Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota ki te marae o Te Waiōrore, ki waenga i ngā hapori o Ōmāio me Te Kaha. E noho pūmau ana te whānau ki te āta whakatō i ngā tikanga me te reo ā-iwi o Te Whānau-a-Apanui ki ngā hōtaka akoranga o ngā tamariki. He tino wawata ō rātou kia mōhio ngā tamariki ki ō rātou hononga o roto o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. He mātātoa te whai wāhi atu a ngā kuia, ngā koroua, me te whānau ki te hōtaka o ia rā me ngā whakahaeretanga i te kōhanga reo. He auau tā rātou taunekeneke ki te purapura o te takiwā nei, ā, e tautokona tonuhia ana hoki rātou i ia te wā.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i ō rātou ngākau titikaha mā tō rātou Apanuitanga?

Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki te whanake haere o ō rātou ngākau titikaha mā tō rātou Apanuitanga.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

E ako ana ngā tamariki i te reo o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. E noho pūmau ana te whānau ki te reo o te kāinga. Ka kitea taua tūāhuatanga ki ngā kuia me ngā koroua e whai wāhi mātātoa ana ki te hōtaka akoranga hei whakatauira i te reo ake o te hapū me te iwi. He mātau ngā kaimahi ki te kōrero i te reo Māori, ā, ka mahi ngātahi hoki rātou ko ngā kaumātua ki te whakatairanga ake i te reo o ngā tamariki. Ka whakamahi rātou i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo rautaki e hāpai ai i te whakawhanaketanga reo o ia tamaiti, tae atu hoki ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā kaupapa i te marae, kia rongo ai ngā tamariki i te reo ōkawa o te paepae. Ko ngā whakawhitinga kōrero, ngā pātai hoki, he whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou ake whakaaro mā te reo Māori. Ka taea e ngā tamariki tuākana te whakautu kōrero i roto i te hōtaka akoranga mā ngā rerenga kōrero māmā. E whanake ana ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo o Te Whānau-a-Apanui.

E ako ana ngā tamariki i tō rātou tuakiri hei uri o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaimahi i tētahi hōtaka akoranga e hāpai ana i ngā tamariki ki te ako i ngā whakapapa, ngā tikanga, me ngā kawa e hāngai pū ana ki te hapū me te iwi. Kei aua wheako akoranga, ko ngā waiata, ngā mōteatea, me ngā karakia hoki o Te Hāhi Ringatū, ā, ka mātakitaki hoki rātou i ngā tikanga me ngā kawa i te marae, pērā i ngā whakaritenga ki te whakatau manuhiri. Ka rongo ngā tamariki i te whānau me ngā kaumātua e whakapuaki ana i ō rātou tātai whakapapa ki ngā whānau me ngā marae. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te ako i tō rātou tū hei tangata whenua i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo horopaki. He aronga toi whenuatanga tō ngā tamariki.

E ako ana ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao e poipoi ana i a rātou. Ka whakatauira ngā kaimahi i te manaaki, te aroha, me te āwhina i roto i te hōtaka o ia rā. Ko te manaaki i ētahi atu, tae atu hoki ki ngā kaumātua, e poipoi ana i te pai o ngā taunekeneke me ngā hononga. Ka ako ngātahi ngā rōpū me ngā tamariki hei tuakana, hei teina, ā, ka taunekeneke anō hoki ki te taha o te whānau me ngā kaumātua kia puāwai ai te whakawhanaungatanga. Ko te āhua o ngā taumahi i ia te wā, e hāpai ana i ngā rōpū reanga katoa ki te ako ngātahi mā ngā huarahi e whai pūtake ana. He pai te aro atu a ngā kaimahi ki ngā matea o ia tamaiti. He mauritau te āhua o ngā tamariki.

