The teacher aide PLD pilot fund was the first of its kind offered in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recognised the value and importance of teacher aides’ career and skills development for schools, in their communities, and to ākonga.
The pilot fund aimed to break down some of the barriers to professional learning and development that teacher aides experience. As a pilot fund, it gauged interest for this support, as well as the types of PLD which could be funded long-term.
The fund was established as a result of the Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement (SSSCA) 2019-22 negotiations between the Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Rui Roa. It sits under the Education Accord signed in 2019 between NZEI Te Riu Roa, the PPTA and the Ministry of Education that considers career progression for para-professionals.
The fund was boosted by the Teacher Aide Pay Equity Claim by $1.5 million, bringing the total fund to $2.29 million, starting 1 July 2020.
The fund aimed to support as many teacher aides as possible. Teacher aides who made a successful application received reimbursement of costs to their school of up to $1,500. This sum is for use towards course costs and wages for their time in professional learning.
Additional travel and accommodation support of up to $500 per application is also available, if the teacher aide meets the criteria for this.
Principles of the teacher aide PLD pilot fund
The fund:
- Recognised Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its importance in the education sector.
- Recognised that teacher aides are core workers under the Children’s Act 2014.
- Ensured teacher aide development aligns with and supports school, kura, and system-wide PLD priorities.
- Contributed to the development of a teacher aide or group of teacher aides.
- Improved the ability to meet the diverse learning needs of ākonga, enabling access to the Aotearoa NZ curriculum.
- Recognised that PLD that is in or across school or kura is equally as valid and beneficial as that from an external provider.
Criteria
This fund supported the development of your skills and knowledge as a teacher aide in ways that contributed to the vision of your school, and to ākonga and students' needs. The PLD must have:
- Contributed to your capability to improve ākonga and student wellbeing, or
- improved your cultural capability, or
- helped you increase your ability to support ākonga and students.
By its nature, the pilot period will be used to demonstrate demand and inform future development of PLD for teacher aides. Feedback from teacher aides who have participated in the pilot will also inform further development of both the pilot and future PLD for teacher aides.
The teacher aide PLD pilot fund was the first of its kind offered in Aotearoa New Zealand. It recognised the value and importance of teacher aides’ career and skills development for schools, in their communities, and to ākonga.
The pilot fund aimed to break down some of the barriers to professional learning and development that teacher aides experience. As a pilot fund, it gauged interest for this support, as well as the types of PLD which could be funded long-term.
The fund was established as a result of the Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement (SSSCA) 2019-22 negotiations between the Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Rui Roa. It sits under the Education Accord signed in 2019 between NZEI Te Riu Roa, the PPTA and the Ministry of Education that considers career progression for para-professionals.
The fund was boosted by the Teacher Aide Pay Equity Claim by $1.5 million, bringing the total fund to $2.29 million, starting 1 July 2020.
The fund aimed to support as many teacher aides as possible. Teacher aides who made a successful application received reimbursement of costs to their school of up to $1,500. This sum is for use towards course costs and wages for their time in professional learning.
Additional travel and accommodation support of up to $500 per application is also available, if the teacher aide meets the criteria for this.
Principles of the teacher aide PLD pilot fund
The fund:
- Recognised Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its importance in the education sector.
- Recognised that teacher aides are core workers under the Children’s Act 2014.
- Ensured teacher aide development aligns with and supports school, kura, and system-wide PLD priorities.
- Contributed to the development of a teacher aide or group of teacher aides.
- Improved the ability to meet the diverse learning needs of ākonga, enabling access to the Aotearoa NZ curriculum.
- Recognised that PLD that is in or across school or kura is equally as valid and beneficial as that from an external provider.
Criteria
This fund supported the development of your skills and knowledge as a teacher aide in ways that contributed to the vision of your school, and to ākonga and students' needs. The PLD must have:
- Contributed to your capability to improve ākonga and student wellbeing, or
- improved your cultural capability, or
- helped you increase your ability to support ākonga and students.
By its nature, the pilot period will be used to demonstrate demand and inform future development of PLD for teacher aides. Feedback from teacher aides who have participated in the pilot will also inform further development of both the pilot and future PLD for teacher aides.
