Better Start Literacy Approach

🎉 Last week, members of the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) team attended the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference in the Gold Coast, connecting with researchers and clinicians from Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US.

Our team was proud to share a range of research:

-Associate Professor Sally Clendon presented on the implementation of BSLA in Aotearoa’s specialist schools.

-Dr Lisa Furlong presented research conducted with Dr Amy Scott and Dr Megan Gath on the use of telepractice to deliver BSLA Tier 2 support, as well as presentations on speech-language therapy service delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand, mobile apps for foundational literacy skills, and a panel discussion on digital tools in education.

The conference featured an outstanding programme of presentations, including inspiring keynote addresses from internationally renowned child language researchers Professor Cristina McKean and our wonderful colleague Professor Marleen Westerveld.

It was a fantastic opportunity to share our research, learn from others, and strengthen collaborations that support better outcomes for tamariki.

📢 New publication!

We're excited to share our latest research examining how online professional learning can strengthen teachers' knowledge and confidence in teaching early literacy.

Across 592 educators participating in New Zealand's Better Start Literacy Approach, we found meaningful improvements in linguistic knowledge (phonics, phonological awareness, and morphology), alongside increased confidence in applying these skills in the classroom. Encouragingly, educators who started with the lowest levels of knowledge and confidence showed the greatest gains.
These findings suggest that high-quality, online professional learning, combined with opportunities to apply new knowledge in authentic teaching contexts, can effectively build the expertise needed to support children's early literacy development at scale.

We’d like to mihi to all the incredible BSLA teachers whose commitment to evidence-informed practice and lifelong learning are making a real difference for tamariki across Aotearoa. Your dedication and mahi are what bring this research to life.

Click here to read this open-access article:

rdcu.be

Following the release of new phonics check data this week, RNZ Education Reporter John Gerritsen spoke with CWRI Founding Director and BSLA Co-Lead Developer, Professor Gail Gillon, about the importance of early literacy support and intervention.

While the results highlight that too many children are still needing additional support after their first year of schooling, Professor Gillon emphasised the importance of targeted early intervention and ensuring teachers have the support and tools they need to respond early to children at risk of literacy difficulties.

Professor Gillon also noted the need for more sensitive measures of phonics growth, including assessments at the phoneme level, to better capture the progress children are making.

Importantly, BSLA data consistently shows strong growth across the first year of school on all our literacy measures. Our teachers are doing an exceptional job implementing BSLA and accelerating learning for the children who need it most.

We encourage all BSLA schools to participate in future rounds of the phonics check as we continue working together to support strong literacy outcomes for all learners.

Read the RNZ article here:

After a full year of schooling, less than half of 5 year olds pass new phonics test And Education Ministry results show some groups of children have pass rates of just 25 percent.

BSLA researchers Dr Megan Gath and Dr Lisa Furlong recently presented at the DSF Language, Literacy and Learning Conference in Fremantle, sharing research spanning early language, literacy, and digital instruction.

Dr Megan Gath presented her research focused on features of preschool television content and children’s later language and literacy skills, while Dr Lisa Furlong presented findings from BSLA research focused on the effectiveness of BSLA Tier 1 oral narrative teaching.

Both Megan and Lisa also presented research they have been undertaking in collaboration with Flinders University in Adelaide, focused on digital phonics instruction using ReadingDoctor®.

A major highlight of the conference was hearing from Professor Stanislas Dehaene, French psychologist, cognitive neuroscientist, and author of Reading in the Brain and How We Learn, whose keynote explored how we learn mathematics – and why girls are falling behind. Megan and Lisa also enjoyed meeting Professor Dehaene, with Megan having the opportunity to get her book signed!

Another conference highlight was Professor Kathy Rastle’s presentation, Morphology in children’s books: What’s there, and what does it mean for learning?

It was a fantastic opportunity to share BSLA research, connect with international colleagues, and engage with the latest evidence informing language, literacy, and learning.

Kia ora koutou,
We have an Information Hui this Thursday from 12.30-1.15 pm to discuss and answer questions related to Cohort 3 for the Specialist Teaching course. Teachers can register for the Information Hui here: https://tinyurl.com/SpecialistTeachingInfoHui

📢 Exciting Update: BSLA Specialist Teaching Expansion

The Specialist Teaching in the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) course is now being extended to teams supporting students with high and complex needs in mainstream settings.

