2025/2026 Fully Funded Early Literacy PLD for Auckland North West: A Research-Backed Pathway for ECE Literacy

Kate Costello
Sep 16
3 min read

At Coactive Education, we are excited to announce the launch of the 2025/2026 Early Literacy PLD for Auckland North West! A Ministry of Education SELO Office–funded initiative to strengthen the professional knowledge of early childhood education (ECE) teachers and leaders in early literacy.

This fully funded professional learning and development (PLD) programme will run from October 2025 through May 2026, providing a wraparound solution that combines in-person workshops, online workshops, and targeted centre visits to support strong early literacy practice across the region.

Online ECE Workshops — 4 of 14 Online workshops being hosted between 2025 and 2026

Why Early Literacy Matters in ECE: What the Research Shows

The early years are a period of extraordinary brain growth. Neuroscience confirms that children’s brains are highly plastic, rapidly forming the networks that support language, cognition, and literacy. What happens in these years sets the foundation for lifelong learning.

Oral language as foundation: The Education Review Office (ERO) reports that oral language in early childhood is foundational to ongoing learning, predicting success in reading, writing, and comprehension.
Vocabulary matters: Children’s vocabulary at age two is strongly linked to literacy and numeracy achievement at age 12.
Gaps persist: While about 80 % of children arrive at school with strong oral language, around 20 % are behind. This affects their later reading comprehension and school outcomes.
Phonological awareness: Research shows that phonological awareness (the ability to hear and play with sounds in words) is a key predictor of early reading success, especially when combined with letter knowledge.
Text exposure & storytelling: Being read to, hearing stories, and learning how books work are crucial for developing print awareness and comprehension.

These findings highlight why ECE teachers need robust professional knowledge: to ensure tamariki experience rich, intentional, and playful literacy opportunities every day.

How the 2025/2026 Early Literacy PLD Supports Educators

This PLD series is designed to translate research into daily practice. Educators will explore how to:

Embed literacy through play Literacy will be introduced through play-based contexts, aligning with Te Whāriki and Kōwhiti Whakapae. Our expert facilitators will help your team craft learning stories will be used to capture children’s literacy growth in ways that are culturally responsive and joyful.
Strengthen oral language & storytelling Workshops will provide strategies for serve and return, storytelling, and narrative play, all of which research shows build vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence.
Develop phonological & print awareness Teachers will learn developmentally appropriate ways to support rhymes, syllables, and sounds, while also introducing print concepts like handling books, recognising letters, and understanding text forms.
Use targeted centre visits Ten ECE services will receive personalised, hands-on visits to co-plan and embed strategies that fit their unique communities.
Access practical resources Each workshop includes a comprehensive workbook, designed for ongoing reference and use. Educator feedback shapes every workshop, ensuring local needs are always met.

Proven Success in South & Southwest Auckland

This model has already been implemented in South and Southwest Auckland, where it has been a smash hit. Teachers reported that the strategies were “immediately useful” and directly improved day-to-day practice. Leaders saw more confident, intentional approaches to oral language and literacy.

These outcomes align with ERO’s findings that centres benefit most from PLD when it is sustained, practical, and responsive to local needs.

Impact for Tamariki

The expected flow-on effect of this PLD is clear: tamariki in Auckland North West will enter school with stronger oral language, richer literacy experiences, and greater confidence with text. This helps close achievement gaps and sets up lifelong learning pathways.

Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere thanks to the Ministry of Education SELO Auckland North West for funding and supporting this important initiative. Their commitment ensures that fully funded ECE workshops in Auckland remain accessible and impactful for teachers, leaders, and tamariki.