A student's story
A day in the life of Eloise
“We started to notice she was struggling at school.”
— Eloise's mum, MSNZ parent
Years 3–8Small classesChristchurchGovernment funded
In our small classes, children are taught at exactly their level. They catch up in reading, writing and maths, and start to enjoy learning again.
Free, no-obligation consultation with our Principal · No diagnosis needed
Small classes and specialist teaching, without private school fees.
MSNZ was set up for children who are falling behind or disengaged at school.
Tears, tummy aches or refusing to go in the morning.
The gap with classmates keeps growing, year after year.
A big class just can't give them the attention they need.
Bright and curious, but starting to say "I'm dumb".
Small classes, with a teacher and learning assistants on hand, so no one gets lost in the crowd.
Work pitched at exactly their level and pace, so they get it right and build from there.
An extensive focus on reading, writing and maths every day, building the foundation skills they need to achieve at high school.
An individual learning plan with academic, social and emotional goals, reviewed with you regularly.
Our support workers provide wellbeing support, so they feel safe and ready to learn.
Most of our students arrive two to six years behind, after years of learning at about half the normal pace. Here's how much they grow in one school year at MSNZ Arapaki.
1.4 yrs
growth in maths
1.1 yrs
growth in reading
1.1 yrs
growth in spelling
Before MSNZ: about half a year's progress each year
At MSNZ: more than a year's progress in a school year
2025 results for 93 MSNZ Arapaki students (KeyMath, TOWRE and TWS), measured over one school year. Pace before MSNZ estimated from students' starting levels.
A student's story
“We started to notice she was struggling at school.”
— Eloise's mum, MSNZ parent
We'll take it one step at a time, together.
A one-hour chat about your child, their experiences and how they learn. Find the right roadmap for them.
A range of assessments shows exactly where your child is at in reading, writing and maths. No more guesswork.
Your child spends a day in class, experiencing success again in a place designed for them.
We agree a start date that works for your family, and keep the move low-stress and centred on your child.
How we teach
We use explicit, structured teaching based on the science of how children learn. Every lesson is broken into clear steps with plenty of practice and feedback, and children master each step before moving on. All our teachers are trained to work with children with learning difficulties.
Read about our curriculum
No. Many of our students have dyslexia or ADHD, but no diagnosis is needed to apply.
Years 3 to 8.
Like most schools, although we are government funded, some costs aren't covered by our funding. We ask for an all-inclusive $200 a term for booklets, stationery and outings. It's optional, though families try to contribute what they can.
Yes. It's a free one-hour meeting with Jo Jessep, our Principal and founder, with no obligation to enrol.
Yes. Our aim is to build their skills and confidence so they can return to mainstream school when they're ready.