"Although I have been teaching Structured Literacy for several years, the LMiT training encouraged me to think more deeply about the broader components of literacy beyond decoding and encoding. This strengthened understanding has allowed me to advocate for students’ needs and model how to simplify and scaffold tasks to make learning more accessible. After two to three terms, the data showed significant student progress."
Bex Hall, Secondary Learning Support Teacher
"After attending the Writing PLD, I have a much clearer picture of the needs of the students I work with. These learners are working below the expected phase of the curriculum, particularly in the areas of writing fluency, sentence structure, and vocabulary development.”
Wendy Nielsen, Secondary School Learning Support Teacher
"Year 7 and 8 learners have some firmly ingrained bad habits, a tendency to guess at words and incredibly low self-esteem. LMIT has given me so much more knowledge on how to support these students."
Gail Milton, Year 7 & 8 Teacher
"The hands-on training really equipped me with the tools and the confidence that I needed to support learners effectively."
Kelly Newlands, Support Staff - Birchwood School
"Taking all that I've learned in the structured literacy space and using it as a filter to make choices and decisions around intervention has been really, really valuable."
Nik Laing, Head of Junior School - Port Vila International School
"The practicum was most rewarding ... it was amazing to see my student's progress and her newfound confidence."
Jude Tabuteau, Literacy Specialist - Windy Ridge School
"A real success story for me was my student's positive progress. He became really engaged in the sessions as we went on."
Chris Cowman, Deputy Principal - Waterloo School
Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching (LMIT) Certification
A 12-month practicum-based certification developed by Learning MATTERS in Aotearoa New Zealand. Australasia’s only International Dyslexia Association Accredited PLUS training programme.
Why LMIT?
Learners requiring Targeted and Tailored literacy support need more than classroom differentiation. They need precise assessment and skilled, explicit instruction.
LMIT prepares educators to deliver Tier 2 Targeted and Tier 3 Tailored intervention across all year levels, from foundational skills through to secondary students with entrenched reading, spelling and writing difficulties.
Participants develop the diagnostic knowledge and instructional expertise required to support our most vulnerable learners with clarity, structure and measurable impact.
Is it for me?
LMIT is designed for educators and professionals who want to build specialist capability in evidence based structured literacy intervention.
Suitable for:
0–6 teachers (Ministry funding available*)
7–10 teachers (Ministry funding and release available*)
RTLBs, SENCOs and Learning Support Coordinators
Literacy specialists and Tier 3 providers
Psychologists and teaching assistants
Private literacy tutors and intervention teachers
Participants deepen their knowledge and refine their practice to deliver diagnostic, explicit and systematic intervention that improves literacy outcomes for struggling learners who require Tier 2 Targeted and Tier 3 Tailored support.
*MoE eligibility criteria apply.
What's included in the course?
LMIT is a comprehensive 12-month certification pathway designed to build specialist capability in structured literacy intervention.
Your certification includes:
Five-day intensive training delivered online or in person
Structured online modules through the LMIT platform
Ongoing coaching
Eight Communities of Practice
Guided practicum
Access to the LMIT online diagnostic assessment tools
All LMIT teaching resources, including lesson plan templates and concept teaching cards
Ongoing support
Eligibility to sit the KPEERI, an internationally recognised reading examination
Privately funded, the LMIT Certification is NZ$3,250 +GST.
