Professional Learning & Development for Teacher Aides

As a teacher aide, you have access to up to $1,000 worth of funding to support your professional development and career progression! Our team of expert education professionals have created learning opportunities that are specifically designed for Teacher Aides in primary (P) and secondary (S) - with a focus on:

Neurodiversity
Behaviour & Communication
Inclusion & Wellbeing
Learning support
Cultural competence
Languages & Professional skills

Browse our online workshops and face to face workshops below, which you can book by following each link. Contact us if you have any questions!

How to Apply for Funding:

Choose From Our Courses & Workshops

Our facilitators are expert adult educators and have crafted rich learning that will empower TA to be successful.

Browse our selection of courses and workshops below, and choose a product that meets your goals.

Set Up an Education Sector Log In (ESL)

Not sure who the ESL delegated authoriser of your school or kura is? Ask a colleague, your Principal or contact the Education Service Desk.. That person must then either update your existing account or invite you to create a new ESL account. You will need to be assigned the PLD Teacher Aide permissions in ESL.

More ESL Info

File Your Funding Application

Apply for the funding for your PLD through the online form.

Select the "Set Category" option from the application type - you'll need:

The email address of the person approving the PLD.
Your Ministry employee number and your school number (find on your pay slip)

Apply Here

Funding Approved

You will receive a confirmation email from the Ministry (remember to check your spam folder for a reply too).

Please forward this and your ARN (application reference number) to us to complete your enrolment in your course.

We will then be your primary contact for all details about your chosen course.

Contact

Set Category Courses for Teacher Aides across Aotearoa:

Confidence in the Classroom (P/S)

Be more creative and confident in the classroom using proven techniques that combines psychology and the Shine School of Confidence's Mind-Body-Voice learnings.

Fun, interactive sessions that include activities to use in the classroom.

Facilitator: Nina Burchett
Cost: $172.50 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 1.5 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

Developing Phonological Awareness (P/S)

In this workshop you will understand what phonological awareness is and its importance in learning literacy. You will learn how you can develop phonological awareness with students using quick, fun learning activities and how to assess phonological awareness.

SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023.

Facilitator: Yolanda Soryl
Cost: $230 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 2 hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Early Phonics (Learning the Alphabet)
(P)

Much more than ABC's this course will give you the practical strategies and in-depth training on how to teach children the sounds and letters of the alphabet.

This course includes an Early Phonics training manual.

Facilitator: Yolanda Soryl
Cost: $230 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 2 hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)
In Person: Papatoetoe West School

Times & Booking

Early Words (P)

Build understanding about what the high frequency (sight) words are and why we teach them, learn how to teach a 5 minute Early Words lesson and know how to implement the Early Words programme in your school.

This course includes resources: Early Words manual.

Facilitator: Yolanda Soryl
Cost: $207 incl GST and incl. resources
Duration: 2 x 2 hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

Reading Discovery Club (P)

Learn how to set up a Reading Discovery Club that provides a 30 minute, small group early literacy support programme for your school. Resources included: PDF training manual.

SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023

Facilitator: Yolanda Soryl
Cost: $207 incl GST and incl. resources
Duration: 2 x 2 hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Primary Phonics (P)

Build an understanding about what phonics is and develop an understanding of the 7 stage of phonics. You will learn how to teach children to hear, read and write all the sounds and how to sound out the words for reading and writing using fun and interactive strategies and how to assess the 7 stages.

This course includes resources 1x phonics word card, 1x grapheme word card, 1x letter mnemonic cards, 1x mini phonics kit and Primary Phonics Training Manual.

SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023

Facilitator: Yolanda Soryl
Cost: $563.50 incl GST and incl resources
Duration and Location: Zoom (Online)
- 4 x 2 hour Workshop
- 2 x 4 hour Workshop

Teaching Handwriting (P/S)

In this workshop, Louise will cover the following topics:

- Introduction – why teaching handwriting matters
- Developing fine motor skills
- Teaching handwriting systematically
- Supporting older students with handwriting issues

Facilitator: Louise Dempsey
Cost: $172.50 online & $207 in-person incl GST
Duration: 1.5 Hour Workshop
Location:
- Zoom (Online)

Use Links Above

Supporting Students with Reading (P/S)

This workshop introduces the range of skills students need to develop for reading. It includes practical strategies to support students to decode and comprehend, as well as follow-up activities. Louise will also cover how to lead a reading group at different levels.