E ako ana ngā tamariki ki te tūhura i tō rātou taiao māoriori, tūturu hoki. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te mōhio haere ki te taiao māoriori o te hapori whānui tonu. Ka whakapuaki te whānau me ngā kaumātua i ō rātou mōhiotanga, ā rātou kōrero tuku iho anō hoki mō ngā tino pou whenua motuhake o te hapū me te iwi. Kua āta toro atu ngā kaimahi ki ngā pūkenga o te whānau, hei hāpai i te ako i te māra kai, te whai huatanga o te hangarua, o ngā rongoā Māori anō hoki, tae atu hoki ki ngā taonga māoriori o te moana, te awa, te maunga, me te marae. Ka akiaki rātou i ngā tamariki ki te tūhura me te whakatewhatewha i te ao tūroa ki te kōhanga reo, ā, ki tua atu hoki. Kei te harikoa te āhua o ngā tamariki ki te tūhura haere.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

E arahina ana ngā mahere hōtaka ki ngā matea ako o ngā tamariki. Ka whai ngā kaimahi i ngā tukanga mārama ki te whakamahere i ngā hōtaka akoranga. Ka mahi ngātahi rātou ki te waihanga i tētahi hōtaka akoranga matawhānui e pā ana ki te Apanuitanga. Ko ngā mātauranga ako, ngā rautaki e pā ana ki te whakapuakitanga, me ngā taumahi i whakahonotia ai ki ngā rauemi, ka tuitui katoatia ki ā rātou whakaritenga. Ka whakapuakihia ngā wheako ako o ngā tamariki me ngā whakaahua o ngā taumahi ki te taha o te whānau, mā ngā pae pāpāho pāpori. He whai wāhitanga tēnei mō ngā mātua ki te tuku i ngā pātai e pā ana ki te ako a ā rātou ake tamariki. E whai hua ana ngā tamariki nā tētahi hōtaka akoranga e āta whakamaheretia ana.

E whakahaere ana te whānau i te kōhanga reo hei painga mō ngā tamariki. He hōtaka whakauru mō ngā mātua hou, ā, ka whai wāhi mai ki tēnei, ko te ako i ō rātou tūranga me ā rātou kawenga mahi, i tā rātou whai wāhi mai ki ngā hui ā-whānau, ā, i ngā huarahi tautoko hoki. Arotakengia ai, whakahoungia ai hoki ngā kaupapa here me ngā whakaritenga o te tūtohinga i ia te wā. Ko ētahi atu take whakahaere e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o ngā kaimahi me ngā pūtea, e pūrongotia ana ki ngā hui. Ka tohatoha pūtea mō te ako a ngā tamariki, ā, ka noho matua anō hoki ki te whānau ko tō rātou hauora me tō rātou haumaru. Ka whakamahia te pae pāpāho pāpori hei whakawhiti kōrero ki te whānau mō ngā whakawhanaketanga ki te kōhanga reo. Ko ngā tamariki kei te pūtake o ngā mahi.

He mahere tā te whānau hei ārahi i tā rātou tirohanga rautaki. E hono ana tēnei ki Te Ara Tūāpae o te rohe, ki Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo, ā, ki ngā whāinga mātauranga anō hoki o te iwi mō te pae tawhiti. Ko te reo me te mātauranga o Te Whānau-a-Apanui te aronga o ngā mahere mō te anga whakamua. He whai wāhitanga mō te whānau ki te uru atu ki ngā wānanga, hei tāutu i ngā kaupapa matua o te tau.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

E whanake ana ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te aromatawai me te aromātai hōtaka. Ahakoa e whakaatu ana ngā pūkete aromatawai i ngā tauira o tēnā e mahia ana e ngā tamariki, me aro anō hoki ki ngā hononga e tohu ana i tēnā e ākona ana e ngā tamariki, i tā rātou ahu whakamua anō hoki i roto i te roanga o te wā. Me whakarite ngā kaimahi i tētahi tukanga ka whakatakoto haere, ka aromātai anō hoki i te whai huatanga o te hōtaka akoranga. He uaua te aroturuki i ngā āhuatanga i whakapaitia ai, hei poipoi i te ako a ngā tamariki.