Five-Day Intensive Training Overview
Each day equates to one day of learning with morning/afternoon tea and a lunch break.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Session 1 | Session 1 | Session 1 | Session 1 |
| Learning to Read (KPS1) | Phonological and Phonemic Awareness (KPS4) | Automatic and Fluent Reading of Text (KPS4) | Dyslexia Understood, Identified and Monitored (KPS2) | Executive Skills and Writing Instruction (KPS4) |
| Session 2 | Session 2 | Session 2 | Session 2 | Session 2 |
| Language Processing (KPS1) | Phonics and Word Recognition (KPS4) | Written Expression (KPS4) | Assessment Understood and Administered (KPS3) | Practicum Outline and Expectations/LMIT Platform Navigation |
| Session 3 | Session 3 | Session 3 | Session 3 | Session 3 |
| Principles and Elements of Structured Literacy (KPS4) | Vocabulary (KPS4) | Listening and Reading Comprehension (KPS4) | Assessment Analysis and Reporting (KPS3) | Next Steps QandA |
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
| Session 1 | Session 1 | Session 1 |
| Learning to Read (KPS1) | Phonological and Phonemic Awareness (KPS4) | Automatic and Fluent Reading of Text (KPS4) |
| Session 2 | Session 2 | Session 2 |
| Language Processing (KPS1) | Phonics and Word Recognition (KPS4) | Written Expression (KPS4) |
| Session 3 | Session 3 | Session 3 |
| Principles and Elements of Structured Literacy (KPS4) | Vocabulary (KPS4) | Listening and Reading Comprehension (KPS4) |
| Thursday | Friday | |
| Session 1 | Session 1 | |
| Dyslexia Understood, Identified and Monitored (KPS2) | Executive Skills and Writing Instruction (KPS4) | |
| Session 2 | Session 2 | |
| Assessment Understood and Administered (KPS3) | Practicum Outline and Expectations/LMIT Platform Navigation | |
| Session 3 | Session 3 | |
| Assessment Analysis and Reporting (KPS3) | Next Steps QandA |
Community of Practice Overview
All COPs across year levels will include a focus on implementation of intervention, including but not limited to – assessment, analysis, allocation, building systems of support and answering your timely questions. Learning MATTERS reserves the right to alter content to best meet the needs of participants.
| COPs | 0-6 Teacher Focus (Foundation Learning) | 7-10 Teacher Focus (Writing Instruction) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 | Administration of Diagnostic Assessments Developing a Personalised Scope and Sequence | Syntax Getting Started with Multi-tiered Systems of Support Expanding Sentence Control Intervention and Timetabling |
| 3 and 4 | Practice Reflections – Next Steps for Improvement Teaching Irregular Words | Writing Fluency and Forms Across the Curriculum Using Exemplars to Support Consistent Writing Instruction Schoolwide Single Paragraph Planning Instructional Coaching |
| 5 and 6 | High Leverage Teaching Practices Teaching of Syllable Division | Moving into Multi-Paragraph Writing Building Collective Teacher Efficacy in Literacy Writing Assessments Supporting Students in Written Assessments |
| 7 and 8 | Re-Assessment and Progress Monitoring and Case Study Practice Reflections – Next Steps | The Writing Process and SRSD Flexibility, Fidelity and Evidence-based Decision Making Paragraph Shrinking and Summarising Leadership, systems and sustainability |
We offer a mix of face-to-face and online sessions.
Term 2
Wellington
Starting 20 April 2026
Online
Starting 28 April 2026
Tauranga
Starting 18 May 2026
Term 3
Melbourne
Starting 20 July 2026
Dunedin
Starting 3 August 2026
Online
Starting 10 August 2026
Hamilton
Starting 17 August 2026
Term 4
Sydney
Starting 12 October 2026
Online
Starting 20 October 2026
Optional Extra
LMIT participants have the opportunity to access the iDeaL Specialists Platform as an optional extra for 12 months duration, for a minimal fee. This can be requested during registration for LMIT.
The iDeaL Specialist Platform, features extensive resources, assessments, and reporting systems. It includes:
Research-Backed Foundations: Systematic and cumulative scope and sequence based on extensive research.
Comprehensive Assessment Tools: High-quality tools for creating diagnostic education plans.
Intervention Instruction: Resources, including concept lesson guides, reading passages and slides, for multi-sensory, systematic, and explicit teaching.
FAQs/Further Information
Can I enrol in LMIT if my school doesn't have Ministry funding?
