19610 (2024). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister of Education

19610 (2024). Hon Jan Tinetti to the Minister of Education: Further to question 9566 (2024); Can the Minister list the evidence she used to determine that structured literacy works for the overwhelming majority of students when teaching them to read and write?

Hon Erica Stanford: There is various international and national research highlighting the benefits of structured literacy. For example, recent evaluations of the Better Start Literacy Approach and accelerative structured literacy approach trials showed that additional targeted (Tier 2) and tailored (Tier 3) structured literacy approach support is effective for improving students’ literacy skills. This research is publicly available at https://www.betterstartapproach.com/our-research. In addition, the University of Canterbury has released research papers confirming the positive impacts this structured approach to teaching literacy has had on student literacy progress and attainment. Their recent large-scale implementation of early literacy instruction research found that, on average, children with greater learning needs who received small-group (Tier 2) targeted teaching caught up with their peers in word reading and spelling skills. This research is publicly available at https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/schooling/literacy-evaluation-reports-and-insights.