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The teacher aide pilot professional learning development fund of $2.29 million is available to all teacher aides from 1 July 2020.

NZEI Te Riu Roa, the Ministry of Education and the NZ School Trustees Association agreed to establish a pilot fund of $790,000 to provide access to professional learning and development (PLD) for teacher aides as part of the settlement for Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement (SSSCA) 2019-2022.

The fund was increased under the recent pay equity settlement to $2.29 million over 18 months from 1 July 2020. The pilot fund will cease on 6 February 2022 at the expiry of the Support Staff in Schools Collective Agreement. All professional development under the fund will need to be completed before then.

Teacher aides will be paid for their time, course fees and in some cases travel and accommodation. Wherever possible this should be in term breaks or outside school hours.

Click here to apply for teacher aide PLD
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We have collated a list of possible PLD courses suitable for teacher aides that you might be interested to apply for. This list is not exclusive and does not indicate quality. We have gathered information from teacher aides who have said they have found these courses helpful. The kaupapa of the fund is that teacher aides lead their learning (and that is confirmed by their supervisor) and a variety of courses will be funded. These could be community-based for example run by iwi or around kura or a group of kura, NZEI Te Riu Roa courses or courses run by the regional Ministry of Education office.

Teacher aides are welcome to apply for a course outside those listed below. The fund pays for courses offered by private providers, polytechnics and universities as well as schools, kura or clusters of schools. It covers both face-to-face and distance learning/online delivery.

These courses will be updated from time to time as we want this to be a 'living' document. We will use our best endeavours to keep the content current, but if you find any of the courses have changed, please let us know by emailing nzei@nzei.org.nz.

Below is a list of possible PLD courses. Click on the link of shortcuts to see courses related to a specific topic.

Autism Behaviour Management

Behaviour Management

Brain Injury

Child Development

Child Protection

Communication

Conduct Disorder

Cultural Capability

Down Syndrome

Dyslexia

ESOL

First Aid

General Teacher Aide Skills

Induction courses for new teacher aides

Literacy courses

Māori medium / kura kaupapa

Numeracy courses

PB4L

Specific Learning Disabilities (general)

Teacher Aide Qualifications

Te Reo Māori

Wellbeing and physical education

Autism Behaviour Management

  • Autism NZ offers a range of courses some of which would be relevant to teacher aides and can offer workshops around the country. Some of their workshops include introductory programmes for whānau and professionals on what autism is, and teams-based approaches - a combination of strength-based, practical strategies to support the everyday inclusion of children with autism. The two-day workshop is embedded within a research inquiry. Online training being developed.
  • Ministry of Education - The Incredible Years Helping Children with Autism: Click here to find out more.
    • This course is no cost
    • It is 6 weekly or fortnightly 2.5 hour sessions.
  • Altogether Autism offers workshops that are tailor-made for the audience and delivered regionally or online to teacher aides.
  • Evaluation Associates - Learning Support PLD: Understanding autism: Click here to find out more
    • The course is $175
    • Is it a 3 hour workshop, during school hours
  • Children's Autism ASK (Autism Spectrum Knowledge) Professional Development: Click here to find out more.
    • The course is $50 per module
    • The full training programme is 5-6 two hour face-to-face modules throughout the year. Teacher aides can attend as many as they want.
    • The modules are held outside school hours
  • Lego-based therapy. Social skills training for those on the Autism Spectrum. Click here to find out more.
  • Creating Success run courses on Autism Spectrum Disorder for teacher aides. They usually run one-day seminars across New Zealand, however with the borders closed, Live Webcasts and On-Demand Courses on ASD with Dr Tony Attwood and Dr Michelle Garnett are available. The courses currently available for school staff are:
    • Challenging Behaviour and Classic Autism
    • Behaviour and Emotion Management for Children and Adolescents with ASD
    • Girls and Women with Autism
    • Succeeding with Autism in the Teens
    • Click here to find out more.

     

Behaviour management

  • Ministry of Education - Understanding Behaviour, Responding Safely (UBRS) workshop: Click here to find out more.
    • Modules are delivered by trained regional staff, who will also provide on-going support.
  • Ministry of Education - Incredible Years: Click here to find out more.
  • Ministry of Education - PB4L: This course is under the Incredible Years programme but includes restorative practice and school wide initiatives. It also includes a focus on older students.
  • Evaluation Associates - Learning support PLD: Understanding Positive Behaviour Support: Click here to find out more. 
    • This course is $175
    • It is a 3 hour workshop, during school hours
  • MAPA (Management of Actual or Potential Aggression): MAPA offer courses in de-escalation and management of aggression.

