Promising signs of improvement across the primary education sector.  

The Education Review Office has found teachers are seeing more engaged students, and three-quarters of parents report progress since the start of the year. 

It follows new data showing more new entrants exceeding phonics expectations. 

President of Auckland Primary Principals' Association Lucy Naylor told Mike Hosking they're also noticing changes in the engagement and attention of children.  

She says although the curriculum is still new, these are good signs. 

Naylor told Hosking the new English and maths curriculum is like a springboard for the next round of subject improvements.  

She says the slower roll out in other areas has been useful for teachers, so they can focus on core subjects first and feel prepared for more changes to come.  

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