C101 Curriculum consistency

Licensing criterion and guidance for C101: Curriculum consistency.

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Criterion C101

The service curriculum is consistent with any prescribed curriculum framework that applies to the service.

Curriculum criteria documentation required

Kupu whakataki | preface

Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa Early childhood curriculum (Te Whāriki) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural national curriculum document for ECE services.

The prescribed curriculum framework for the Early Learning Sector is in 3 parts:

  • Te Ara Whānui: the principles | ngā kaupapa whakahaere, strands, goals and learning outcomes | ngā taumata whakahirahira of Te Whāriki.

  • Te Ara Māori: a Te Ao Māori interpretation of the principles | ngā kaupapa whakahaere, strands, goals and learning outcomes | ngā taumata whakahirahira of Te Whāriki.

  • Te Whariki a te Kōhanga Reo: ngā Kaupapa whakahaere | ngā taumata whakahirahira me Te Tauira Whāriki (Te Katoa o te Mokopuna) mō Te Kōhanga Reo.

Licensed early learning services (except kōhanga reo) need to decide which pathway to implement either: Te Ara Whānui or Te Ara Māori (not both). Te Whāriki a te Kōhanga Reo is the pathway specifically for kōhanga reo and their curriculum guidance is provided by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.

Guidance

To meet this criterion in a way that is consistent with the prescribed curriculum framework each early learning service should design its own culturally responsive, bi-cultural curriculum priorities using Te Ara Whānui or Te Ara Māori as a guide.

Curriculum is interpreted broadly. It includes all the experiences, activities, and events (both direct and indirect) that occur within the service. It provides a framework that foregrounds the mana of the child and the importance of respectful, reciprocal, and responsive relationships.

Services should demonstrate the visibility of the principles, strands, goals, and learning outcomes of their chosen pathway within their documentation like policies, curriculum documentation, engagements with parents and whānau, local community, hapū and iwi.

Te Whāriki is a bicultural document and Te Ao Māori should be woven and considered through all curriculum criteria.

When assessing whether their curriculum is consistent with the prescribed curriculum (Criterion 1), services should take into consideration if they are meeting Criteria 2 – 13, and how well.

  • Who will our service need to work with in a reciprocal and responsive way as part of making the decision to implement Te Ara Whānui or Te Ara Māori? Think about parents and whānau, hāpu, iwi, mana whenua, and others in the community.

  • How will we identify curriculum priorities? What will this journey look like for our service and how will we document this?

  • What is important in this place and why? What do we know about our whenua? How will we explore the histories of this place?

  • Think about how Te Whāriki is evident in everything that happens in our service. Consider the physical, temporal, and social environment (for example, regular routines throughout the day, the way people interact with each other), and caregiving routines (for example, for infants and toddlers). How do we articulate this?

  • How do self-review and internal evaluation inform our understanding of the curriculum framework and do they lead us to ask questions like “why do we do things this way, and “how well”?”

  • How does curriculum leadership happen in our team? How do we develop curriculum leadership?

The link below gives kaiako and service providers more information, advice, and guidance to support implementation of the licensing criteria.

Te Whāriki – Tāhūrangi