Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wiri

Te Aromātai

1. Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wiri ki te pokapū o Manukau, ki Tāmaki-makau-rau ki te Tonga. Koia nei te kōhanga reo anake ki tēnei takiwā, ā, ka ngākau nuitia tēnei kōhanga reo e te whānau.

I te tau 1985 te kōhanga reo i whakatūngia ai hei whakatutuki i te tirohanga a te whānau kia tū manawa whakahī ā rātou tamariki hei Māori, kia pakari hoki tā rātou nuku haere i te ao Māori, ā, kia pakari anō hoki tā rātou kōrero i te reo Māori. Ko ētahi o te whānau, ngā kaimahi, me ngā tamariki te hua o taua tirohanga. Ka whakapuaki tonu rātou, ka whakatauira tonu rātou i taua tirohanga ki te katoa.

He pai ngā pūrongo o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga mō tēnei kōhanga reo. I tāutu te pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga nō nā tata nei, arā, nō te tau 2012, i te pai o ngā whakawhanaketanga ki te hōtaka akoranga a ngā tamariki, ngā taunekeneke, te taiao akoranga, me te whakamahinga a ngā tamariki i te reo Māori. Ko te whakahaeretanga o te marau, te whakawhanaketanga ngaio, me te whakahaere i te kōhanga ētahi atu wāhanga pakari. Ko te arotake rautaki me te pūrongo ētahi atu āhuatanga hei whakapakari ake.

2. Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Arotake

He pēhea rawa te kite i te whakatinanatanga o ngā tamariki i ngā wawata o ō rātou whānau?

He tamariki toa, he kakama i roto i a rātou akoranga me te reo Māori hoki.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka tino tautokona ngā tamariki, ā, ka whai wāhi atu rātou ki ngā akoranga. Ka wheako rātou i ngā akoranga e whakahihiri ana, e whakaongaonga ana hoki i a rātou. Kua waihangatia te hōtaka hei hāpai i ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā tamariki, ā, ka whai pānga anō hoki ki Te Whāriki o te Kōhanga Reo me te ao Māori. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi me te whānau i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo taumahi, rauemi hoki e whai pānga ana ki te ao Māori. He pārekareka ki ngā tamariki te tirotiro haere i ngā pukapuka, ā, ka ngākau nui hoki rātou i ngā wā ka pānui tētahi ki a rātou. He pākiki rātou, ā, he ngākau nui to rātou mō ngā mokonui, ngā ngārara, me ngā kararehe. Ka ako rātou mō ēnei kīrehe mā runga i te ipurangi me ngā haerenga hoki. He hōhonu ngā tūmomo taumahi hei whakawhānui i ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki, ā, ka kapo atu i te ngākau nui o ngā tamariki, e noho wātea ana hoki ki a rātou puta noa i te rā. Kua āta whakawhanakehia ngā tukanga hei hāpai i ngā tamariki tuākana i a rātou e whakawhiti atu ana ki te kura. He ākonga mātau, he ākonga pakari hoki ngā tamariki.

He pakari, he mauritau hoki ngā hononga o ngā tamariki ki ō rātou hoa, ngā kaimahi, me te whānau. Ka tautoko, ka atawhai ngā tamariki tuākana i ngā pēpi, ā, ka whakauru i a rātou ki ā rātou momo tākaro. Ka tākaro ngātahi ngā tamariki, ā, ka kitea tō rātou aroha, tō rātou manaaki, e tā rātou awhi ki ētahi atu. He tino pai te tatauranga ki waenga i ngā kaimahi, te whānau, me ngā tamariki. Ka whai hua ngā taunekeneke hihiri ki ngā tamariki, ā, ka tino whakaongaongatia. He pakari ngā tamariki, ā, ka kitea tā rātou tino kōkiri takitahi i a rātou e ako ana, e tākaro ana hoki.