Brain Injury

Child Development

  • Brainwave Trust offers courses in child brain development from birth to adolescence, such as early experiences and how they shape brain development through to unraveling the adolescent brain.
  • Learning Cloud - Child Development Certificate. This is an online course worth 600 hours. Each module in the certificate is a short course and may be studied separately.
  • SKIP - Resource on child development and behaviour. There are no costs associated and is an online course/module.
  • Longworth Education provides PLD for teachers and teacher aides about learning through play pedagogy.  The foundation workshop covers the  'why and what' of teaching through play.

 

Child Protection

  • Child Matters - NZ Diploma in Child Protection.
    • Click here to find out more
    • This Diploma costs $1,100
    • It is six one-week blocks over the year, and includes self-directed learning and assignments.
    • This is done during school hours
    • It is NZQA Level 5 approved
  • Child Matters - Child Protection workshops on a number of different subjects
  • Child Matters - Child Protection Studies Programme
    • Click here to find out more.
    • This course is $650
    • It is a 5 day face-to-face programme, during school hours
    • It is also NZQA Level 3 approved
  • Child Matters - Working Together for Vulnerable Kids Seminar
  • Safeguarding Children - Fundamentals of Child Protection

Communication

Conduct Disorder

  • Evaluation Associates - Learning Support PLD: Understanding Conduct Disorder

Cultural capability

  • Ministry of Education - Te Kete Ipurangi (TKI) website has resources on cultural capability in the classroom. Click here to find out more. 
  • Vision Education runs cultural capability courses to help educators to better understand their students' language, culture and identity and the implications for teaching and learning. Click here to see more.
  • CORE Education - Te Whakamānawa: developing cultural competencies in learning communities
    • This online programme is for leaders and educators in English-medium learning communities who are seeking to improve their bicultural and culturally responsive practices, give mana to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and increase engagement with students, whānau and iwi/hapū.
    • Find out more here. 

Down Syndrome

  • Auckland Down Syndrome Association - Success in School for Children who learn differently
    • Success in School is a two-day course for SENCOs, teachers, teacher aides, specialist staff, and parent educators and involves a variety of presenters including Dr Jude MacArthur.
    • The course aims to provide basic information and skills to attendees specific to educating students with Down syndrome and covers topics including the learning profile of students with Down syndrome, inclusion, use of visual supports and strategies to support learning in the inclusive setting, numeracy and literacy and how to adapt the curriculum, IEPs, and behaviour and friendships.
    • This course is held twice a year, in Auckland - and anyone can attend. The 2021 course dates are 8/9 March and 9/10 August. Registrations are now open for 8/9 March. More details are available online at https://adsa.org.nz/how-we-help/courses/. Booking is also online at this link.
    • If you would like more details on the course, please email Paula Beguely at clo@adsa.org.nz

Dyslexia

Dyspraxia

ESOL

First Aid

General Teacher Aide Skills

  • Raising Achievement - Secondary Learning Support and Teacher Aides school based PLD. Click here to find out more.
    • This is a full day course, please check the website where and when their courses are held.
  • Raising Achievement - Teacher Aide Online Course. Click here to find out more
    • This course is $975.
    • It is a full year online course.
  • Ministry of Education - 'Guide to Teacher Aide practice.' Click here to find out more
    • There are no costs associated with this course
    • It is a full online course with modules done in your own time.
  • Ministry of Education - Teachers and Teacher Aides Working Together Modules. Click here to find out more.
    • There are no costs associated with this course.
    • This course is completed in schools, modules are sent as a pack with the presentation, workbook, activities and guide.
  • LDANZ Online training options available for Teacher Aides –we recommend you discuss options with them directly. 
  • CORE Education - Strengthening teacher aide practice
    • This online programme is for primary and secondary teacher aides, and education support workers in early years settings.
    • Find out more here. 
  • Evaluation Associates - 12-week learning support and disability course for teacher aides
    • This is a 12-week course for teacher aides in a combination of face to face and online hui. Across three modules, you'll cover: wellbeing, teamwork, learning and behaviour, culturally responsive practice and disability and positive behaviour support.
    • There are a range of dates available for this course in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
    • Find out more here. 

