Applications for Round 2 of targeted Assessment & Aromatawai PLD will open on Monday 3 August 2026.
On Monday 3 August, this page will be updated with a registration link. To prepare for this, read the section below on “How to apply for this PLD”.
Coming soon
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
The Ministry is providing targeted Assessment and Aromatawai PLD, and from Term 2 2026, guided PLD supports (workshops and webinars) will be available to all kura and schools who are not already participating in one of the targeted PLD supports.
Targeted Delivery
Applications for the 2026 (Round 2) delivery of targeted Assessment & Aromatawai PLD will open to schools on Monday 3rd August 2026. A notice informing of this was included in the School Leaders Bulletin on 28th of July.
This 12-month offering includes six full days of direct PLD support and eight communities of practice (COP) per school.
The application window will close on Friday 21st of August with the planned commencement date being 12 October 2026. Information about key dates can be found at the bottom of this page. 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 (Years 0-10). 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.
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. Either workshop can be registered for, with no requirement to complete one before the other.
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 interactive online sessions will be 1– 1.5 hours in duration. For assessment, there are currently two options available with more topics available later in the year. Either webinar can be registered for, with no requirement to complete one before the other (or both). Registrations for the webinars are open for all staff and are not limited per school or kura.
Registration link
Workshop details
Lifting Assessment Practice
This workshop emphasises alignment between assessment principles, curriculum intent, and effective teaching practice.
It is designed to support teachers and school leaders to strengthen effective assessment practices and will explore how assessment can be used purposefully, inclusively, and collaboratively to support all learners. Through practical examples and professional dialogue, participants will examine the role of assessment in everyday classroom practice, identify high‑impact formative assessment strategies, and consider how meaningful partnerships with learners and whānau can enhance assessment for learning.
Effective Assessment & Reporting
This workshop emphasises clarity, coherence, and credibility in assessment and reporting across classroom and school‑wide contexts.
It will focus on strengthening assessment and reporting systems so that evidence of learning is dependable, meaningful, and used effectively to support teachers, leaders, learners and whānau. Participants will explore how coherent assessment processes and strong assessment literacy underpin sound professional judgement and clear communication about progress and achievement. Through unpacking practices and approaches, participants will consider how assessment information can be used purposefully.
Webinar details
Lifting Assessment Practice
This webinar is a condensed version of the Lifting Assessment Practice full day workshop. If you are too busy to be released for the day, this is for you! This short webinar emphasises alignment between assessment principles, curriculum intent, and effective teaching practice.
Effective Assessment
This webinar is a condensed version of the Effective Assessment and Reporting full day workshop. To enable this to fit in a bite sized webinar, there is no section on Reporting to Parents and Whānau in this webinar. This short webinar emphasises clarity, coherence, and credibility in assessment across classroom and school‑wide contexts.
Key dates
|
Activity |
Dates |
|---|---|
|
Targeted PLD – Round 2 Applications Open |
Monday 3 August 2026 |
|
Targeted PLD – Round 2 Applications Close |
Friday 21 August 2026 |
|
Targeted PLD – Round 2 Outcomes Notified |
Friday 4 September 2026 |
|
Targeted PLD – Round 2 PLD can Commence |
Monday 12 October 2026 |
|
Targeted PLD – Round 1 PLD must be Concluded
|
December 2026 |
|
Targeted PLD – Round 2 PLD must be Concluded |
December 2027 |
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.