Umaga urges parents to help kids succeed at school

Parents need to spend time working out how they can help their children succeed at school this year, says former All Blacks captain and education ambassador Tana Umaga.

He is the face of the Education Ministry's Team-Up initiative, which was launched in October.

"School starts soon - so parents need to work out how they will help their kids succeed this year," Umaga said.

"Research and experience tell us that kids making the transition from primary to intermediate, or intermediate to secondary, are more likely to stay at school and do better with a bit of support from mum and dad."

Umaga said being supportive could be as simple as parents talking to their children about making a big change, meeting their new teacher or attending school open days, he said.

"Learning doesn't start and stop at the school gate. Ask your kids each day about what they've been learning at school, at home or on the sports field ... make a start today, before the year gets too hectic."

Umaga said parents could start by logging on to the Team-Up website.

"The 10 minutes it takes you to check out the Team-Up website now will be more than repaid when you see your kids succeed at school and in life."

- NZPA