Bay of Plenty schools and early learning services are among more than 2000 schools that have been funded to help more than 300,000 New Zealand children and young people affected by the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Education Minister Chris Hipkins says more than $30 million from the Urgent Response Fund has been allocated between August and December 2020.

The list of schools, kura and early learning services me nga kohanga reo that have received funds were released on Tuesday.

The regional breakdown of funding allocations show the Bay of Plenty received $4,434,844 from the funding.

'The feedback I've received has been incredibly positive. Schools, kura and early learning services have seen improvements in the wellbeing and re-engagement in learning for the ākonga supported by the fund,” says Hipkins.

'Many have used the funding for additional teacher and teacher aide time to provide mentoring, academic catch-up and for engaging with whanau.

'We have heard from one school, for example, that having the opportunity to talk through issues with its secondary students helped them to realise they could still achieve NCEA.

'An early learning service has told us that a parent feels their child has a sense of belonging and has 'found her voice” from the wellbeing support families have been offered.”

Hipkins says the ministry's 10 regional education offices have worked with local experts – such as school principals, iwi, and early learning representatives – to engage with their communities and decide the best use of funds for local learners.

The Urgent Response Fund can be used for school, early learning service or cluster-wide activities to support attendance, re-engagement with learning and wellbeing, or for individual students or groups of young people.

It is a one-year fund until June 2021.