If the assessment report indicates a need for our one-on-one tuition, we can put you in touch with a SPELD NZ Teacher. The teacher will create a highly individualised learning plan, based on the findings of the assessment.

We have a national network of SPELD NZ teachers and will try to refer you to one as close as possible to where you live. Usually lessons are one hour, once a week, during school terms. Teachers normally work from their homes or in some instances, tuition can take place at a child’s school.

Ella Barnes is flourishing at school. But it wasn’t always the case. SPELD NZ’s Financial Assistance programme enabled her to have an assessment and then get the support she needed.

Based on the assessment findings, the SPELD NZ Teacher develops an individualised one-on-one teaching programme which uses a student’s strengths to build up their weaknesses.

All SPELD NZ Teachers are fully qualified teachers with classroom experience. We equip them with highly specialised skills via our training: A 600 hour, Level 5 NZQA-approved New Zealand Certificate in Teaching Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities.

SPELD NZ aspires to very high professional standards. Our methods are based on international best practice and endorsed by research analysed by the University of Auckland.

Our methods are research-based and we have the evidence to prove they greatly enhance educational and cognitive ability.

In 2011 SPELD NZ carried out a pilot programme in collaboration with RTLB (Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour). The data obtained was analysed by Dr Karen Waldie of Auckland University, who noted the vast and surprising improvements in achievement skills.

“Not only are children increasing their predicted reading success by 20-44% in areas of sound blending, phonemic awareness, verbal comprehension and reading fluency, but their general cognitive abilities also significantly improved. We saw vast improvements in thinking ability, cognitive fluency and processing speed.”

In July 2014, the New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies published an article about this study, which concluded that SPELD NZ’s teaching was effective in improving the academic skills of children with reading disabilities and also significantly increased overall intellectual ability.

The article also noted that the improvements were “testament to the ability of the brain to be modified, presumably via strengthened neural connectivity, following even a relatively brief (60 lesson) exposure to an enriched environment of learning in the form of SPELD intervention.”

SPELD NZ support has transformed lives. Read about our success stories

Personal Stories

Find out how SPELD NZ has helped both children and adults overcome their struggles with dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities.

What Dyslexia Taught Me

Christchurch IT product innovator Christian Sax describes his lifelong struggles with dyslexia and what he’s learned along the way.

Back to the Future

Emma Pollard became a SPELD NZ Teacher so she could support her dyslexic daughter and others like her.

Dancing with Dyscalculia

Diagnosed with severe dyscalculia as a child, Isabelle went on to become a makeup artist and support others who struggle with numbers.

You Rescued Me

Dyslexic Professor Emeritus David Mellor looks back on the “phenomenal impact” of his tutor 70 years ago.