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 2020 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:

  • Support for the New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education to deliver and grow MindPlus (one day school) so gifted learners can access learning with like-minded peers. Applications (including subsidy options) are now open – please contact Contact admin@nzcge.co.nz to apply.

  • Awards for gifted students for gifted 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. The annual award round usually opens in September.

    For more information about the awards please read: Awards for gifted learners.

  • Awards for teachers to access learning opportunities – to increase their skills for supporting gifted learners. The funding is flexible to make learning opportunities more accessible for busy classroom teachers. Teachers can identify opportunities that will fit with their timetable and location. This may be a formal qualification or an informal learning opportunity – such as a programme, mentorship, spending time with another teacher or other things available in your community.

    There will be one application round per year for the flexible awards. The 2022 round opened on the 1st of October 2022 and closed on Friday 11 November 2022 at 4pm.

    Applications for study awards to complete the Massey University post-graduate specialist teachers diploma: gifted have closed for 2022.

    For more information about the awards please read: Awards for teachers or Study Awards for Postgraduate Diploma

  • A programme of events, experiences and opportunities. Details of the new programme can be found at Events and opportunities for gifted learners.

  • 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.

Define and Identify

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

Design and Implement

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

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’..

Contact us: gifted@tki.org.nz