Finding PLD
Last update: 7 May 2024
Professional Learning and Development
There are a range of ways you can upskill yourself or your staff on the key findings from the body of research termed ‘The Science of Reading’ and then the evidence-based teaching approaches that seek to build on that "(Structured Literacy).
Here we set out details of reputable PLD providers that we know of who can work with your staff to upskill them in evidence-based and high impact reading and writing instruction. There are also self-study options. We have sought to collate these on this page.
There is a lot to learn - so don’t expect a one-day course will be enough. You will need to invest more time to acquire the knowledge and then put that into practice. Ongoing mentoring and instructional coaching from more experienced colleagues or external parties will also enhance the effectiveness of your investment in training/PLD.
Embarking on change is hard, and in our view, all schools can benefit from engaging a reputable professional learning and development provider or coach on the journey.
Embedding a new pedagogy across the school can take between two and four years. This is a significant undertaking and we recommend that you have this as your sole focus for PLD over that time.
See this blog from Learning Matters on the essential elements to consider when developing, embedding, and ultimately sustaining and maintaining this approach in your school. They also include a handy implementation plan reflection matrix.
The change can feel daunting or even overwhelming at times, especially if you do not have the support of senior management in your school. This blog and self-reflection tool from Jocelyn Seamer is well worth a read. She provides some tips on creating a positive mindset and making small changes.
New Zealand based PLD providers/facilitators
We have compiled a list of providers/facilitators offering services in New Zealand that we are familiar with and feel are well aligned to the principles and research findings from the Science of Reading. Note this is not a definitive list of providers and there may well be other providers out there that we are not overly familiar with that would also be suitable. Hopefully the Ministry will put in place a Structured Literacy Accreditation Scheme so that schools can have some assurance on the depth and breadth of knowlegde of their provider in Structured Literacy. It is a bit of the wild west out there at the moment with every provider jumping on the bandwagon and claiming to know and be able to deliver structured literacy PLD.
Please check with each provider/facilitator what they offer and how they draw on the findings from the Science of Reading and principles and components of Structured Literacy, and importantly, how they keep up to date with changes in the science and evidence-based.
We also encourage you to speak to others if you can about their experiences of different providers/facilitators. You may want to take a look at our Blog post on assessing evidence-based claims for questions you should be asking of any provider.
Some providers/facilitators may also be Ministry of Education funded PLD providers or facilitators so you may be able to apply for centrally or regionally funded PLD for their services. But note recent announcements made on this by Ministry of Education (2 May 2024)
Many will travel to provide PLD or can offer virtual options.
If engaging a PLD provider/facilitator is beyond your current budget, you can also join one of the many teacher Structured Literacy regional Facebook Groups that are popping up, see our Initiatives Page for a list of these.
Or have you considered discussing literacy PLD as a priority across your Kahui Ako/COL? An RTLit or RTLB may also be able to provide support or could be trained as a first priority.
It is also important, if the change is to be sustained and embedded, that school leaders also undertake some training - they need to understand the WHY and WHAT in particular.
If you are interested in seeing what public PLD workshops, symposia or conferences are on offer, check out our Events page.
Āwhina Education (Wellington based)
Better Start Literacy Approach (University of Canterbury, Ministry funded PLD may be available)
Better Learning (Elena Ciobanu, Auckland based)
Freedom Literacy (Gisborne based, Ministry funded PLD may be available)
GEM Literacy (Auckland only, Ministry funded PLD may be available)
Institute for Multisensory Structured Language Education (IMSLE, - Australian based, but offering in person courses in NZ). Associate course covers aspects of phonology and orthography (speech to print) for instruction and brings together education, linguistics, psychology and neuroscience. Successful completion of the Associate MSL course allows professionals to apply for accredited membership with the Australian Dyslexia Association (AMADA). The 12 months course includes a guided practicum. IMSLE diagnostic tests and data collection is included to assist educators plan and monitor student progress. The Associate course also includes relevant required readings to ensure that trainees are well informed in the areas of literacy, language, dyslexia. The readings are research based and have been updated for 2024 training.
Learning Matters (Locations around the country, Ministry funded PLD may be available). Learning Matters also offer a 12-month hybrid Certification course (Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching (LMIT) Certification). They have worked with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) to develop a training curriculum and course that aligns with the IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards. This includes an intensive 12 month practicum.
Literacy Connections (Based in Christchurch, Ministry funded PLD may be available)
Liz Kane Literacy (Based in Auckland and the Manawatu, Ministry funded PLD may be available)
Mahi by Mahi (Based in Manawatu, Mahina Selby-Laws, Ministry funded PLD may be available). Structured Literacy in te reo Māori Workshops and mentoring in schools.
Marianne Brown Literacy Resources (Based in Manawatu)
Massey University Tātai Angitu - Dr Christine Braid Ministry funded PLD may be available
Rachel Harvey Neurodiverse Tutoring a focus on Tier 2/3 intervention
Sound Foundations for Literacy (Based in Waikato, Emma Nahna, Ministry funded PLD may be available)
The Writing Teacher (Based in Wellington, Helen Walls, Ministry funded PLD may be available). Focusing on teaching of writing.
If you are a PLD provider and wish to be added to to list, please get in touch. We may ask you some questions to ascertain your suitability to be added to the list.
Courses - Paid
If you are looking for something more flexible or you just can’t get onto the books with a NZ based PLD provider, these online courses from reputable providers (mainly based overseas) are another option. There are also a few NZ based options (in-person and on-line as well).
La Trobe University - Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab offer a range of short online courses. NZ residents can enrol in these as domestic students. Founded in 2020 by Professor Pamela Snow and Associate Professor Tanya Serry.
