Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Education Erica Stanford at Silverstream Primary School ahead of announcing mandatory reading, writing and maths tests for primary schools. (file photo) Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The government will help fund schools to ensure they are ready for the roll-out of the mandated structured literacy curriculum.
From October, schools and kura with years 0-3 will receive between $500 and $5000 over the next four years, depending on roll size.
The money will be for purchasing structured literacy resources such as decodable books and games, on top of the free resources already available from the Ministry of Education
Schools with up to 50 students will receive $500, schools with up to 100 students will receive $965, schools with up to 250 students will receive $2411, and schools with up to 527 students will receive $5083.
Minister for Education Erica Stanford said 80 schools were about to trial the phonics check, to ensure it was ready to roll-out nationwide from the start of next year.
"They will be done after 20 weeks of schooling and repeated after 40 weeks. It will help teachers and parents understand a child's reading ability and wrap around additional support if needed," she said.
A purpose-built tool would also be created to make the check available through te reo Māori.
Stanford said by checking on every child's progress in their first year in schooling, and providing them with the resources, it would mean children got the best start in literacy.
"From the first time children step into the classroom, we're equipping them and teachers with the tools they need to be brilliant in literacy," she said.