statistics PLD for Years 9-10
    • Poutama Pāngarau PLD for Years 9-10
    • English PLD for Years 9-10
    • Te Reo Rangatira PLD for Years 9-10
    • Accelerated Pāngarau PLD Years 3-6
    • Accelerated Maths PLD Years 3-6
    • Accelerated Maths PLD (Years 7&8)
    • Targeted SLA & Writing Years 7-10 PLD

The PLD and resources made available will provide teachers and school leaders with online learning materials and resources to enable self-directed and self-paced learning and a range of guided and facilitated opportunities through webinars, whole-day workshops to build awareness and grow understanding of curriculum and assessment changes. In addition, some more in-depth, targeted PLD opportunities will be available. 

The PLD website Strengthen teaching practice through professional learning and development – Professional Learning & Development will be updated with specific information on new PLD as they are available.