He pakari te nuinga o ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo Māori. E āhei ana ngā tamariki ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou whakaaro ki a rātou anō, ki ngā kaimahi, ā, ki te whānau hoki. He tākare tā rātou whakapuaki whakaaro, ā, ka whakawero rātou i a rātou anō, i ngā pākeke hoki. He auaha tā rātou whakamahi i te reo. He pakari ngā tamariki ki te waiata, te tito i ngā waiata, ngā hīmene, ngā karakia, me ngā mihi, me ngā tākaro matimati. Ka whakamahi rātou i te reo e tika ana mō ngā horopaki ōpaki me ngā horopaki ōkawa. I ētahi wā, ka aroturuki ngā tamariki i tā rātou whakamahinga i te reo Māori, ā, ka ārahi. He tokomaha ngā tamariki ka ngākau nui ki te tohutohu me te whakarite i te whānau, ngā kaimahi, me ō rātou hoa i ngā wā taumahi me ngā tikanga. Ka whakamanahia te reo Māori, ā, he māhorahora tāna whakamahinga puta noa i te kōhanga reo. He māhorahora te puāwai mai o te reo Māori o ngā tamariki.

He pakari, he māia hoki te tū o ngā tamariki. Ka atawhai, ka poipoi hoki te taiao o te kōhanga reo. Haereere ai ngā tamariki puta noa i te kōhanga reo, ā, ka whakatau haere i ā rātou ake whiringa i roto i ngā akoranga. Ka hāpai ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki katoa ki te tū hei kaiārahi, ā, ka ārahi ngā tamariki i ngā tikanga, ngā mahinga, me ngā momo taumahi. Whakanui ai ngā kaimahi me te whānau i ngā whakamātau me ngā whakatutukitanga a ngā tamariki i ngā wā katoa, ā, ka whakamana hoki i ā rātou whai wāhi mai ki ngā kaupapa. Ka whakamana, ka manaaki rātou i ngā tamariki i a rātou e ārahi ana, e whakahaere ana hoki i a rātou. He ngāwari ngā mahinga a ngā tamariki, ka mōhiotia, ā, kua whakahāngaitia hoki ki ngā reanga me ngā āheinga o ngā tamariki. E wātea ana ngā pēpi ki te taunekeneke haere me ētahi atu tamariki puta noa i te rā, ā, kei a rātou anō ā rātou ake wā tākaro, wā whakatā hoki. Ka akiaki te whānau me ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te whai wāhi atu ki te whakapai haere me te tiaki i ā rātou ake taputapu. Ka kōkiri ngā tamariki i a rātou anō, ā, ka manaaki i ētahi atu, i tō rātou wāhi hoki.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

He kaiārahi ngaio ngā kaimahi, ā, he pakari hoki. He mārama, he hōhonu hoki tō rātou māramatanga ki te pūtake me te whai huatanga o te aromatawai, te whakamahere, me te aromātai. Ka whakamahere ngātahi ai ngā kaimahi me te whānau. Ka whakapakari ana i ngā mōhiotanga o mua o ngā tamariki, ā, ka whakawhanui ana i te ako a ia tamaiti. He auau te aromātai hōtaka, ā, ka whai huatanga mō ngā tamariki. Ka whakaemi ngā kaimahi i te whānuitanga o ngā mōhiohio e pā ana ki tēnā ka ākona e ngā tamariki. Ka whakamahi rātou i aua mōhiohio ki te pūrongo i te ahunga whakamua a ia tamaiti, me ngā taumata ako ka whāia tonuhia e rātou. He pārekareka ki ngā tamariki te titiro ki ā rātou pūkete, me te whakapuaki i ā rātou akoranga ki te taha o ō rātou hoa.

