Registration link
Information on Assessment and Aromatawai PLD
The purpose of the Assessment and Aromatawai PLD is to strengthen the assessment and aromatawai capabilities of school leaders, tumuaki and teachers and kaiako. It will support a system-wide shift toward consistent, evidence-based practices grounded in the science of learning and aligned with the knowledge-rich curricula.
Underpinned by capability-based rubrics (see below), and Te Puāwaitanga Harakeke Aromatawai Position Paper (see below) , this PLD will support the shift towards consistent assessment and aromatawai practice across the schooling pathway.
Assessment Rubrics
Aromatawai Rubrics
Te Puāwaitanga Harakeke Aromatawai Position Paper
Structure of the PLD
In 2026, the Ministry will be funding Assessment and Aromatawai workshops and webinars that schools and kura can register for. These will begin the in Term 2.
Schools receiving targeted PLD should not register for these as they will already have an agreed Assessment or Aromatawai PLD programme as designed by the PLD provider they have enrolled with (See the “Target PLD” section below).
Guided Delivery
Workshops
These will be full-day, regionally encompassing, in-person hui. For Assessment, there are currently two different options: Lifting Assessment Practice and Effective Assessment & Reporting. Either workshop can be registered for, with no requirement to complete one before the other. These can be attended by a school leader or teacher with registrations being limited to 2 per school or kura.
These workshops will be run by Ministry-approved, expert facilitators. Participants will be required to complete a post-survey. This will help the supplier and the Ministry to work together to continue to improve the quality of these services.
Webinars
These will be held virtually on Zoom and will run for 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes. For assessment, there are currently two different options (More will become available later in the year). For now, either one (or both) can be registered for, you do not have to attend one before the other. These can be attended by a school leader or a teacher. The sessions will be run at multiple intervals a day. Registrations for the webinars are open for all staff and are not limited per school or kura.
Teacher release will not be provided for the guided workshops or webinars.
Targeted Delivery - In School Support
Applications for Round 1 of targeted Assessment & Aromatawai PLD are now closed and successful schools and kura are now enrolled with their chosen provider. Applications for Round 2 of targeted Assessment & Aromatawai PLD are expected to open in Term 3, 2026. We will notify this through the School Bulletin and share more information about it on this page when it becomes available. Targeted PLD is open to all state or state-integrated schools, from primary through to secondary. It does not include teacher release funding.
The following providers have been approved to deliver targeted PLD for schools and kura. Information about each provider’s offering can be found on their website.
Assessment Providers
|
Provider |
Website and contact details |
|---|---|
|
Blend Learning NZ Ltd |
Website: Blend Learning NZ Ltd Email: traceypacheco@blendlearning.nz Phone: 021 444 209 |
|
Coactive Education |
Website: Coactive Education Email: admin@coactiveeducation.com Phone: 0800 COACTIVE |
|
Cognition Education |
Website: Cognition Education Email: jbishop@cognitioneducation.com Phone: 021 0809 5713 |
|
Core Education |
Website: Core Education Email: kiaora@core-ed.ac.nz Phone: 027 208 8803 |
|
Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga |
Website: Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga Email: info@evaluate.co.nz Phone: 0800 382582 |
|
ImpactEd Ltd. |
Website: ImpactEd Ltd. Email: arnika@impacted.co.nz Phone: 021 992 931 |
|
K.I.S Education |
Website: K.I.S Education Email: pld@kiseducation.org Phone: 027 544 6189 |
|
Learning Rich Schools |
Website: Learning Rich Schools Email:info@learning-rich.com Phone: 021 0279 2810 |
|
Manaiakalani Educational Trust |
Website: Manaiakalani Educational Trust Email: georgie.hamilton@manaiakalani.org Phone: 021 475 040 |
|
Maths Associates |
Website: Maths Associates Email: margi@mathsassociates.co.nz Phone: 027 449 3878 |
|
Sharp Kinane Limited |
Website: Sharp, Kinane Limited Email: phil@sharpkinane.com Phone: 021 527 789 |
|
Te Wheke Educational Psychology |
Website: Te Wheke Educational Psychology Email: amelia@tewheke.org.nz Phone: 021 025 07132 |
|
University of Waikato |
Website: University of Waikato Email: professionallearning@waikato.ac.nz Phone: +64 838 4478 |
Aromatawai Providers
|
Provider |
Website and contact details |
|---|---|
|
Core Education |
Website: Core Education Email: kiaora@core-ed.ac.nz Phone: 027 208 8803 |
|
Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga |
Website: Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga Email: info@evaluate.co.nz Phone: 0800 382582 |
|
Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust |
Website: Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust Email: tautoko@kiaatamai.org Phone: 027 283 3900 |
|
K.I.S. Education |
Website: K.I.S. Education Email: pld@kiseducation.org Phone: 027 544 6189 |
|
University of Waikato |
Website: University of Waikato Email: professionallearning@waikato.ac.nz Phone: +64 838 4478 |
Eligibility criteria
This PLD is open to all state or state-integrated schools, from primary through to secondary. It does not include teacher release funding.
How to apply for this PLD
Schools and kura will be responsible for their own applications. Applications must be submitted through the Online PLD System.
Prior to submitting an application, schools and kura should download and unpack the PDF versions of the rubrics to discuss as a leadership team or with staff (There are teacher and kaiako versions created to support this).
Applications must be submitted by a leader of the school or kura. It must include a completed School Leader Rubric for Assessment or a Tumuaki Rubric for Aromatawai.
These are capability-based rubrics that require schools and kura to reflect on their existing practices and pedagogies using a scaled rating system (From Emerging to Exceeding).
The rubrics serve two main purposes:
Reviewing applications
The overall score will be used by the Ministry of Education as part of the outcome for applications.
Tailoring Future Learning
The scores across the different focus areas of the rubrics can be used to notice strengths and areas for improvement. This can support leaders to determine the next steps for the growth of the school or kura.
- If the school or kura is successful in their application for this PLD, they can use this when engaging with their chosen supplier to support them to tailor a facilitated PLD programme that is based on their goals.
- If the school or kura is unsuccessful in their application for this PLD, they can still use this information to determine their focus when engaging with guidance and support resources and other self-directed PLD materials.
If you have questions about the PLD or about a PLD request, please contact PLD.Enquiries@education.govt.nz.
Key dates
|
Activity |
Dates |
|---|---|
|
Term 2 Guided Workshop registration opens |
28th April 2026 |
|
First Workshop |
13th May 2026 |
|
Last Term 2 PLD |
TBD |
|
|
|
Set up your Education Sector Logon (ESL)
If you are the PLD Lead within the school and do not have access, the Delegated Authoriser in your school must update your account with the “PLD Leader” permissions, or first invite you to create an account if you do not already have one. Your Delegated Authoriser is most likely the school principal or tumuaki.
Your Delegated Authoriser can visit Support for School Delegated Authorisers to update or create a new ESL account.
If you need help setting up your ESL, contact the Ministry's Education Service Desk team by phone: 0800 422 599 or email: service.desk@education.govt.nz.