3 Te Whakatau a te Whānau ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te aromātai, i whakamātauhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha o te kōhanga reo ki te whakahaere i ngā āhuatanga i raro iho nei e whai pānga nui ana ki te waiora o ngā tamariki:

• te haumaru whatumanawa (tāpiri atu ko te ārahi mauritau, ko te ārai tamariki)
• te haumaru ā-tinana (tāpiri atu ko te mātakitaki tamariki; ko ngā whakaritenga whakamoe; ko ngā aituā; ko te whāngai rongoā; ko ngā whakaritenga akuaku; ko ngā kaupapa here me ngā tikanga haerenga whakawaho)
• te tū tika o ngā kaimahi (tae atu ki ngā taumata tohu mātauranga; te arowhai a ngā pirihimana; ngā rēhitatanga kaiako; me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaiako me te tamaiti)
• ngā whakaritenga, tikanga hōneatanga e pā ana ki te ahi me te rū whenua.

Ko te tikanga, ka whakatairanga ngā kōhanga reo katoa i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, me te arotake anō hoki i ia te wā i tā rātou whakatutukitanga i ngā herenga ā-ture.

4 Te Taunakitanga

I whakawhanakehia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau o te kōhanga reo te taunakitanga e whai ake nei, arā, kia:

• whakamahia ngā mōhiohio i te arotake whaiaro hei whakapai ake i ngā putanga ki ngā tamariki.

Hei ā hea Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga aromātai anō ai i te kōhanga reo?

Ka aromātai anō Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

01 Hereturikōkā, 2018

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota is based at Te Waiōrore Marae between Ōmaio and Te Kaha. The whānau are committed to embedding Te Whānau-a-Apanui tikanga and dialect into children’s learning programmes. They have strong aspirations for children to know their connections within Te Whānau-a-Apanui. Kuia, koroua and whānau actively participate in the daily programme and kōhanga reo operations. There is regular interaction and ongoing support within the local purapura.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children show confidence in their Apanuitanga?

Children show developing confidence in their Apanuitanga.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children are learning te reo o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. The whānau are committed to te reo o te kāinga. This is reflected by kuia and koroua who actively participate in the learning programme to model te reo specific to the hapū and iwi. Kaimahi are competent speakers who work alongside kaumātua to enhance the language for children. They use a range of strategies to support individuals’ language development including activities on the marae to hear the formal language of the paepae. Conversations and questions are opportunities for children to express themselves in te reo Māori. Older children can respond using simple sentences in the learning programme. Children are developing as speakers of Te Whānau-a-Apanui reo.

Children are learning about their identity as Te Whānau-a-Apanui. Kaimahi deliver a learning programme that allows children to learn whakapapa, tikanga and kawa specific to the hapū and iwi. These learning experiences include waiata, mōteatea and karakia o Te Hāhi Ringatū and observing tikanga and kawa on the marae such as welcoming visitors. Children hear whānau and kaumātua share their whakapapa links to whānau and marae. Kaimahi provide opportunities for children to learn about their role as tangata whenua in different settings. Children have a sense of belonging.

Children learn in a nurturing environment. Kaimahi model manaaki, aroha and āwhina in the daily programme. Care for others including kaumātua fosters positive interactions and relationships. Groups and individuals learn alongside each other as tuakana teina, interact with whānau and kaumātua to establish warm and loving relationships. Regular activities allow all age groups to learn together in meaningful ways. Kaimahi respond positively to individual’s needs. Children appear secure.

Children learn to explore their natural physical environment. Kaimahi provide opportunities for children to familarise themselves with the local and wider physical environment. Whānau and kaumātua share their knowledge and stories about significant landmarks of the hapū and iwi. Kaimahi have utilised the skills of the whānau to support learning about māra kai, the importance of recycling, rongoā Māori including the natural resources of the moana, awa, maunga and marae. They encourage children to explore and investigate the natural environment in the kōhanga reo and beyond. Children appear to be happy explorers.

Planning and Evaluation

Children’s learning needs guide programme planning. Kaimahi follow clear processes to plan learning programmes. They work collaboratively to design a comprehensive learning programme based on Apanuitanga. Learning knowledge, strategies to deliver and activities linked to resources are integrated into their practices. Evidence of children’s learning experiences, including photos of activities, are shared online with the whānau. It is an opportunity for parents to ask questions about their child’s learning. Children benefit from a well-planned learning programme.