👥 Who is this for?
• Teachers in specialist classes/units within mainstream schools
• Teachers providing 0.1 or 0.2 ORS specialist teaching
• SENCOs and LSCs supporting students at a system level

⚠️ Places are limited – if demand is high, the Ministry of Education will prioritise based on school needs.

📅 Key Dates:
• Cohort 3: Starts Term 3, 2026
– 2-day workshop (face-to-face or virtual)
– 9 Communities of Practice across 3 terms

• Cohort 4: Starts Term 1, 2027
– For new Specialist School teachers (not in Cohorts 1 & 2)
– Plus eligible mainstream teachers

🔗 Find the Ministry of Education announcement here: https://pld.education.govt.nz/structured-literacy-and-maths-pld/sla-pld-support-for-specialised-teaching-practices/

And register via the BSLA website here: https://betterstartapproach.com/teacher-pld/specialist-teaching-pld

👩‍🏫 Teacher Aides
A dedicated BSLA course is also available for Teacher Aides, with the next cohort starting Term 3.

📢 Exciting Update: BSLA Specialist Teaching Expansion

The Specialist Teaching in the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) course is now being extended to teams supporting students with high and complex needs in mainstream settings.

👥 Who is this for?
• Teachers in specialist classes/units within mainstream schools
• Teachers providing 0.1 or 0.2 ORS specialist teaching
• SENCOs and LSCs supporting students at a system level

⚠️ Places are limited – if demand is high, the Ministry of Education will prioritise based on school needs.

📅 Key Dates:
• Cohort 3: Starts Term 3, 2026
– 2-day workshop (face-to-face or virtual)
– 9 Communities of Practice across 3 terms

• Cohort 4: Starts Term 1, 2027
– For new Specialist School teachers (not in Cohorts 1 & 2)
– Plus eligible mainstream teachers

🔗 Find the Ministry of Education announcement here: https://pld.education.govt.nz/structured-literacy-and-maths-pld/sla-pld-support-for-specialised-teaching-practices/

And register via the BSLA website here: https://betterstartapproach.com/teacher-pld/specialist-teaching-pld

👩‍🏫 Teacher Aides
A dedicated BSLA course is also available for Teacher Aides, with the next cohort starting Term 3.

It’s been an amazing week in Rarotonga working with the Cook Islands Ministry of Education to implement our Better Start Literacy Approach in all their primary schools. We are so impressed with the Cook Island teachers and leaders. They have participated enthusiastically in our workshops and are so passionate about literacy achievement for their students.

🎉 Great news for schools!

The Ministry of Education is now funding structured literacy PLD for Year 7–10 teachers in full primary schools (now extended eligibility!).

The University of Canterbury is offering ASLA (Accelerating Students’ Literacy Achievement) — a 12-month, evidence-based programme supporting students who need extra help with reading, spelling, and writing, including those with dyslexia.

📅 Starts Term 2, 2026
💻 Online or in-person (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch)
👩‍🏫 Includes workshops, coaching, and communities of practice

👉 Info session: Monday 30 March, 3:30–4:30pm - register for the info session: https://events.humanitix.com/asla-or-university-of-canterbury-targeted-sla-with-a-focus-on-writing-year-7-10-info-session-bxq5ab5n

👉 Apply now or learn more:
https://betterstartapproach.com/teacher-pld/targeted-sla-with-a-focus-on-writing-year-7-10-pld

Questions? Email [email protected]

Targeted SLA with a focus on Writing Year 7-10 PLD | Better Start Approach Our expert team at the University of Canterbury offers innovative and internationally leading PLD Structured Literacy Teaching for supporting students in years 7 – 10 who have additional learning needs.

Are you free on the 11th of March? The Child Wellbeing Research Institute (University of Canterbury) would like to invite you to our Literacy Symposium: Global Perspectives on Literacy: Evidence, Innovation, and Impact.

Please find attached the programme to see our exciting line up of speakers and the topics they are presenting.

Our Literacy Symposium is being held on Wednesday 11th March 2026, 9.00am – 3.00pm, Novotel Christchurch Airport

To register please click this link: https://events.humanitix.com/global-perspectives-on-literacy

There will be limited seating, so please register today to confirm your attendance.