If you employ beginning, overseas-trained or retrained teachers, you are entitled to staffing allowances
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Last updated 29 May 2026
Beginning Teacher Time Allowance
The Beginning Teacher Time Allowance is available to schools and kura who employ a beginning teacher. This time allowance enables you to provide them with robust professional advice and guidance programmes.
Depending on the experience and employment situation of the beginning teacher, you can claim an additional staffing entitlement of between 0.1 and 0.2 full-time teaching equivalent (FTTE). This additional entitlement will be added to your staffing entitlement.
This allowance is usually used by schools to release the beginning teacher and engage a relief teacher to cover their class. In primary schools, the allowance may also be used to release a teacher who is supporting a beginning teacher (for example, a mentor teacher). Ultimately, however, your school board is responsible for determining how best to use the additional staffing entitlement. You can find more information and the application below.
Overseas-trained teachers may qualify for either the Beginning Teacher Time Allowance, or the Overseas Teacher Time Allowance, depending on their situation. You can find more information and the application form on the webpage below.
Teachers who have completed, or are about to complete, a course of teacher retraining – for example, the Teacher Education Refresh programme – may qualify for the Retrained Teacher Time Allowance. You can find more information and the application form on the webpage below.
