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APPA Pānui - Term 1 2025

I am delighted to connect with you through the first newsletter of 2025. As President of APPA, serving the Tāmaki Makaurau principal community is a privilege, and I look forward to getting stuck into the mahi!

Firstly, thank you to everyone who attended the Term 1 Luncheon; seeing such a large and engaged crowd was a great start to the year, and connecting with colleagues and listening to Minister Stanford's insights made for an energising event.

Following the AGM, we welcome Nardz Stephenson (Vice President) and Moira Blair (Secretary) to the APPA executive. I am confident that their expertise, experience, and energy will help APPA achieve its goals.

Your full executive team this year are as follows:

President: Lucy Naylor, Milford School
Vice President: Ngaria Stephenson, Woodlands Park School
Immediate Past President (Conferred): Kyle Brewerton, Remuera Intermediate School
Treasurer: Steve King, Remuera Primary School
Secretary: Moira Blair, Three Kings School
ESOL: Caroline Bush, Mission Heights Primary School
APPA ASB Travelling Fellowship: Heath McNeil, Ormiston Primary School
Business Partner Liaison: Stephen Lethbridge, Point Chevalier School | Rangi-mata-rau
Health and Safety: Kyle Brewerton, Remuera Intermediate
Alumni Convenor: Gary Moss
Te Akatea: Nardi Leonard, Jean Batten School
Pasifika Principals: Bevan Verryt, Campbells Bay School

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Wendy Kofoed and Heath McNeill for their mahi and steadfast support of the primary sector. They have been invaluable to the APPA Exec and have left an indelible mark on our association. We greatly appreciate their contributions.

Working Action Group (WAG) Updates
The WAG groups have provided an update, including key points for advocacy (see below). I encourage you to have a read!

In addition, the Curriculum WAG and Workforce WAG are seeking to gather your opinions, and we encourage you to complete the survey to share your views on teacher shortage and maths resources:

APPA Term 1 Survey

Resource Teachers of Literacy (RT Lit) and Resource Teachers Māori (RT Māori) Consultation
The Government has announced it is considering reinvesting the funding currently allocated to Resource Teachers: Literacy and Resource Teachers: Māori as part of Budget 2025. This proposal aims to reinvest and enhance frontline support and services, focusing on equitable resourcing and improved outcomes for all children.

The government's rationale centers on:

Developing In-School Expertise: Prioritising support that is closer to the child.
Equitable Distribution: Ensuring services are accessible across the entire system.
Efficiency: Maximising the benefits of available resources.
Existing Investments: Building on significant investments in structured literacy and Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā, including new staffing for Years 0-2 and Programmes for Students in Years 3-8.

The current Resource Teacher model, with its maximum of 121 Literacy and 53 Māori FTTE positions, serves approximately 850,000 students in nearly 2500 schools across Aotearoa. With recent changes in the curriculum and ongoing concerns regarding Learning Support, the current use of resourcing is being critically examined to ensure it is still fit for purpose. This thinking is in line with the Learning Support WAG's findings. If you or your cluster have strong views regarding either resource, we encourage you to engage with this consultation process.

On Friday last week, you should have received the link for consultation. Please contact your Te Māhau Director if you have not received any communication regarding this consultation.

ERO Evidence and Insights - PLD Survey
ERO's Evidence and Insights provides in-depth studies of different aspects of education in New Zealand, makes recommendations for improvement, and shares best practices with the sector.

ERO’s research centre is looking into the quality of PLD, and is gathering views from leaders and teachers for a report later this year.

ERO PLD Survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7L3SP7F
ERO PLD Survey (for teachers) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7LMCMDS.

If you have any questions, please contact: teihuwaka@ero.govt.nz

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our tamariki and the APPA. We look forward to a productive and collaborative year, working together to strengthen primary education in Tamaki Makaurau.

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

Ngā mihi nui,

Lucy Naylor
APPA President