Apply for Cohort 6 now!
Applications open 21 July – close 8 August
Fully-funded Structured Literacy PLD through the Ministry of Education
Term 4 2025
Auckland | Hamilton | Tauranga | Christchurch | Dunedin | Online
Secure your place now!
Cognition Education’s Structured Literacy Programme
Our Structured Literacy Programme is research-informed and designed to equip educators with the tools and strategies to accelerate literacy progress in Years 0–8.
We invite schools to apply and secure Ministry of Education PLD funding for their staff. Once funding is confirmed, we can tailor the delivery model to suit your needs—either as a dedicated programme for your school or as a collaborative opportunity with nearby schools.
The programme is grounded in structured literacy principles such as:
- Phonemic awareness
- Systematic phonics
- Vocabulary
- Syntax
- Comprehension
- Diagnostic assessment
These principles are brought to life through practical application tailored to primary and intermediate school contexts.
Participants engage in:
- 3 full days of interactive, in-person workshops
- 8 online Communities of Practice
- Personalised coaching and feedback
- Collaborative exploration of best practice
Our evidence-based approach includes culturally responsive practices aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports educators to confidently embed Structured Literacy approaches for equitable outcomes.
Structured Literacy Programme: Overview
Day 1: Foundations of Structured Literacy
- Explore the core principles of Structured Literacy for Years 0–8.
- Understand the science of learning and how it applies to literacy.
- Learn to plan and structure Phase One, Phase Two and Phase Three literacy blocks effectively.
Day 2: Developing Literacy Skills
- Focus on practical strategies for explicit teaching phonics, phonemic awareness, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary.
- Gain tools to support diverse learners, including culturally responsive practices and ESOL strategies.
- Using assessment for learning techniques to monitor progress, recognise student learning gaps and respond effectively to them.
- Deep dive into the 20 week and 40 week phonics check.
Day 3: Embedding and Sustaining Structured Literacy
- Learn to embed Structured Literacy practices into your teaching routines.
- Dive into differentiation and targeted interventions for accelerated progress.
- Reflect on implementation strategies and create an actionable plan to support long-term success.
Workshop Locations – Cohort 6 | Term 4 2025
Workshops will begin in Term 4 and will be available in the following locations: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Online.
Please let us know if you are interested in a tailored programme for your school or would like to join a group of local schools.
Important Dates
📅 21 July
Applications open for Cohort 6 (via the MOE PLD application portal)
📅 8 August
Applications close – last day to apply for PLD funding
📅 27 August
Enrolment deadline – schools must be enrolled with Cognition Education by this date
This PLD is fully funded by the Ministry of Education for eligible schools. If you’re not eligible, you can still enrol—we’ll invoice you directly.
Enrol to our Structured Literacy Programme
This PLD is funded by the Ministry of Education, but you will need an Application Reference Number. If you aren't eligible for funding, you can still enrol in this course and we will invoice you directly. Complete your details below and one of our team will be in contact with you shortly.
Meet the team
Jo Bishop
Libby Doell
Anita Knight
Katesha Allis
Access more Structured Literacy PLD
Online webinar series
A deep dive into explicit instruction
Elevate your teaching practice by building knowledge through our comprehensive webinar series focusing on “Explicit Teaching”, one of the key components of structured literacy.
Read more!
This five-part professional development journey is designed to equip kaiako with cutting-edge, research-based strategies in explicit teaching for literacy. Each session offers practical tools to enhance your instruction to boost student achievement. Participants will have the opportunity to share effective practices and gain access to research and resources.
Why Attend?
- Evidence-Based Approaches: Gain insights into the science of learning and explicit teaching methodologies proven to enhance literacy outcomes for all learners.
- Practical Application: Engage in interactive activities and receive ready-to-use strategies for immediate classroom implementation.
- Coverage: Discover the essentials of “Explicit Teaching” in literacy, including phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, reading and writing comprehension skills, and assessment for learning in literacy.
Each webinar combines expert insights with practical, classroom-ready strategies. Participants will engage in interactive activities, receive valuable resources, and have opportunities for Q&A with presenters.
Ideal for teachers and leaders committed to advancing literacy outcomes through explicit teaching methodologies.
$300 per teacher (note, this is not Ministry funded). Group registrations also available.
Contact us to express your interest.
PLD Bundles
Coaching and Mentoring support
Cognition’s literacy experts can provide specific Coaching and Mentoring support for Literacy PLD.
Bespoke PLD
PLD designed specifically for your school
Cognition also offers bespoke packages and can tailor a specific approach for your school. Contact us for more information.
Inclusive PLD
Inclusive Structured Literacy Approaches
Cognition Education offers tailored workshops focused on inclusive structured literacy approaches that support all learners, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, speech and language disorders, and other learning differences. Our workshops provide evidence-based strategies to ensure accessible, explicit, and systematic instruction that meets the diverse needs of students. We are also available to work alongside specialist schools to embed structured literacy into their teaching practices, equipping educators with the tools to foster successful literacy outcomes for all learners.
Auckland Literacy Leadership Communities (LLC)
Cognition is excited to bring our new LLC Workshops to Auckland! These termly meetings enable schools to keep up to date with Ministry changes, and a chance to network with local schools.
Or contact us if you’re interested in these workshops in another location.
Have a question for our literacy experts?
Contact us today!
Ask us a question!
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