Facilitator: Louise Dempsey
Cost: $287.50 incl GST
Duration: 3 x 1.5 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

Supporting Students with Reading (Face to Face) Whangārei (P/S)

In this course you will develop knowledge about how children learn to read and get practical strategies for supporting ākonga to read. This workshop gives practical skill for working in small groups with readers of different levels.
SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED IN-PERSON COURSES IN 2023 ON THIS TOPIC.

Facilitator: Louise Dempsey
Cost: $368 incl GST
Duration: 1 Day Workshop
Location:
- Whangārei

Supporting Students with Writing (P/S)

An overview of how children learn to write with practical strategies for supporting ākonga to write. It includes practical strategies to support students to generate and organise ideas, spell words, write in sentences, select vocabulary and edit their writing. Supporting groups of students at different levels will also be covered.

Facilitator: Louise Dempsey
Cost: $287.50 incl GST
Duration: 3 x 1.5 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

Supporting Ākonga in the Learning Space with Oral Language Development (P/S)

Build a rich understanding about why oral language is important, gain skills to support individual and small groups of ākonga and how to leverage ākonga linguistic diversity in the learning space.

SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023.

Facilitator: Del Costello
Cost: $172.50 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 1.5 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Communication matters: Unlock ākonga potential (Language Matters)

This workshop has been co-designed with a teacher aide who understands your challenges, ensuring you receive practical insights and solutions that truly resonate.

SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023.

Facilitator: Trudy Frances
Cost: $448.50 incl GST
Duration: 2 Full-Day Workshops
Location: Palmerston North or Wellington

Supporting Positive Behaviour (P/S)

Build skills to read what is the behaviour trying to tell us, to understand behavioural motivations and to develop positive strategies to support ākonga.
SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023.

Facilitator: Rebecca Bishop
Cost: $172.50 incl GST
Duration: 1 x 2 Hour Workshop
Location: Zoom (Online)

Nurturing Hauora in Young People (P/S)

Use Te Whare Tapa Wha as a model to understand wellbeing build skills to truly listen to young people, support ākonga with emotional regulation and how to create a safe and predictable learning environment.
SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED COURSES ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023.

Facilitator: Rebecca Bishop
Cost: $172.50 incl GST
Duration: 1 x 2 Hour Workshop
Location: Zoom (Online)

Grow Communication skills. Be confident in a classroom or a Professional Environment (P/S)

Learn how to share your thoughts and opinions as you develop the skills and strategies to listen and be heard in a professional teaching environment. This course will teach you how to advocate for ākonga and yourself effectively.

Facilitator: Nina Burchett
Cost: $172.50 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 1.5 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

The Circle of Influence & How To Navigate Learners & Teachers Needs in a Learning Space (P/S)

Understand how and what you can influence in the classroom. Increase your skills in communication, negotiation, advocacy and persuasion.

Facilitator: Nina Burchett
Cost $172.50 incl GST
Duration: 2x 1.5 hour workshops
Venue: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

Foundational Te Reo Māori me ōna Tikanga (P/S)

Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi means honouring Te Reo Māori and tikanga. Learn the essential Te Reo Māori and tikanga required for work in the classroom.

Facilitator: Rosina Wikaira
Cost: $207 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 1.5 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Times & Booking

Engaging Tamariki with Early Literacy - 5-7 year olds

In this workshop you will build strategies to engage tamariki who are reluctant to participate in literacy in the classroom. Understand how you can support them to engage with phonological awareness and grow a love of learning to read and write.