Whānau manage the kōhanga reo in the interests of children. An induction programme for new parents includes learning about their roles and responsibilities, participation in hui ā-whānau and providing support as needed. Charter policies and practices are regularly reviewed and updated. Other operational matters related to personnel management and finances are reported at hui. Budget allocation for children’s learning resource and their health and safety needs is a priority for whānau. Social media is used to communicate with whānau about kōhanga reo developments. Children are the priority.

The whānau has a plan to guide their strategic vision. This is linked to Te Ara Tūāpae for the region, Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo and the long term iwi educational goals. The language and knowledge of Te Whānau-a-Apanui are the focus of forward planning. Whānau have opportunities to participate in wānanga to identify annual priorities.

Key Next Steps

Assessment and programme evaluation practices are developing. While assessment profiles show examples of what children are doing, the links to what children are learning and progress over time requires attention. Kaimahi need to establish a process to record and evaluate the effectiveness of the learning programme. It is difficult to monitor where improvements have been made to cater for children’s learning.

3 Whānau Management Assurance on Compliance Areas

During the evaluation, ERO looked at the kōhanga reo systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:

• emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)
• physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)
• suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)
• evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All kōhanga reo are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

4 Recommendation

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendation:

• Use self-review information to improve outcomes for children.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

1 August 2018

Information about the Kōhanga Reo

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota ki te marae o Waiorere, e pā tata atu ana i ngā hapori o Ōmaio me Te Kaha. Nō ngā hapū maha o Te Whānau-a-Apanui ngā tamariki. Ko ngā tikanga ā-iwi o Te Whānau-a-Apanui, o Te Whānau-a-Toihau, me Hinetekahu e whai pānga nui ana ki ngā whakaakoranga me ngā akoranga.

Ka whakaaro nuitia te kōhanga reo. E pēnei ana nā te ngākau nui, nā te ū pūmau hoki o ngā kuia, ngā koroua, me te whānau. Ka whakawhanaunga atu ki ētahi atu o ngā kōhanga reo o tēnei takiwā i ia te wā. He whakapono mutunga kore tō te whānau, mō te whakawhanaketanga o ā rātou tamariki i te tino aronga toi whenuatanga.

Nā te wāhi tū o te kōhanga reo, he whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te ako i ngā kōrero tuku iho o te rohe, me te āta hono atu ā-tinana, ā-wairua tonu ki te taiao. He tino whai wāhitanga ako tō te marae, te moana, me te ngahere. He hōhonu ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki, ā, e whai pānga matua ana ki tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga ki tēnei wāhi. He tino aronga ki te tauwhirotanga nā te whakatō me te hauhake, me te kohikohi i ngā kai i te moana.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Arotake

He pēhea rawa te kite i te tū pakari o ngā tamariki hei ākonga?

He mārakerake te kite atu i te tū pakari o ngā tamariki hei ākonga. Ko ō rātou hononga hei uri o Apanui, ka whai pānga nui ki a rātou.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka whakapuakihia mā ngā tamariki ngā whakaakoranga, ngā tikanga, me ngā kawa o Te Whānau-a-Apanui. He mātau ngā kaimahi ki te kōrero i te reo Māori, ā, ka akiaki rātou i ngā tamariki ki te ako i te reo ā-iwi me ngā kupu e whai pānga ana ki tō rātou iwi. Ko ngā karakia o te Hāhi Ringatū e noho matua ana ki ngā uaratanga me ngā whakapono ki te kōhanga reo, ā, ka tākina aua karakia e ngā tamariki i ia te wā, puta noa i te rā. He kaha ngā tamariki tuākana ki te kōrero i te reo Māori. E whiwhi ana ngā tamariki i tētahi mātauranga e poipoi ana i tō rātou tuakiri, i tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga hoki.

