Learning Specialist News

This year, I’m excited to step into the role of Learning Specialist, working alongside Melanie Davis. It’s a privilege to support teaching and learning across the school while still spending part of my week in the classroom.

I will be working as a Learning Specialist from Monday to Wednesday, and teaching in 5B on Thursday and Friday. I’m really looking forward to connecting with students and teachers across all year levels and continuing to strengthen learning experiences for every child.

A Focus on Mathematics in 2026

Significant preparation has been underway behind the scenes to ensure a strong start to the year. In 2026, we are taking a deeper focus on Mathematics.

This includes:

• Strengthening whole-class teaching practices
• Increasing student engagement during lessons
• Providing more opportunities for students to respond and show their thinking
• Checking for understanding regularly so we can adjust teaching in the moment

We are also continuing to build our understanding of how students learn best, particularly the importance of attention, focus, and manageable learning steps. When lessons are clear, structured and interactive, students are more confident and successful.

Building Number Fluency

For students to confidently solve problems in Mathematics, they need strong number fluency. This means having key facts and concepts readily available in their minds, much like reading words accurately and with expression.

Short, regular practice makes a big difference. You can help at home by:

• Asking times table questions in the car
• Practising addition and subtraction facts at the dinner table
• Doing quick mental maths during TV ad breaks
• Playing number-based games

Keep it short and positive. If something feels tricky, step back to easier facts so your child experiences success and builds confidence.

Literacy Update

While Mathematics is a key focus this year, we are also continuing to strengthen our Literacy work. This semester we will finalise our Reading Priority Standards, building on the important work completed last year by Melanie Davis, Johanne Abbott and Nicole Arnold.

A consistent approach to teaching across the school ensures that students experience clear expectations and strong, evidence-informed teaching practices in every classroom.

We are excited about the year ahead and look forward to partnering with you to support your child’s learning journey. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year!

Ben Sanderson