Induction - courses that may be useful for teacher aides just starting out

  • Ministry of Education - Teachers and Teacher Aides Working Together
  • Ministry of Education - Working with English Language Learners
  • Ministry of Education - The Incredible Years Helping Children with Autism
  • Open Polytechnic - NZ Certificate in Education Support
    • Click here to find out more. 
    • This course is $280
    • It is 7 hours a week, 100% online in your own time alongside minimum 5 hours a week practicum.
    • Level 4 NZQA approved.
  • Red Cross - First Aid for Young Children
  • RASNZ Welcoming Schools Programmes - Empowering Schools to Support Former Refugee Whānau.

Literacy Courses

  • University of Auckland Kohia - Teacher Aides Supporting Early readers and writers
  • The Learning Staircase offers the Steps training course among others.
  • Yolanda Soryl Literacy - Early Words course
  • Yolanda Soryl Literacy - Primary Phonics course
  • TalkLink - Assistive Technology Services
  • Ministry of Education - Literacy Online: learning about and planning for my student's needs

Māori medium / kura kaupapa

Numeracy Courses

  • Numicon courses - courses in communicating mathematically, relationships and generalising - particularly useful for children with additional needs in understanding maths.
    • There are consultants throughout New Zealand who can run PD for schools.
    • The courses are $180
    • They are a full day workshop face-to-face during school hours.
    • Click here to find out more.

PB4L

  • Kaupapa Māori
    • Māori enjoying education success as Māori means having an education system that provides all Māori students with the opportunity to realise their own unique potential and succeed in their lives as Māori.
    • Click here to find out more. 

Specific Learning Disabilities (general)

  • SPELD - Intro to Specific Learning Disabilities. Click here to find out more.
    • This course is $300
    • It is a face-to-face, 2 day course, full days during school hours.
    • It is NZQA Level 3 approved

Teacher Aide Qualifications

  • Open Polytechnic - NZ Certificate in Education Support
    • Click here to find out more.
    • This course is $280
    • It is 7 hours a week, 100% online in own time alongside minimum 5 hours a week practicum.
    • It is NZQA Level 4 approved
  • Training for You - NZ Certificate in Education Support
    • Click here to find out more.
    • This course is $650
    • It is 12.5 hours per week, 32 weeks.
    • This is done online in your own time alongside practicum.
    • It is NZQA Level 4 approved
  • SIT NZ Certificate in Education Support
    • Click here to find out more. 
    • This course is $330.
    • It is part time up to 2 years dependent on hours or 12 weeks full time.
    • It is completed online in your own time.
    • The course is NZQA Level 3 approved.
  • Toi-ohomai Institute of Technology - NZ Certificate in Education Support
    • Click here to find out more
    • There are no costs associated with this course.
    • It is 24 weeks part-time and online.
    • There are 2 full day workshops either on campus or via Skype.
    • It is NZQA Level 4 approved.
  • International Career Institute - Diploma of Teacher Aide
    • Click here to find out more. 
    • This course is $2,4500
    • It is online, and completed and your own pace and own time. The average time is 24 weeks - maximum time to take is 3 years.
    • Level 5 not NZQA approved.
  • SPELD - NZ Certificate in Teaching Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities
    • Click here to find out more. 
    • This course is $3,000.
    • It is 600 hours, online with one face-to-face workshop component during school holidays.
    • It is Level 5 NZQA approved.
  • Teacher aide course, Tauranga - University of Waikato
    • The School of Education at the University of Waikato are launching a new teacher aide course in Tauranga at the start of Term 2, 2021.
    • This course introduces the role and responsibilities of Teacher Aides, including concepts of teaching and learning, planning and adapting for learners, and building professional relationships. It explores how Teacher Aides can support learners’ wellbeing and their specific learning, behavioural, and other needs. It also highlights the importance of inclusion, with a focus on how Teacher Aides can respect and acknowledge cultural and other forms of diversity in their work within New Zealand schools.
    • Click here for more information

Te Reo Māori Courses

Wellbeing and physical education

  • The Halberg Foundation offers courses for both teachers, teacher aides and student leaders on how to include young people with impairments into the physical education and outdoor recreation areas of the curriculum.  The programmes are through the Halberg Inclusion Training programme which can be delivered onsite or through our online platform.  There is a team of advisers throughout the country. Find out more here.
  • Improving Life Outcomes helps people with learning challenges reach their full potential, letting them be the person they can be. Find out more here.