Ka tino whai hua te te pakari o te whakaute, te whakawhirinaki hoki a tētahi ki tētahi ki waenga i ngā kaimahi me te whānau. Ka whakapuaki te whānau i ō rātou whakaaro, ā, ka whai wāhi atu ki te whakawhanaketanga o te kōhanga reo. Ka toro atu ngā kaimahi ki te tautoko o te whānau i ngā haerenga, i te wā kāhore he kaimahi ki te kōhanga reo, ā, i ngā taumahi hoki a te whānau. Ka kitea e te whānau te wairua, te mauritau hoki o ngā kaimahi, me te whai pānga nui tēnei ki te noho tau o ā rātou tamariki i ia rā. Ka āta whai wāhi te whānau ki te kōhanga reo, ā, nā tēnei hononga, ka tau anō te mauri o ngā tamariki.

Ka ārahi ngātahi, puta noa i te whānau. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi, te whānau, me ngā kaumātua i ō rātou pūkenga, ō rātou mātanga hoki hei tautoko i te kounga kairangi o ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki. Ka whai wāhi atu te katoa ki te whakatau i ngā whakaritenga, te whakamahere, me te aroturuki. Ka whai hua ngā tukanga whakahaere kaimahi ā te whānau, tae atu ki tētahi pūnaha tino pakari mō te arohaehae. Ka whai wāhi atu te nuinga o ngā kaimahi ki ngā hōtaka whakangungu a Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo, ā, ka taetae atu i ia te wā ki ngā hui me ngā wānanga a te purapura. He tino mārama, he tino kawenga hoki tā te pūnaha pūtea, ā, ka whakanuia tēnei āhuatanga e ngā mātanga o waho. Ko te ārahi ngātahi me te whai huatanga, te papai o ngā mahi whakahaere e whai pānga ana ki ngā putanga hua mā ngā tamariki.

Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā te whai pūtake o te whakamahere rautaki me te arotake whaiaro. He mārama ngā whāinga rautaki a te whānau me ngā kaimahi hei hāpai i te ako me te waiora o ā rātou tamariki. He auau, he matawhānui hoki ngā pūrongo e pā ana ki te mahere rautaki me te hōtaka a ngā tamariki i ia rā. Ko ngā arotake i ia te wā o ngā kaupapa here, ngā tukanga, me ngā take kawenga e whakatutukihia ana mā ngā tino mahi tōtika e whai hua ana. Ka aro wawe te whānau ki ngā whai wāhitanga, ngā take, me ngā āwangawanga ka pupū ake. Ka tino whai hua te arotake whaiaro, ā, he painga mō ngā tamariki me ō rātou whānau.

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.

Te Whakarāpopototanga

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wiri ki Manukau, i Tāmaki-makau-rau ki te tonga. Ka āta kitea te whakatinanatanga o ngā tamariki i te kaupapa o te kōhanga reo me ngā wawata o tō rātou whānau. Ka wheako ngā tamariki i ngā hōtaka akoranga e whakahihiri ana, e whakaongaonga ana hoki, ā, he pakari tā rātou kōrero i te reo Māori. Ka whai hua ngā mahi a te whānau ki te whakahaere i te kōhanga reo.

4. 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 Te Wiri i roto i te whā o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

14 Here-turi-kōkā, 2015

5. Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

Evaluation

1. Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wiri is in Manukau Central, South Auckland. This is the only kōhanga reo in the area and is a popular choice for whānau.

In 1985, whānau had a vision and established a kōhanga reo that would enable their children to stand proudly as Māori, move confidently in te ao Māori and be confident speakers of te reo Maori. Some of the current whānau, kaimahi and children are products of this vision. They continue to share and model this vision with others.

The kōhanga reo has had a positive history of ERO reporting. The most recent ERO report of 2012 identified positive developments with the children’s learning programme, interactions, the learning environment and children’s use of te reo Māori. Curriculum management, professional development and kōhanga management were additional areas of strength. Strategic review and reporting were areas that needed improvement.

2. The Review Findings

How effectively do children reflect the aspirations of their whānau?

