Ministry-funded targeted Structured Literacy

PLD for Year 7–10 teachers

Targeted Structured Literacy Approach

Years 7–10 literacy PLD, with a focus on writing

Designed to enable you to:

Identify the specific literacy needs behind students’ difficulties.
Plan targeted, high-quality teaching and intervention.
Build stronger knowledge of language and text structures.
Use assessment and progress monitoring to guide next steps.
Accelerate writing outcomes for learners in Years 7–10.

Funding:

Eligible schools can send one teacher on this funded PLD at no cost. Check your eligibility on the Ministry of Education PLD info page.

Participants / schools can also opt to self-fund the course at $2,900+gst per person.

A practical, evidence-informed PLD for teachers supporting students who need targeted literacy instruction. Strengthen assessment, intervention and explicit teaching across reading, language and writing.

Information direct from MoE PLD guidance:

“Information on targeted SLA PLD

The Ministry is funding professional learning and development (PLD) to support targeted teaching with a focus on writing for Year 7-10 teachers.

This PLD will support teachers to develop and use deep expertise in structured literacy approach (SLA) elements, effective writing pedagogy, targeted teaching approaches and the application of explicit teaching principles for Years 7-10 students.

The PLD includes approaches to targeted teaching for students with dyslexia and other literacy and language learning difficulties, assessment practices and how to use tools to monitor progress and will support participants in leading sustainable changes in teaching practices and building in-school capability.

This PLD will commence in Term 2, 2026.

Eligibility criteria

One Year 7-10 teacher supporting literacy acceleration from any full primary, intermediate, area, composite or secondary school can enrol to attend this PLD.

Structure of the PLD

This PLD will be offered through approved providers who have been quality-assured by the Ministry.

The PLD will be delivered over four school terms and comprises the following:

Core delivery: 5 full day facilitated workshops and 8 communities of practice per teacher
Ongoing coaching and mentoring (over 4 terms)
Alignment with the English learning area and elements of SLA targeted teaching for Years 7-10 with a focus on writing

The PLD may involve face-to-face and/or virtual/remote learning and will run in cohorts although individual providers will offer different dates for delivery.”

Why choose our PLD?

Targeted support needs more than a programme in a box

Effective literacy intervention depends on accurate assessment, strong content knowledge and teaching that responds directly to learner need. This PLD connects those pieces, with a particular emphasis on helping students become more capable, confident writers.

● Strengthen writing instruction

Learn practical approaches for explicitly teaching sentence, text and language structures, while supporting planning, drafting and revision.

● Pinpoint learner needs

Use diagnostic and formative information to move beyond broad labels and identify the specific barriers affecting progress.

● Build effective intervention

Design, deliver and refine targeted instruction using progress data, professional judgement and evidence-informed practice.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Knowledge you can use straight away

Our learning content combines research, modelling, guided application and ongoing professional support.

Evidence-informed teaching

Apply effective approaches specifically designed for students requiring targeted literacy support.

Assessment that leads to action

Use efficient screening and diagnostic assessment tools to identify priorities and select appropriate instructional responses.

Language and writing knowledge

Deepen your understanding of spoken and written language systems, structures and demands.

Responsive support

Recognise and respond to reading and writing challenges, including dyslexia and other significant language-learning difficulties.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Five workshop days across four terms

Each workshop builds towards increasingly precise, effective and sustainable literacy intervention. Online Communities of Practice and coaching sessions support implementation between workshop days.

Day 1

Foundations of Effective Literacy Intervention

Develop an advanced understanding of the science of learning as it applies to language, reading and writing.

Term 3, 2026

Day 2

Understanding and Addressing Literacy and Writing Difficulties

Examine diverse literacy and writing needs and the factors that can limit student progress.

Term 3, 2026

Day 3

Deepening Content Knowledge

Strengthen your knowledge of language systems and structures to accelerate learning in spoken and written language.

Term 4, 2026

Day 4

Designing and Delivering Effective Interventions

Develop and implement high-quality literacy and writing interventions matched to student need.

Term 4, 2026

Day 5

Data-Driven Decision-Making and Continuous Improvement

Use progress monitoring and data-informed instruction to refine literacy and writing support across all three tiers.

Term 1, 2027

5

full-day workshops

6

online Communities of Practice

4

online coaching sessions

Delivery options

Attend face to face or online

Choose the format and location that best suits you when you complete the registration form.

Auckland or Christchurch

Days 1 and 2
25–26 August 2026

Days 3 and 4
10–11 November 2026

Day 5
23 February 2027

Online

Days 1 and 2
2–3 September 2026

Days 3 and 4
17–18 November 2026

Day 5
2 March 2027

Your facilitators

Led by experienced literacy specialists

The course is developed and delivered jointly by Liz Kane Literacy and Sound Foundations for Literacy.

Emma Nahna

Emma is a literacy consultant with a background in speech-language therapy. She specialises in oral language, literacy, assessment, and the practical implementation of evidence-informed instruction. Emma was a contributor to the writing group for the current Year 0-6 New Zealand Curriculum’s English Learning Area during 2024 and 2025.

Charlotte Machin French
Rebecca Barrett

Rebecca and Charlotte are both experienced secondary school teachers and interventionists with deep structured literacy expertise. They work in their respective schools as well as providing professional learning and evidence-informed support for other schools and teachers.

Ready to strengthen literacy and writing support for your Year 7–10 learners?

Complete the registration form and select your preferred location or online cohort.

Registrations for Cohort 2 close 26 June 2026.