Hon John Key

School holidays are over and families across the country are back at school and work.

I hope you've had a chance to digest your child's first National Standards report.  Many parents received their first report at the start of the holidays. 

Many families in the ethnic community told us they wanted clear information about their child's progress in reading, writing, and maths.  National Standards delivers on our promise to provide that.

National Standards are simply signposts, which show what a year 1 to 8 child should be able to achieve in reading, writing, and maths, and when.

We know that one in five students leave school without the basic skills they need to succeed.  National is committed to tackling this problem, which is why we're investing $36 million into National Standards.

Your child's report shows the standards that their teacher is using to measure their progress and achievement.  This means that struggling children will be given the extra support they need to achieve, and prepare them for future learning.

These reports offer a great opportunity for parents and schools to work together, and for parents to get involved and improve their child's learning. 

It's important that you ask your child's teacher, or principal, any questions you have about the reports or Standards.  As they only began this year most schools are still developing their reporting systems.  Your feedback will ensure that parents get the clear information they deserve.

It's great to see that most schools around the country are implementing National Standards, and the feedback from principals, teachers, and parents has been very positive.

In the past, many schools were already providing clear information to parents about their child's progress, but some weren't.  National Standards mean that all parents across the country can expect to receive easy-to-understand reports at least twice a year.

If you haven't had a report yet, ask your school when you can expect to receive one. 

Like you, the National-led Government is ambitious for all children.  National Standards have been set higher than national averages to encourage them to work hard and achieve.  It's important you remember this when reading your child's report and working on steps to help them make progress.

National is committed to helping lift student achievement and giving children the best possible start in life.  Young people will make a difference to our future.  Their efforts will lift our prosperity and drive tomorrow's economy.

It's important that all parents get involved with their child's learning.  National Standards provide an easy way to do this, and it ensures that schools and families have the same expectations.

National is strengthening the ladder of opportunity for our ethnic families.  Together we can help our children reach their potential.