What results is the Minister referencing when she stated “The results for children are beginning to show” in the Beehive press Release dated 17 March 2026?

Answer

I refer the Member to the media releases on 13 October 2025 and 25 November 2025 about new entrant reading, including phonics data; and the results of the maths acceleration trial: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/transformational-new-entrant-reading https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/focus-basics-delivers-groundbreaking-maths-results The 2025 Terms 1–3 national level results for Phonics Checks, administered twice in a student’s first year to support early literacy interventions, show an upward achievement trend for all groups of students.