Ministry of Education, Parent Portal

The Ministry of Education commissioned a series of short, accessible videos to support parents and caregivers in understanding New Zealand’s refreshed curriculum, mandated for use in 2025. The goal was to translate complex educational frameworks into “parent speak” – plain, relatable language that empowers families to engage meaningfully in their child’s learning journey.

The project focused on four key curriculum areas:

• NZ Curriculum – English (Years 0–6)
• TMoA – Te Reo Rangatira (Years 0–6)
• NZ Curriculum – Maths & Stats (Years 0–8)
• TMoA – Pāngarau (Years 0–8)

The videos needed to be designed for hosting on the Ministry’s Parent Portal and amplified via social media, with accessibility features including captions and descriptive transcripts.

Solution:

Eden Design was engaged to produce a suite of short-form, English-medium videos (3–4 minutes each) that unpack year-by-year curriculum expectations in Maths & Stats and English. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Eden provided script input and creative direction to ensure clarity, relatability, and impact.

Each video featured:

• Parent-friendly explanations of curriculum progressions.
• Clear insights into what children should be learning at school.
• Practical tips for supporting learning through everyday activities.
• Guidance on accessing further information via the Parent Portal.

To ensure authenticity, we filmed real students and teachers in classroom settings, carefully aligning b-roll footage with voiceover narratives. All videos were produced in full compliance with New Zealand Government accessibility standards, including captions and descriptive transcripts.

Result:

Eden Design successfully delivered the first tranche of five videos within just four weeks of project commencement (including pre-production, production, and post-production) – meeting exceptionally tight Ministerial deadlines. This first tranche was part of a three-phase rollout, with tranches two and three rolled out in the following weeks and months.

To achieve this, Eden implemented a disciplined and agile production approach:

• Maintained rigorous project management and scheduling to keep all moving parts aligned.
• Provided clear guidance to presenters, ensuring they felt confident and at ease on filming day.
• Established streamlined review protocols, leveraging collaborative tech for rapid feedback and approvals.
• Conducted post-tranche debriefs to uphold quality and continuously refine production efficiency.

The Ministry of Education now hosts a suite of engaging, parent-focused videos on its Parent Portal. Designed to foster emotional connection and practical understanding, these resources empower parents and caregivers to ask meaningful questions, engage in informed conversations with their children and teachers, and actively support their child’s learning journey – helping shape a stronger, more inclusive future for education in Aotearoa.

Explore the Ministry's Parent Portal and videos here.

Checkout specific video samples below:

• Understand your child's learning
• First year of school: Oral language, reading, and writing
• Second year of school: Maths