Ministry of Education

Gifted Learners

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Support for gifted education in Aotearoa New Zealand

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Extra support for gifted learners

A new package of support for gifted education was announced by Associate Education Minister Hon Tracey Martin on 27 February at MindPlus East one-day school, hosted at Riverina School in Pakuranga, Auckland.

The package recognises that gifted learners and notions of giftedness are diverse, both within and across cultures.

The package of support includes:

  • Part-funding for one-day schools to enable gifted learners to access learning with like-minded peers. Applications are now open and will remain open as long as places are available. Contact admin@nzcge.co.nz to apply.
  • Awards for gifted students for school-aged learners (or groups of learners) who are gifted or have exceptional abilities to extend and challenge their learning and support their wellbeing. It enables them to complete a particular project or activity in areas that may be quite different from their usual learning. There will be two rounds of awards each year. Award submissions will reopen on 26 July for the October 2019 award.
  • A programme of events, experiences and opportunities. Details of the new programme will be announced in April.
  • Expansion of online modules. Improved access to online modules which enable gifted learners to learn alongside like-minded peers. Contact admin@nzcge.co.nz to apply.
  • Additional guidance for teachers and kaiako to help them recognise and support gifted learners. Follow the link above to the Guide to identification and provision or access from the further support tab.
Five young Tongan children dressed for church in ta'ovala. .

Define and Identify

Develop concepts, characteristics and identification procedures that reflect the character, diversity and priorities of your kura, school or early childhood setting.

Three children in the vegetable garden..

Design and Implement

Promote a holistic, inclusive and responsive learning environment through curriculum, differentiation, organisational frameworks and self-review.

Young Māori children walking. .

Responsive Practice

Respond to the strengths, needs and interests of gifted and talented learners through personalised approaches to teaching and learning.

Key components of effective support for gifted learners

As schools design, develop, and review how they provide for gifted learners, they need to address the five key components described in Gifted and Talented Students: Meeting Their Needs in New Zealand Schools (2012):

  1. the concepts of giftedness
  2. the characteristics of gifted learners
  3. how to identify gifted learners
  4. provision for these learners
  5. ongoing self-review.

This resource addresses each of the five components individually, while emphasising the relationships between them. It outlines the practical requirements for schools, characteristics of gifted learners, and provides useful background information about relevant practices, theories and research.

The 5 rings used in the handbook (Concept, Characteristics, Identification, Programmes and Self review) have been built upon and modified in the website. The 5 rings have been renamed Concepts, Characteristics, Identification, Design and Implement and Responsive Practice and are consolidated to three tabs on the web site: ‘Define and Identify’, ‘Design and Implement’ and ‘Responsive Practice’..