Smaller class sizes in primary schools and more teachers under a National government is the pledge Simon Bridges has given in his first speech as party leader at the National Party conference.

Photo: RNZ / Jane Patterson

The policy is the big ticket item in Mr Bridge's speech at Skycity in Auckland where National Party members have met for two days - the first annual conference in a decade where the party has been in Opposition.

School class sizes became a major embarrassment for the then-National government when it had to do a u-turn on a policy to increase the number of students in classrooms in 2012.

The policy was so unpopular with the public that then-Education Minister Hekia Parata was forced to backtrack.

More teachers means children will get more attention at the most important stage in their life, Mr Bridges said.

"With the right education we can overcome the challenges that some children face purely because of the circumstances they were born into.

"There is one thing every child needs to help them achieve their potential, from the one that struggles to sit still and follow instructions to the bright child that wants to be challenged to the gifted child that doesn't know how to channel their talent.

"And that's attention from one of New Zealand's world class teachers who can cater to the needs of each child, and spend more time with each of them,'' Mr Bridges said.

National will spend the next two years working with teachers, parents and communities on the details of the policy, along with the others it will take to the electorate in 2020.

"To achieve their potential and reach their dreams our kids need less Facebook and more face time with teachers,'' Mr Bridges said.

"National is committed to delivering that by putting more teachers in schools to ensure smaller class sizes for our children.''

Mr Bridges has also fired a shot across the bows of early childhood centres telling them to up their game otherwise low quality centres should close their doors.