Yes, anyone can pay privately to complete LMIT. We have had RTLB’s, RT Lits, Principals, DPs, APs, SENCO’s, LSC’s teachers, teacher aides, parents, grandparents and private tutors enrol.
How much does LMIT cost if my school isn’t funded?
NZ$3,250 (excluding GST) which includes all LMIT resources, access to the LMIT Online Platform, diagnostic assessment, lesson plan template, support from LMIT facilitators including formal observations, feedback and professional marking.
Who is eligible for the Ministry funding to do LMIT?
Schools that applied for and received the staffing resource for structured literacy support in Years 0–6 can access Ministry funding for teachers in this capacity. There is also a privately funded option to train additional staff or to access the course independently. Please refer to the Ministry website for full guidelines on this funding.
Does the MOE funding cover all costs for LMIT?
Yes, LMIT is fully covered, however teacher release, travel and accommodation aren’t covered.
How often are intakes?
Click here for the five-day intensive "starter" LMIT locations and availability.
I’ve already enrolled in LMIT, when will I know if I’ve been accepted?
If you are privately funded, then your registration is confirmed upon receipt of your deposit.
If Ministry funded, your enrolment guarantees your place, subject to final approval from the Ministry. This final approval happens after registrations close.
Can I complete LMIT if I have done Yr 0-8 Structured Literacy training with another provider and am using other resources?
Yes, the previous funded training was for classroom teachers (Tier 1). LMIT is a stand-alone certification designed to train specialist literacy intervention teachers to deliver targeted and tailored interventions (Tier 2 & 3).
Have you had people who have done other training and how have these people found the LMIT?
Previous participants have all commented on how much more they learned through LMIT even though they had completed other courses. They found the practicum and coaching aspects of the course invaluable.
Would this intervention training be suitable for teachers of older (secondary) students?
Absolutely. We have had several secondary teachers complete the LMIT training and they are now successfully running intervention in their secondary schools.
How does PfS ALL (Programmes for Students – Accelerating Learning Literacy) compare with LMIT training?
PfS ALL is Tier 2 small group intervention within the classroom. LMIT is so much more.
How have full time teachers managed the LMIT modules? Can you please give an example of how to find time to teach a 1:1 practicum student when teaching full time.
Previous participants have completed the modules before school, after school, during CRT, weekends, school holidays – it's much easier to have a dedicated block of time to do this.
Previous participants have taught their student before school (could be a split lesson over 2 days - 30mins), after school, Saturday morning, during CRT, school has arranged release, during their Intervention release time.
We would suggest allowing approximately 2-2.5hrs of study each week for the online component. This is very different for every person and is dependent on a number of factors e.g. how recently you have studied, how fast you can read, and your ability to dedicate a block of time with no interruptions towards your study. While completing your practicum component, you will need to factor in time to plan and teach your student.
How long are you expected to work with a student for the practical aspect?
You will be required to work with your student for 28 sessions. This could be once or twice per week. If your student leaves before completing your practicum, we will work with you to find the best solution.
Is the LMIT platform still available once we finish?
You will be able download any resources from the platform while completing your LMIT certification. Once completed, access to the LMIT platform will be removed.
Will I be accredited by the IDA upon completion?
Only courses can be IDA accredited, not teachers. If you complete the LMIT training, you will hold an IDA accredited certification. This qualification is yours to keep – it does not need to be updated or renewed.
Can the online five-day "starter" be completed any time during those five days?
Sorry no. To achieve the same level of instruction and collaboration as our face-to-face "starters", the online timetable is the same. Monday to Wednesday 8:30am - 3:15pm and Friday 8:30 - 1:00pm NZDT.
LMIT Intake Registration
Download a letter you can send to your principal explaining the benefits of the LMIT certification.
67 Palmer Street,
Te Awamutu 3800, NZ
Call us: 027 532 7646
For general enquiries:
admin@learningmatters.co.nz
For shop enquiries:
orders@learningmatters.co.nz
