SPELD NZ Northern Region

Changing lives for over 50 years

Does your child have unexpected problems with reading, writing, spelling or maths? SPELD NZ can provide specialised help.

SPELD NZ is a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Charities Commission. Since the 1970s, we have helped turn around the lives of many thousands of children and adults with specific learning disabilities (SLD). SPELD NZ methods are research-based and proven to greatly enhance educational and cognitive ability.

There are SPELD NZ Teachers working throughout New Zealand. They may teach in schools or in their own homes.

Those affected by SLD/dyslexia often go through our school system and fall through the cracks, never learning to read or write properly. As a result, they are often immensely frustrated and suffer from very low self-esteem. It is critical that these children receive the individualised support they need to learn differently so they do not become disillusioned by their academic failure and can succeed in the classroom.

How we can help
  • Comprehensive, diagnostic Woodcock-Johnson assessment for dyslexia and other SLD by qualified assessors with SPELD NZ training;
  • One-on-one tuition by qualified classroom teachers with specialised SPELD NZ training.  This is an individualised learning programme, unique to the student. Our teachers use a multi-sensory approach that can greatly assist with phonemic awareness, spelling, reading fluency, comprehension, working memory, visual and auditory discrimination;
  • Support for families and whanau (eg. Magazine, Facebook, YouTube channel & libraries with books, games, puzzles etc.);
  • A two-day introductory course for parents, teachers, teacher aides and others to help understand and support the child with SLD/dyslexia (NZQA-approved);
  • A 600-hour NZQA-approved course (mainly online) for teachers and other interested professionals who want a more in depth understanding of SLD/dyslexia and who may want to become SPELD NZ Teachers;
  • Online Kōwae Ako (Learning Capsules) for educators on a variety of topics including phonemic and phonological awareness (not NZQA-approved);
  • Assessor training for people with appropriate qualifications (not NZQA-approved). Please see www.speld.org.nz for more information.

SLD occurs in people of all backgrounds and intellectual levels. They are often capable, or even gifted, in areas not affected by SLD. About 10 percent of students in New Zealand schools may have dyslexia and many of them may qualify for additional educational support, or exam accommodations.

Where we are located: 

Whangarei
Bay of Islands
Auckland
Franklin
Manukau
Waikato
Western Bay of Plenty
Eastern Bay of Plenty
Rotorua/Taupo
Gisborne
Hawke’s Bay
Taranaki
Whanganui
Manawatu
Wairarapa
Hutt Valley
Mana
Wellington
Nelson / Tasman
Blenheim / Marlborough
Canterbury
Westland
Otago
Southland

For more information on SPELD NZ and specific learning disabilities:

Click here to download a free Information Pack:

Click here for a checklist of key indicators of dyslexia/SLD

Click here for a detailed description of specific learning disabilities

Click here to read about research showing “vast improvements” for SPELD NZ students

Click here to read stories of lives transformed through SPELD NZ support

Click here to find out more about SPELD NZ introductory courses to help families understand and support their children at home and school

“Phone or email us now for a free information pack.”

Services

  • Assessment for dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities (SLD)
  • One-to-one, personalised tuition
  • Support, information and advice
  • Training in dyslexia/specific learning disabilities

Services

  • Assessment for dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities (SLD)
  • One-to-one, personalised tuition
  • Support, information and advice
  • Training in dyslexia/specific learning disabilities

“Before my daughter started SPELD NZ tutoring with, she was highly anxious about school work, hated reading and could not retain spelling words or multiplication and division equations. She has been tutored for one and a half years, during school terms. Among many of my daughter’s achievements are such things as liking reading chapter books, accurately recalling maths equations, and her teacher has been impressed with her improvement of spelling and writing. My daughter is noticeably more relaxed about school which she admits is due to her SPELD NZ tutoring.”
M Hay

“My son had a lot of trouble at primary, intermediate and college with his spelling, handwriting and telling the time. We tried many things and nothing helped him until we started with SPELD NZ. The assessment showed he was dyslexic and dysgraphic and he started straight away with a teacher, once a week for one hour. He turned into a happy, achieving student within a month and is now finishing a Bachelor of Science at Auckland University. SPELD NZ was a fantastic help to our family and I recommend it to adults and children – they really are the experts in this field.”
Kathie E

“My son was struggling at school despite interventions that had been put in place such as Reading Recovery and Rainbow Reading. He didn’t want to go to school and his self-esteem was at an all time low. A friend of mine suggested we approach SPELD NZ. We had him assessed and discovered he was dyslexic. It was such a relief to finally have some concrete evidence and know what we were dealing with. They referred us to a SPELD NZ teacher who worked with him for two and half years. She was amazing and gave him the skills and self belief to not only survive at school but to thrive. He is a different child now. Gone are the days when he would refuse to come out from beneath the bed covers in the mornings! He is now a motivated, hard working Year 9 student whose latest exam results blew us away. I credit SPELD NZ with saving my son and although he no longer needs a tutor I know that should any problems arise they are only a phone call away. I highly endorse SPELD NZ – it is a fantastic investment in your child’s future.”
Jenny W

“His tutor has huge warmth and a great connection with him. It’s really important kids want to learn and he responds to her which is huge. She takes the panic away for him and very calmly says “here’s a way you can do that”. She’s able to push him to the limit of where he can go.”
Darren N