Professional development for teachers and staff

2026 Professional development sessions

Schools

We support teachers to make it easier to teach tamariki about food, nutrition, movement, and healthy living. Our resources, programmes, and initiatives are curriculum-aligned and practical, giving you the tools and confidence to help children build lifelong healthy habits. Learn why these skills matter and get practical, engaging ideas and resources for primary, intermediate, and secondary schools.

Watch this space for upcoming sessions.

Previous sessions

Heart health in the classroom: Inspiring lifelong habits 

Heart health starts earlier than we think, and teachers play a powerful role in shaping lifelong habits. This session is suitable for viewing with students and covers an overview of heart disease, key risk factors, practical tips for a healthy heart. Beneficial for the heart health of you and your ākonga.

View session 

Early learning

Mindful eating

This session is designed for early learning service kaiako to gain an understanding of the concept mindfulness and explore mindful eating. We will also focus on practical ways to teach mindful eating to tamariki, including: 

  • what is mindfulness? 
  • mindful eating 
  • benefits for tamariki 
  • how to lead mindful eating mat times 
  • the importance of role modelling. 

Dates 

Wednesday 28 October 3:30pm 

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Thursday 29 October 7.00pm 

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Previous sessions

Master the menu – cooks workshop

This session is designed for early learning service centre cooks looking to broaden their nutrition and menu planning knowledge. 

We will cover: 

  • the 4 food groups 
  • specific requirements for infants and toddlers 
  • creating meals with dietary requirements 
  • meals that work for different age groups 
  • ideas for snacks and making the budget stretch. 

View our recording (Part1) 

View our recording (Part 2) 
 

Fundamental Movement Skills – Stability

Join us for a session all about supporting tamariki to move, play, and grow! We’ll be exploring one of the key building blocks of active play – fundamental movement skills with a focus on stability.

View our recording (Part 1)

View our recording (Part 2)

 

Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award

Join us as we walk you through our Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award and the range of free services available to you, from expert nutrition advice on menu planning to teaching and learning activities for tamariki. We also want to acknowledge and share the great work that you are doing.​

View our recording 

 

Shaping school food environments for better health

Join us to see how policy can support a healthy food environment in schools. Having a clear food and drink policy demonstrates the school’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of ākonga, staff and the wider community. It also ensures the school environment, food provision and curriculum model supports healthy choices​.

View our recording (Part 1)

View our recording (Part 2)