Our reporting structure on HERO has changed considerably. This article outlines how to access and understand the report.

The national requirements for reporting on student learning progress have changed this year, with some signficant changes to language used to describe progress, and changes to what must be included in reports.

Here is the link to the Ministry page for parents and whānau about the changes to reporting. The changes to assessment and reporting in literacy and mathematics are considerable. Below is a statement from the Ministry of Education about the changes.

New Maths and Literacy curricula

What this means for ngā ākonga and their reporting is that you will see a change in learning levels in maths for your tamaiti due to the new maths curriculum. Learning levels in literacy dropped for some ākonga last year as a result of the new literacy curriculum. For maths, most of ngā ākonga will appear to have 'dropped' in maths levels right across the school.

It is important for whānau to understand that ākonga have not actually dropped or gone backwards in their maths learning. They are simply being measured against different goals this year. In most areas areas of the new curriculum there are many more goals than there were previously, and in some areas of the new maths curriculum the goals are much harder. For example:

• Year 1 number - in the previous curriculum students needed to know numbers to 20, and count forwards and backwards from numbers up to 20. In the new curriculum they need to do the same for all numbers up to 100.

• Year 5 number - in the previous curriculum there were 11 number goals (not including strategy). In the new curriculum there are 26 goals (not including strategy).

All of this means that for ākonga right across the school, there are more goals to achieve and often at harder levels. This will take time for ākonga to work towards, and this is the same for ākonga right across the country.

Language used in mid year reports

• When talking about learning levels and learning progress at Amesbury School, we focus on the year level/s where they are currently working at, regardless of their age or actual year level. We use the words 'beginning', 'progressing', or 'advanced' to describe this progress. For example, a tamaiti will be described as working at 'progressing year 3' if they are currently part way through achieving the year 3 goals, regardless of how old they are.

• From 2026, the language we use in reports will be different, using five progress descriptors: Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient, Exceeding. This describes where they are currently working in relation to their actual year level.

• In Amesbury language, these five descriptors mean the following:

  • Emerging = you are currently working below your actual year level. Eg, if at mid year a tamaiti is in year 3 and is working at progressing year 2 level, they will be 'emerging'

  • Developing = you are currently working towards your actual year level or working at the start of your actual year level. Eg, if at mid year a tamaiti is in year 3 and is working at advanced year 2, they will be 'developing'

  • Consolidating = currently working in the early area of your actual year level. Eg, if at mid year a tamaiti is in year 3 and is working at beginning or progressing year 3, they will be 'consolidating'

  • Proficient = currently working confidently at their actual year level (over 60% of their year level has been achieved). Eg, if at mid year a tamaiti is in year 3 and has achieved 3/4 of the goals at year 3, they will be 'proficient'.

  • Exceeding = currently working above their actual year level. Eg, if at mid year a tamaiti is in year 3 and is working at progressing year 4 level, they will be 'exceeding'.

  

How to access the learning information for your tamaiti

• Log into HERO

• For their report, click on the 'Report' icon on the home page to read the summary of their learning at mid year

• The report will use the new reporting language to describe where your tamaiti is at in terms of their actual year level (emerging, developing, consolidating, proficient, exceeding)

• The report will also include the report comment from their whānau teacher, and their attendance.

• To see the learning level your tamaiti is currently working at in their different subject areas, on your home page click on the picture of their face. This will take you to their current learning page, showing the green dials in reading, writing, maths, and Journey of Growth and Development (social and emotional development)

• The dials will show you where they are working. Green shows goals achieved, and yellow shows goals currently set for your tamaiti. A big tick in the middle of the dial means all goals at that year level have been achieved.

• Below the dial, click on the year level label to see the individual goals at that level. Green goals have been achieved. Yellow goals are currently set for your tamaiti. Black means not achieved and not currently set for your tamaiti.

• The progress graphs in each area show where your child is currently at. Over time, these graphs will plot their progress. There are currently only one or two dots on each graph, because the curriculum are new and we have just started using them.

Your tamaiti has had their general comment read to them today (Wednesday) by their whānau teacher. You can talk about this, and about other information in their report, with them at home tonight. We will have student conferences part way through next term, where you will be able to talk through the learning of your tamaiti (child) with their whānau teacher.

Ngā mihi nui,

Urs Cunningham