Expert primary school teachers will be recognised with an extra $5000 yearly allowance after the Primary Teachers' Collective Agreement was settled.

After more than 10 months of negotiation the Government and New Zealand Education Institute, the collective agreement, which covers around 27,000 teachers, have reached an agreement.

Otumoetai Primary School principal Geoff Opie says the Advanced Classroom Expertise Teacher $5000 yearly allowance is a good initiative.

The settlement will see teachers, who can prove expertise in the classroom, entitled to an Advanced Classroom Expertise Teacher allowance of $5000 per year from 2015.

The teacher must show their practice demonstrates creativity and innovation based on research and theory with positive outcomes for all learners.

The initiative is a result of negotiations by NZEI Te Riu Roa to develop and introduce improved career pathways for teachers.

Otumoetai Primary School principal Geoff Opie says the initiative makes sense as it encourages best classroom practice and rewards teachers for their efforts.

'Certainly not all teachers aspire to the roles of principal or deputy principal and the classroom is, after all, where the nitty gritty of where teaching and learning happens.”

Geoff says traditionally under collective agreements, there is little or no room to acknowledge teachers who perform at the top of their game.

'Certainly leadership or management units are there but they more acknowledge extra responsibility as opposed to teaching excellence.”

He does however hope the allowance is not the beginning of performance pay.

'Because a fair amount of what teachers can impact by way of children progressing and achieving is based on the raw material or children they work with.

'That sounds a bit harsh but it is a reality. Children enter school with varying degrees of readiness, aptitude and parent support - all factors that influence achievement.”

And every year group presents differently, says Geoff.

'One year group can seem to have a lot more smarts than another. Strange, but true. Although (it is) often denied by those wishing to push the view that all children, boys and girls, come into the world with the ability to learn.”

Geoff says the initiative is yet to be discussed at his school but he is sure teachers will appreciate the extra allowance.

'Like anything new it is bound to have its supporters and detractors. Time will tell.”

Negotiations team leader Frances Guy says the initiative will give a career pathway for excellent teachers who want to stay in the classroom and not go into management.

'It will be a rigorous process where they will be able to show their expert teaching over the whole of the curriculum which can then be attested.”

Frances says the process also supports good relationships with families and offers modelling to other teachers.

The settlement also sees an increase of up to 3.03 per cent for teachers who are the top step of their salary range. The agreement will expire 30 and a half months from the date of signing between the parties.

The collective agreement also discussed teacher work hours, remuneration, and leave.