He ākonga hihiri ngā tamariki e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā akoranga whānui e noho mīharo ana ki a rātou. Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā tūmomo taumahi e whakaratohia ana ki te hōtaka. He whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te uru atu ki ngā akoranga takitahi, me te kōkiri whakamua i runga anō i tō rātou ake hiahia. He tauira tākare ngā kaimahi, ā, he tino hihiri hoki rātou. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā ngā wheako akoranga e mōhiotia ana e rātou, e noho riterite ana, e noho tau ana hoki.

Ka noho tahi ngā tamariki ki te taha o ngā tāngata nō ngā reanga katoa, nō ngā āheinga katoa. He maha ngā wā ka noho tahi ngā kuia, ngā kaumātua rātou ko mātua ki te taha o ngā tamariki. He tino puna mātauranga tō rātou ka whakapuakihia mā ngā tamariki. He mātauranga, he aroha, he pukutākaro hoki tō ngā taunekeneke a ngā kaumātua ki ngā tamariki. Ka ākina te hononga o te tuakana me te teina ki waenga i ngā tamariki. He ngāwari, he atawhai hoki te poipoi o ngā tamariki tuākana i ngā pēpi. Ko te whanaungatanga kei te pūtake o ngā taunekeneke katoa.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

He pai te whakahaeretanga a te whānau i te kōhanga reo. Kua arotakengia, kua whakahoungia hoki te tūtohinga, ā, he pakari te tuitui mai i te Apanuitanga. Ko te katoa o ngā kaupapa here me ngā tuhinga e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru, e āta hāngai ana ki ngā herenga e tika ana mō ngā kaupapa here. Ka whai pānga ngā mahere rautaki ki ngā kaupapa matua e hāngai pū ana ki a Hakota me te Apanuitanga, ā, e mau nei hoki i te huarahi ki te whakapakari ake i ngā āheinga, me ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te tauwhirotanga o te taiao māoriori. He riterite, he auau hoki te arotake whaiaro, ā, nā tēnei, ka puta ngā pūrongo e whai pānga ki ngā tino āhuatanga o ngā whakahaeretanga.

He tukanga ā ngā kaimahi e pā ana ki te whakamahere hōtaka, te aromatawai i ngā tamariki, me te aromātai hōtaka. Kei te taumata kairangi te āhua o ngā tuhinga. He pai te whakamōhio i te whānau mō tēnā e ākona ana e ā rātou tamariki, tā rātou ahu whakamua, me ngā whakapaitanga ka whakatutukihia ki te hōtaka.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

E ākina ana te whānau kia whakatinana rātou i ngā mahi ki te arohaehae i ngā kaimahi. He āhuatanga nui tēnei hei tāutu i te whakawhanaketanga ngaio e whai pānga ana ki te whakatairanga ake i te kounga o ngā whakaritenga, hei painga mā ngā tamariki.

3 Te Whakataunga a te Kōhanga Reo ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te arotake, i whakamātauhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha o te kōhanga reo ki te whakahaere i ngā āhuatanga i raro iho nei e whai pānga nui ana ki te waiora o ngā tamariki:

• te haumaru whatumanawa (tāpiri atu ko te ārahi mauritau, ko te ārai tamariki)
• te haumaru ā-tinana (tāpiri atu ko te mātakitaki tamariki; ko ngā whakaritenga whakamoe; ko ngā aituā; ko te whāngai rongoā; ko ngā whakaritenga akuaku; ko ngā kaupapa here me ngā tikanga haerenga whakawaho)
• te tū tika o ngā kaimahi (tae atu ki ngā taumata tohu mātauranga; te arowhai a ngā pirihimana; ngā rēhitatanga kaiako; me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaiako me te tamaiti)
• ngā whakaritenga, tikanga hōneatanga e pā ana ki te ahi me te rū whenua.

Ko te tikanga, ka whakatairanga ngā kōhanga reo katoa i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, me te arotake anō hoki i ia te wā i tā rātou whakatutukitanga i ngā herenga ā-ture.

• me whakarite i te whakatinanatanga o tētahi pūnaha arohaehae auau. [R 47 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; GMA7]

4 Ngā Taunakitanga

I whakaae Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau, kia whakatutukihia e rātou ngā arohaehae a ngā kaimahi.

