26/08/2026
Education in the News
Reading, writing and maths: why the focus matters
There has been a lot happening in New Zealand education, with a growing focus on strengthening the foundations of learning, particularly reading, writing and mathematics.
New changes announced this month will place a stronger focus on educational achievement in school planning, while from 2027 parents will receive twice-yearly reports showing their child's progress and achievement, attendance, next learning steps and information about support where needed.
These changes are part of a much wider focus on foundational learning across New Zealand schools.
But behind all the policy changes is something that matters to every learner:
Strong foundations make future learning easier.
When a child is struggling with reading, writing or maths, it isn't simply about getting the right answer in a test. Difficulties with foundational skills can affect confidence, participation and their ability to access learning across other subjects.
That's why identifying where a learner is getting stuck and finding the right way to support them, matters.
At Thinking Caps, we believe every learner deserves to understand how they learn best, have their strengths recognised and receive support that helps them move forward.
Education may be changing, but the importance of strong foundations isn't.
