Teaching Literacy and Mathematics at HPPS
At Hobsonville Point Primary School, we use evidence-based approaches to support your child's literacy and mathematics development. These approaches align with New Zealand Curriculum requirements and our school's learning philosophy.
Here's what you need to know about how 'structured' teaching aligns to our school.
Literacy Development
Literacy opens doors to the world. It's the ability to share stories, understand diverse perspectives, express ideas with confidence, and connect across languages and cultures. At HPPS, we recognise that our families bring rich linguistic and cultural experiences, and we celebrate the many ways children learn to communicate. While our broader literacy program nurtures a genuine love for books, storytelling, and creative expression in all its forms, structured literacy approaches provide essential skills that support reading and writing development throughout a child's learning journey.
We support your child's literacy development through a range of evidence-based approaches, including the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA).
The Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA)
BSLA forms the foundational basis of our literacy teaching for our younger students (Years 0-3), where explicit instruction in phonics, vocabulary, and oral language is critical for reading success. However, the principles and strategies of structured literacy continue to be valuable throughout primary school. Our senior students (Years 4-6) benefit from these approaches when learning complex spelling patterns, developing vocabulary, and strengthening their reading and writing skills. We also use BSLA strategies within our English Language Learning (ELL) program to support students who are developing English as an additional language.
Developed by the University of Canterbury and supported by the Ministry of Education, BSLA uses structured literacy strategies—explicit, systematic teaching that focuses on building foundational skills like phonics, vocabulary, and oral language. These approaches are culturally responsive, strengths-based, and proven to support children's literacy development across all age groups.
What you'll notice at home:
For younger students (Years 0-3):
Your child may bring home reading materials in their book bag—sounds, words, sentences, and books. You may notice the same book comes home for several days, which helps them practice targeted skills and build fluency.
Mathematics Learning
At HPPS, we support your child's mathematical development through a range of evidence-based approaches aligned with the updated New Zealand Curriculum for Mathematics and Statistics (Years 0-8).
Since Term 1 2025, schools have been required to use the updated mathematics and statistics curriculum content for Years 0-8, which emphasies explicit teaching, mathematical fluency, and problem-solving.
Our approach includes:
Clear learning progressions through structured teaching sequences
Strong foundations in number knowledge and computational fluency
Problem-solving and reasoning to develop mathematical thinking
Multiple strategies to support diverse learning needs and styles
Our Approach to Mathematics
Research shows that effective mathematics teaching involves meeting children where they are and building from their current understanding.
At HPPS, we:
Meet every child where they are
We recognise that children develop mathematical understanding at different rates and in different ways. Our teachers use assessment and observation to understand each child's current mathematical thinking and plan next steps that are appropriately challenging.
Build confidence and mathematical identity
We know that a child's belief in themselves as a mathematician matters. We create a classroom culture where mistakes are valued as learning opportunities, effort is celebrated, and every child sees themselves as capable of mathematical thinking.
Use hands-on, rich contexts
Mathematics makes sense when children can see it, touch it, and connect it to their world. We use concrete materials (blocks, counters, measurement tools), real-world problems, and engaging contexts to help children understand mathematical concepts deeply rather than just memorising procedures.
Integrate mathematics across learning
Mathematics doesn't just happen during "maths time." We weave mathematical thinking into science investigations, design projects, literacy activities, and inquiry learning. This helps children see mathematics as a useful tool for understanding and engaging with the world around them.
Develop mathematical language and reasoning
We encourage children to talk about their mathematical thinking, explain their strategies, and listen to others' ideas. This develops both their mathematical understanding and their ability to communicate precisely—skills that connect naturally with their literacy development.
Assessment and Progress
At HPPS, we approach assessment in a way that is meaningful and helps us celebrate progress with our students. We use assessment information in a timely way to:
Adjust our teaching approaches to better meet children's needs
Track group and individual progress over time
Inform children about their learning journey and next steps
Keep parents and caregivers well-informed about their child's mathematical development
Assessment at our school includes daily observations, conversations with children, learning activities, and self-reflection—all of which help us understand your child's mathematical thinking.
We also fulfill our mandated requirement for twice-yearly formal assessments using tools such as PATS (Progressive Achievements Tests). As the Ministry of Education continues to develop assessment resources aligned with the new curriculum, we will adjust our approaches to ensure we're using the most current and appropriate tools available.
Our teachers are engaging with professional learning to implement the refreshed curriculum effectively, and we use Ministry-funded resources designed to support mathematical understanding.
We're excited to partner with you in developing your child's confidence and capability in mathematics.