Te Whakarāpopototanga

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota ki Te Kaha. He mārakerake te kite atu, ko te tū pakari o ngā tamariki hei ākonga e ahu mai ana i tō rātou tū hei uri o Apanui. He pai te whakahaeretanga me te whakaritenga o te hōtaka akoranga. Nā te ako ki te marae, he whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te mātakitaki me te ako anō hoki i ngā tikanga me ngā kawa o Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.

Hei ā hea Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga arotake anō ai i te kōhanga reo?

Ka arotake anō Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo 

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota is at Te Marae o Waiorere which is between Ōmaio and Te Kaha. The children come from various hapū o Te Whānau-A-Apanui. The tikanga-ā-iwi ō Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Te Whānau-ā-Toihau and Te Whānau a Hinetekahu influence teaching and learning.

The kōhanga reo is highly regarded. This can be attributed to passionate and committed kuia, koroua and whānau. There are regular interactions with other kōhanga reo in the area. Whānau have an unrelenting belief their children will develop a strong sense of belonging.

The location of the kōhanga reo provides opportunities for children not only to learn the stories of the area but to be physically and spiritually connected to the environment. The marae, sea and bush offer a wealth of learning opportunities. Children’s learning is rich and deeply embedded in what it means to belong to this place. There is a strong focus on sustainable living through planting, harvesting and the gathering of food.

2 The Review Findings

How well do children show confidence as learners?

Children clearly show their confidence as learners. This is strongly influenced by their connections as descendants of Apanui.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children are exposed to the teachings, tikanga and kawa of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. Kaimahi are competent speakers of te reo Māori and encourage children to learn the dialect and kupu that is relevant to their iwi. The karakia of Te Hāhi Ringatu is central to the values and beliefs of the kōhanga reo and is recited by children at regular intervals throughout the day. The older children are good speakers of te reo Māori. Children experience an education where their identity and sense of belonging is nurtured.

Children are highly motivated learners and are involved in learning that is varied and interesting. Children engage in different activities that are available in the programme. Children have opportunities to participate in independent learning and move at their own pace. Kaimahi are enthusiastic role models with high levels of energy. Children benefit from learning experiences that are consistently familiar to them.

Children are exposed to people of varying ages and abilities. Kuia, kaumātua and parents are often around the children. They bring a wealth of knowledge that they with their children. Kaumātua interactions with children are educational, loving and playful. Tuakana, teina relationships are encouraged amongst children. The older children are gentle and caring with the babies. Whanaungatanga is the basis of all interactions.

Planning and Evaluation

Whānau manage the operations of the kōhanga reo very well. The charter has been reviewed and updated and includes a strong Apanuitanga thread. All health and safety policies and documents clearly align to policy requirements. Strategic planning is based on priorities that are specific to Hakota and Apanuitanga and include capacity building and sustainable practices related to the natural environment. Internal review is consistent, regular and results in reporting against key aspects of kōhanga reo operations.

Kaimahi have processes for programme planning, children’s assessment and programme evaluation. The standard of documentation is of a high standard. Whānau are well informed of what children are learning, their progress and improvements to be made to the programme.

Key Next Steps

Whānau are urged to implement kaimahi appraisals. This is important when identifying professional development that is relevant to raising the quality of practice for children.

3 Whānau Management Assurance on Compliance Areas

During the review, ERO looked at the kōhanga reo systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:

• emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)
• physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)
• suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)
• evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All kōhanga reo are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

• ensure that a system of regular appraisal is implemented. [R47 Education (ECS) Regulations 2008 GMA7]

4 Recommendation

ERO and the whānau agreed that they carry out kaimahi appraisals.

Conclusion

Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota is located in Te Kaha. Children clearly show their confidence as learners is embedded in who they are as descendants of Apanui. The learning programme is well managed and organised. Learning in a marae environment provides children with opportunities to observe and learn about tikanga and kawa of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.

When is ERO likely to review the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO review of Te Kōhanga Reo o Hakota will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

29 September 2009 

Information about the Kōhanga Reo