The Science of Language and Reading – An Introduction (6 hours, AUD$275).
The Science of Language and Reading - Intermediate (7.5 hours. AUD$440)
The Science of Language and Reading - The Secondary School Perspective (6 hours, AUD$330).
Masterclass: Developing Great Writing Skills (1.5 hours, AUD$99)
Improving Writing - The Science and Linguistics of Writing (6 hours, AUD$480)
The Science of Teaching Writing (6 hours, AUD$480)
The Science of Learning for Effective Teaching (10 hours, AUD$480)
Students can also go on to enroll in the Language and Literacy specialisation of the La Trobe Master of Education.
You may also be interested in other La Trobe online Short Courses:
Trauma-Informed Education (6 hours, AUD440)
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools (6 hours, AUD$440)
Teaching Autistic Students - a Neuro-Diversity Affirming Approach (12 hours, AUD$480)
The Reading League - Based in USA. They are a not-for-profit advocacy group whose mission is to advance the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction. The Reading League’s Online Academy online classes, known as Knowledge Blocks, offer individuals and small teams the chance to choose their learning paths in evidence-aligned literacy instruction. These interactive, small-group learning sessions occur in a live virtual format, providing a unique opportunity to engage with our science of reading expert instructors and network with other participants. All courses are 2.5 hours in duration and live and cost $USD200. Courses include:
Foundations of the Science of Reading
Phonological Awareness: What, Why and How?
Phonic Knowledge: What, Why and How?
TRL 6-Step Lesson Plan for Decoding, Spelling and Fluency
Reading and Spelling Multisyllabic Words
Understanding Dyslexia
Assessing for Dyslexia
Building Oral Language to Boost Comprehension and Composition
Engaging with Vocabulary
The Simple View of Writing
Meaningful Morphology
Rethinking RTI: Where are we now?
LETRS - Voyager Sopris Learning. Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. Delivered over 8 units. USD$349 for 4 units or USD$627 for all 8 upfront. Includes 1-2 year license. They also have options for Early Childhood Educators and Educational Leaders/Administrators.
MultiLit - Based in Australia. MultiLit is a private company which was spun out of Macquarie University in 2006. It is led by Emeritus Professor Kevin Wheldall. They have developed numerous literacy programmes based on the science of reading and also provide a range of PLD both in person and through online modules. PLD also includes positive teaching and behaviour management system. The methods used are based on over 30 years of reasearch undertaken by members of the MultiLit Research Unit. It is a continually evolving approach to literacy instruction, changing as more scientific evidence becomes available from either within the MultiLit research team per se or, more generally, from the international scientific reading research community.
SPELD NZ - New Zealand Certificate in Teaching Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities. 600 hours over Feb to November. Cost for 2025 TBC. Previously was $3,220. There is an in-person component. Not specifically a course on structured literacy but will cover elements of it. SPELD are also looking to offer smaller 6-8 hour modules in the future on different elements of structured literacy. So far (as at October 2023) they have one on Phonemic and Phonological Awareness. You may also be eligible for financial assistance.
Seabrook McKenzie Centre for Learning Disabilities - Based in Christchurch. Offer a Certificate in Specialist Teaching of Ākonga/Individuals with SLD. (Cert.Tchg SLD). It is delivered face-to-face at their Centre in Christchurch. The course is in two modules: Module One; Introduction to SLD (300 hours, $1,000) and Module Two: Teaching Students with SLD (which includes the Structured Literacy approach to teaching literacy (300 hrs $600). More details on course content: here.
Online courses - Free
If your budget does not stretch to paid PLD, then these free courses are a great first step. The first one, by Cox Campus is even accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
Cox Campus - Free Online IDA accredited structured literacy training. Various courses on offer - around 25 hours of learning each. American based. Also provides free downloadable lesson planning templates, story guides, assessments, teaching aids, and much more.
Five from Five - Free Professional Learning Seminar Series. They are available either as scheduled webinars that anyone is welcome to attend or, when available, schools can book a presentation for whole staff professional learning either as a videoconference workshop or, depending on location and availability, in schools. The webinar series is repeated each term. This series of webinars will be recorded and made available to registered participants for two weeks following the live presentation. Five from Five was founded by Dr Jennifer Buckingham in 2016. They are based in Australia.
Better Start Literacy team (University of Canterbury) have a free online short course aimed at teachers and parents. The course content will be relevant for all young children, specifically focusing on the key foundational skills of phonological awareness, print concepts, and vocabulary knowledge for children aged 4-6 years.
Reading Rockets (US based)
Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
Sadly, in New Zealand the majority of undergraduate and postgraduate Teaching qualifications are yet to incorporate evidence-based literacy theories and instructional practices and it is hard to get information from the universities on the content of their programmes. So the focus in NZ for a while yet will be on upskilling the thousands of in-service teachers.
Take a look at the results of a survey of teachers we ran at the end of 2021 of their experiences of literacy instruction in the teaching qualifications at NZ universities.
We would love to hear of ITE programmes that do incorporate the science of reading and structured literacy - so get in contact to let us know.
University Postgraduate courses
Some NZ universities offer postgraduate certificates, diplomas or Masters degrees with a specialisation in literacy - that are evidence based. Canterbury also offer a microcredential.
Massey University - Master of Education (Literacy Education), or Postgraduate Diploma (Literacy Education)
Waikato University - Postgraduate Diploma in Language and Literacy Education.
Canterbury University - Postgraduate Diploma or Certificate with Literacy Specialisation.
Better Start Literacy Approach - Canterbury University. This is an online microcredential course with some in person sessions. Option to train as a facilitator as well and a course for teachers aides. Link to registration for course here.