Children are competent and capable learners and speakers of te reo Māori.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children are well supported and engaged in learning. They experience exciting, stimulating learning. The programme is designed to support children’s interests and reflects Te Whāriki o te Kōhanga Reo and te ao Māori. Kaimahi and whānau provide children with an extensive range of activities and resources that reflect te ao Māori. Children enjoy looking through books and love being read to. They are curious and have a keen interest in dinosaurs, insects and animals. They learn about these through the internet and when they go on outings. Activities range in complexity and capture children’s interests. There are well developed processes to support the older children as they transition to school. Children are competent, capable learners.

Children have strong and positive relationships with their peers, kaimahi and whānau. The older children are supportive and affectionate towards the babies and include them in their play. Children play cooperatively and display aroha, manaaki and awhi with each other. There is a high ratio of kaimahi and whānau to children. Interactions with children are positive and highly stimulating. Children are confident and display high levels of independence as they learn and play.

Most children are confident speakers of te reo Māori. Children can express their ideas with each other, kaimahi and whānau. They eagerly share their ideas and challenge each other and adults. They are creative with language. Children confidently sing and compose waiata, hīmene, recite karakia and mihi and finger play. They use language that is appropriate for informal and formal settings. There are times when children monitor each others use of te reo Māori and provide guidance. Several children love to instruct and organise whānau, kaimahi and their peers during activities and rituals. Te reo Māori is valued and flows naturally in the kōhanga reo. Children speak te reo Māori spontaneously.

Children are self assured and confident. The kōhanga reo environment is warm and nurturing. Children move freely throughout the kōhanga reo and make choices about their own learning. Kaimahi support all children to be leaders and allow them to lead protocols, routines and activities. Kaimahi and whānau regularly praise children’s efforts and achievements and value their contributions. They guide and manage children in uplifting and caring ways. Children’s routines are flexible, familiar, individualised to meet their ages and abilities. The babies are free to mingle with other children throughout the day and have their own play and rest times. Whānau and kaimahi encourage children to share in tidying up and the care of their personal belongings. Children are independent, care for others and their environment.

Planning and Evaluation

Kaimahi are capable professional leaders. They have a clear, in-depth understanding of the purpose and value of assessment, planning and evaluation. Kaimahi and whānau plan together. They build on children’s prior knowledge and extend children’s learning. Regular programme leads to improvements for children. Kaimahi gather a range of information about what children learn. They use this information to report on each child’s progress and their next steps in learning. Children enjoy looking at their folders and share their learning stories with their peers.

Kaimahi and whānau have mutual respect and trust they have for each other. Whānau share their views and contribute to the development of the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi depend on whānau for extra support during outings, when kaimahi are absent and whānau activities. Whānau recognise the wairua and positive demeanour of kaimahi plays a vital role in the settling of their children each day. Whānau are successfully included in the kōhanga reo and this successful partnership leads to relaxed, content children.

Leadership is shared across the whānau. Kaimahi, whānau and kaumātua use their skills and expertise to support high quality learning for children. All contribute to decision making, planning and monitoring. Whānau have efficient personnel management processes including a robust appraisal system. Most kaimahi are involved in Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust training programmes and regularly attend purapura hui and wānanga. There is a highly transparent and accountable financial system which is acknowledged by external professionals. Collective leadership and effective management practices contribute to positive outcomes for children

Children benefit from purposeful strategic planning and self review. Whānau and kaimahi have clear strategic goals to support their children’s learning and wellbeing. There is regular and comprehensive reporting on the strategic plan and children’s daily programme. Regular reviews of policies with procedures and accountability matters are carried out in a reliable and thorough manner. Whānau respond to emerging opportunities, issues and concerns promptly. Self review is highly effective and benefits children and their whānau.

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.

Conclusion

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wiri is in Manukau, South Auckland. Children effectively reflect the kaupapa o kōhanga reo and the aspirations of their whānau. Children experience exciting, stimulating learning programmes and most are confident speakers of te reo Māori. Whānau effectively manage the kōhanga reo.

4. When is ERO likely to review the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO review of Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wiri will be in four years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

14 August 2015

5. Information about the Kōhanga Reo