This page explains our review processes for ngā kōhanga reo.
Te Uepū ā-Motu (our Māori review services team) reviews kōhanga reo. Our reports on kōhanga reo are written in te reo Māori and in English.
The framework and indicators we use
We worked with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust to develop a unique review process that reflects the philosophy of kōhanga reo. The Framework for Kōhanga Reo Reviews explains how we do reviews. And the Evaluation Indicators for Education Reviews in Kōhanga Reo informs how we make our judgements.
Read the Framework for Kōhanga Reo Reviews.
Read the Evaluation Indicators for Education Reviews in Kōhanga Reo.
Our review process for kōhanga reo
We work with you at every stage of the review process. We focus on the quality of education. And we check how well the environment contributes to the safety and wellbeing of tamariki. Both of these directly affect outcomes for tamariki.
1. We email you to tell you we’re doing a review
We email you 8 weeks before we visit you for the onsite review. In this email, we include:
- information on how we review
- the Guidelines for Kōhanga Whānau Management Assurance Statement and Self Audit Checklists (KWAS).
2. We phone you as we set up the review
Our review coordinator phones kōhanga reo whānau. Together, we discuss and co-construct the review process, to:
- identify the review priorities
- confirm details for the whānau hui to focus the review
- discuss who will be the kaupapa kaimahi or alternative representative.
3. You fill out the Licensed Kōhanga Assurance Statement (KWAS)
You need to complete the KWAS before the whānau hui.
- Licensed Kōhanga Whānau - Guidelines for Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklists [PDF, 665.73 KB]
- Licensed Kōhanga Whānau - Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklist - October 2022 [PDF, 758.77 KB]
4. We meet with you to discuss review priorities in a whānau hui
Whānau can use this hui to identify their focus. Whānau members can speak about different topics.
Whānau suggest priorities for review that:
- reflect their views
- show where whānau are performing well
- highlight possible improvements.
Our review team arrives as manuhiri (visitors). Our review team will:
- adhere to the tīkanga and kawa set by the whānau
- discuss review priorities with whānau and consider their suggestions
- collaborate with whānau if there is a need to change our review focus because of our investigations
At this hui, we also need any documents that help inform our review. These documents include the completed KWAS.
5. We refine our review process
After the whānau hui the team will refine the Evaluation Question in collaboration with the whānau. We use information the kōhanga reo gave us.
Communication with whānau will continue throughout the review. Whānau are critical to all decisions made throughout the review.
6. We make observations onsite
Throughout the review we continue talking with whānau and discussing our findings.
To gather evidence, our review team:
- reads whānau documentation
- talks with kaiako, whānau (as a group or individually) and tamariki
- observes programmes in action.
Our review team asks questions and uses evaluation indicators to gather and document evidence.
7. We meet with you to share our findings and discuss recommendations
Our review team meets with whānau to share what we found. We highlight areas of good performance and areas for improvement.
We work with whānau to develop report recommendations. We will decide together what needs to happen next as a result of the findings.
8. We write our report
The written report captures the essence of the dialogue from the final whānau hui. The report identifies:
- areas of good performance
- areas for improvement
- recommendations.
The reviewers and whānau agree and decide collectively what is to happen next. This will be highlighted in the report. In collaboration with the whānau and Kaupapa Kaimahi, processes will be put in place to address any issues.
9. You give feedback on the draft report
We send you a draft report within 2 weeks of completing our onsite review.
You have 10 working days from the date we email the report to:
- query the evidence we based our findings on
- tell us if we made any errors
- provide additional documents or evidence.
We will consider your response and, where justified by evidence, amend the report.
10. We publish the report
We confirm the report and email a copy to you within 2 weeks.
We publish the report on our website 2 weeks after we email you the confirmed report.
The audience for ERO reports includes the hapū, iwi, the wider public sector and the Government.
In collaboration with the National Te Kōhanga Reo Trust, we are currently developing a new methodology for kōhanga reo. Until the release of this methodology, the review process will follow what is currently in place.