Facilitator: Melissa Derby
Cost: $172.50 online
Duration: 1.5 Hour Workshop
Locations:
- Zoom (Online)

Supporting Students with Writing (Face to Face)

This workshop introduces the range of skills students need to develop for writing. It includes practical strategies to support students to generate and organise ideas, spell words, write in sentences, select vocabulary and edit their writing. Supporting groups of students at different levels will also be covered.

Facilitator: Louise Dempsey
Cost: $368 incl GST
Duration: 1 Day Workshop
Location:
- Whangārei

Facilitating Reciprocal Reading Groups Online (P/S)

In this workshop, Louise will share practical ideas for setting up Reciprocal Reading groups for proficient readers.

Reciprocal reading is a well-researched and highly effective small-group instructional activity that was designed to support students who can decode but have difficulty comprehending what they read. The main purpose of reciprocal reading is improving comprehension.

SORRY. THERE ARE NO MORE FUNDED WORKSHOPS ON THIS TOPIC IN 2023.

Facilitator: Louise Dempsey
Cost: $207 incl GST
Duration: 2 x 1 Hour Workshops
Location: Zoom (Online)

Our Facilitators:

Del Costello

Director

I work with leaders, facilitators, staff and teams in schools, ECE and Kāhui Ako where I can facilitate the development of sustainable professional learning communities and improve outcomes for learners.

More about Del.

Dr. Melissa Derby

PLD Consultant

I'm a Senior Lecturer in child development, specialising in early literacy. I work with ECE centres and communities to support children’s learning, focusing on local curriculum, bicultural frameworks, and families as first teachers.

More about Melissa.

Yolanda Soryl

PLD Consultant

I love teaching children to read and helping their teachers/teacher aides and parents too. I offer early literacy teaching courses that are fun, practical and packed with activities and ideas you can teach tomorrow.

More about Yolanda.

Nina Burchett

PLD Consultant

I work with educators to grow personal confidence and communication skills.

We create bespoke programmes/coaching for new teachers and teacher aides to improve their communication skills.

More about Nina Burchett.

Rebecca Bishop

PLD Consultant

Based in Te Tai Tokerau, I have 16 years' experience in the education sector as a teacher, leader, education consultant and more recently a school counsellor.

I've supported many schools with curriculum development and creating sustainable shifts in teacher practice. I love to work collaboratively with Kaiako to set and realise their goals.

Trudy Francis

PLD Consultant

I’ve been an educational coach since 2007. My work focuses on personalisation and co-construction of professional goals and objectives.

I work with schools on assessment for learning, local curriculum, Backward by Design UBD, Inquiry, Assessment, Coaching, Professional Growth Cycles, Agency.

More about Trudy.

Louise Dempsey

PLD Consultant & Author

I'm an experienced teacher, consultant and trainer who has worked in NZ and the UK. I facilitate literacy training and school-based professional learning and have completed a range of writing projects for NZ and English publishers, including the Department of Education in the UK. I'm an accredited trainer for the Ministry of Education in New Zealand.

More about Louise.

Get in Touch!

Professional Learning & Development for Teacher Aides

How to Apply for Funding:

Set Category Courses for Teacher Aides across Aotearoa:

Developing Phonological Awareness (P/S)

Early Phonics (Learning the Alphabet) (P)

Early Words (P)

Reading Discovery Club (P)

Primary Phonics (P)

Teaching Handwriting (P/S)

Supporting Students with Reading (P/S)

Supporting Students with Reading (Face to Face) Whangārei (P/S)

Supporting Students with Writing (P/S)

Communication matters: Unlock ākonga potential (Language Matters)

Supporting Positive Behaviour (P/S)

Nurturing Hauora in Young People (P/S)

Grow Communication skills. Be confident in a classroom or a Professional Environment (P/S)

The Circle of Influence & How To Navigate Learners & Teachers Needs in a Learning Space (P/S)

Foundational Te Reo Māori me ōna Tikanga (P/S)

Engaging Tamariki with Early Literacy - 5-7 year olds

Supporting Students with Writing (Face to Face)

Facilitating Reciprocal Reading Groups Online (P/S)

Our Facilitators:

Get in Touch!

Early Phonics (Learning the Alphabet)
(P)