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The school year cranks back into life from today, bringing with it changes to the way children learn to read.
From this term on, schools will be required to teach structured literacy in years zero to three - part of the National government's plan to lift achievement. $67m was set aside in last year's Budget to help schools buy resources and train teachers in the new approach.
In addition to the literacy changes, a new math curriculum for years 1 - 8 will also kick in a year early - alongside twice-yearly assessments in writing and maths for primary and intermediate schools. So are schools ready?
Kathryn speaks with Belmont Primary School principal Bruce Cunningham and Ripeka Lissels, new president of the New Zealand Educational Institute and principal of Te Whata Tau o Putauaki school in the Bay of Plenty.
