Welcome to

Love Literacy

Evidence-based support for reading, writing & spelling through Structured Literacy

How We Help Your Child Thrive in Literacy

At Love Literacy, we understand how worrying it can be when your child is struggling to read, write, or spell.

We take the guesswork out of what your child needs by using an evidence-based, structured process that works — for EVERY learner - for YOUR CHILD.

Our approach combines the Science of Reading with empathy, encouragement, and proven teaching methods designed for how the brain learns best. Whether your child needs a confidence boost, extra support to catch up, or specialist help for dyslexia or other learning differences, we’re here to guide the way.

A child reading a colorful children's book about a fox. The book shows a fox sitting on a bed with the text 'Poor old Fox Has lost his socks.' The child is turning the page to a scene with the fox in a different room, sitting on a chair. There are other books around, and the child has a watch on their wrist.

EVERY child, YOUR child deserves to feel proud of their progress.

Contact Love Literacy 📩

Our neurodiverse son has struggled with his learning at school for several years, until recently when we were recommended Heather, who has shown incredible patience and understanding in supporting him. Over the past nine months, we’ve seen a remarkable improvement in his learning, especially in his written skills. We feel truly blessed to have someone on our side who understands our son and cares so deeply about his progress and wellbeing. Thank you, Heather… you’re a superstar!

Aaron Thorne
We've really appreciated Heather's helpful and supportive approach. Our child has made good progress under Heather's guidance and is always happy to see her.

Damian Hendren
We are incredibly grateful for the support and dedication Heather has shown our son throughout this year. Since beginning weekly sessions with her, we’ve seen a remarkable improvement in his reading and writing skills. More importantly, he is becoming noticeably more confident and capable in his learning. Heather’s kind nature and genuine engagement in our son’s learning journey have made a real difference. She creates a positive and encouraging environment that helps him thrive. We couldn’t be happier with the progress our son has made under Heather’s guidance and wholeheartedly recommend her as a tutor.

Aaron & Chloe
My experience with Heather and the Love Literacy sessions that she has taught my three granddaughters ages seven, ten, and fourteen over the past two years has been very positive for them. Heather is very professional in what she does. The relationship that she creates with the children is very conducive to their learning and understanding of what she teaches. Heather kept me well informed as to how the girls were progressing, Heather is very approachable, making it easy to voice any concerns that I may have had.

Dianne Murphy
Heather has worked with both of our boys, and the progress they have made under her guidance has been nothing short of remarkable. Their school teachers have consistently commented on the improvements in their learning and confidence, which is a direct reflection of Heather’s expertise and dedication. We have previously recommended Heather to friends whose children faced learning challenges and would do so again in a heartbeat. Her regular and detailed reporting has kept us well-informed and enabled productive collaboration between us, our children’s teachers, and Heather — all working together to achieve better learning outcomes. We have no hesitation in recommending Heather to anyone navigating neurodiverse learning challenges. Her professionalism, insight, and care make a world of difference.

Jason
Heather at Love Literacy has been tutoring our son for nearly three school terms now, and our experience has been absolutely wonderful. After just one term, we noticed positive outcomes not only academically but also emotionally, as our son’s confidence began to grow. His classroom teacher has also seen the benefits of Heather’s tutoring and the progress he’s made. Heather is a fantastic communicator and a passionate advocate for children. She has kept us well informed and involved in our son’s learning journey from the very beginning. With her wealth of professional and personal knowledge, she has helped us as parents better understand our son and how he learns. Heather provides a warm, welcoming, and supportive environment for children to learn in, and our son always looks forward to the end-of-session treat from the lolly basket! We are incredibly grateful for Heather’s support, encouragement, and dedication, and we would highly recommend Love Literacy to any parents looking to give their child extra support with literacy.

Hayley

The Love Literacy Process

We begin with a one-to-one assessment (60–90 minutes) that identifies how your child is reading, writing, and spelling right now. The assessment highlights strengths and pinpoints the exact skill gaps — such as phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, or comprehension — so we know where to focus first.

Book an Assessment 📝

Book titled 'Love Literacy Mount Maunganui' with a subtitle 'Personalized Learning Plan' on the cover.

From the assessment, we create a tailored plan grounded in Structured Literacy. Your child’s plan lists measurable goals, the teaching sequence we’ll follow, recommended resources (including Yeet and Marīkī where appropriate), and a timeline for regular progress checks and updates.

Sessions are delivered face-to-face in Mount Maunganui or online via Zoom. We use multisensory, explicit instruction in short, focused lessons (typically weekly). Progress meetings to keep whānau informed, and we adjust the plan as your learner grows in skill and confidence.

Connect with Heather 💬

Learning Tools That Make Reading Fun!

At Love Literacy, we know learning to read and spell can be hard work, but it should never feel out of reach.

That’s why we’ve created engaging, evidence-based games and resources that supports your child practise key literacy skills in a way that’s fun, achievable, and proven to work.

Each tool is designed to support what your child is already learning through Structured Literacy, giving you practical ways to help at home and build confidence along the way.

Whether you’re looking for extra practice, support for learning differences, or simply a way to make reading more enjoyable, these resources are made for you and your child.

Yeet

The Reading & Spelling Game

Born from real tutoring sessions, Yeet turns repetition into excitement. Each deck targets specific spelling patterns and sound rules, helping learners master decoding and fluency through play. With 14 unique versions, Yeet supports every stage of literacy development.

Learn More About Yeet 🎓

Marīkī

A Te Reo Māori Reading Game

Created in collaboration with bilingual educators, Marīkī brings structured literacy to te reo Māori. This kēmu pānui (reading game) supports decoding and phonological awareness while celebrating language and identity. Fun for the whole whānau.

Learn More About Marīkī 🎓

Resources

Shop & Resources

Explore our wide range of evidence-based literacy tools, printable activities, and resources aligned with the Science of Reading. Everything here is designed to help parents and teachers strengthen literacy foundations and make learning a positive experience.

Shop Our Range 🛒

“I love “yeet”. It is fun and helps me learn new words..”

- Jacob (10 yrs old)

"Pack came the next day and students love playing the games as they practice reading words. 5 stars."

- Lexie P, Teacher

“An absolute favourite of all my students, from 6 to 13 years old.”

- Nicky C

“My kids absolutely love playing Yeet. I’m hoping we can purchase the mega deal very soon! Thank you!”

- Heidi H

“I brought the ‘magic e’ set for my Year 1 class and they are addicted!!! Will definitely be buying more sets!.”

- Amy L

About Heather

Heather Down, Specialist Literacy Educator and founder of Love Literacy Mount Maunganui, providing evidence-based structured literacy support for learners of all ages.

I’m Heather Down — a Specialist Educator and founder of Love Literacy Mount Maunganui.

My journey into literacy began when my eldest child was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Like many parents, I felt lost trying to find the right support. That experience changed everything — it inspired me to retrain so I could help my own child and others like him.

Since then, I’ve completed SPELD NZ training, become IMSLE Certified, and gained accreditation as a Multisensory Structured Literacy Specialist. I now work with learners of all ages, supporting them to build confidence, skills, and a love of literacy through evidence-based teaching.

Our Vision & Values

At Love Literacy, we believe every ākonga deserves the right to read, write, and spell with confidence.

Our teaching is grounded in the Science of Reading and delivered through Structured Literacy — an approach proven to work for every learner, including those with dyslexia and other learning differences.

We bring empathy, encouragement, and a safe space to learn — teaching the way the brain is wired to learn.