Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-a-Koko

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko ki te pā o Te Whakarewarewa, ki Rotorua. He uri ngā tamariki o te kōhanga reo nei nō Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. Nā te tū o te kōhanga reo ki tētahi hapori e ngākau nuitia ai e te tūruhi, arā, ki Whakarewarewa, ka whai wāhi nui ngā tamariki i ia te wā ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo kaupapa ahurea, kaupapa whakahoahoa hoki i te pā.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te ngākau titikaha o ngā tamariki ki te tū hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao?

Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga e hāpai ana i ō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te tū hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka ako ngā tamariki i ō rātou tuakiri hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. Nā te tū o te kōhanga reo ki te pā o Whakarewarewa, ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki te katoa o ngā pōhiri me ngā whakangahau mō ngā manuhiri e ahu mai ana i te ao whānui tonu. E mōhio ana ngā tamariki ki tō rātou tupuna whare, me ngā kawa, me ngā tikanga hoki o tō rātou marae. Torotoro atu ai rātou i ia rā, i ia rā ki ngā waiariki, ki te tāheke, ki te awa o Puarenga. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaimahi i ngā kōrero tuku iho me ngā pakiwaitara o te wāhi nei. Kei te mōhio ngā tamariki tuākana ki ngā pouwhenua matua o te hapori nei e whakahuatia ana i ngā kōrero tuku iho. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi, kia āta whai wāhi atu ai ngā tamariki ki ngā whakairo e tū ana, puta noa i te pā. E whanake ana ngā tamariki i tō rātou tino tuakiri hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Rongo ai ngā tamariki i te reo Māori e kōrerohia ana, puta noa i te kōhanga reo. Ko ētahi o ngā kaimahi, he ākonga o mua o ngā kura kaupapa Māori, ā, ka ū pūmau ki te kōrero i te reo Māori anake ki ngā tamariki. Kei te mārama ngā tamariki ki tēnā e kōrerohia ana ki a rātou, ā, ka whakautu mā te kupu kotahi, mā ngā kīanga māmā rānei i ngā wā e ākina ana. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaimahi i ngā hanganga reo tika o te reo Māori i te wā ka kōrero kē ngā tamariki i te reo Pākehā. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i ngā rotarota, ngā waiata, me te korikori tinana, hei whakatairanga i te whakamahinga o te reo Māori ki te kōhanga reo. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki tuākana ki te ārahi i ngā karakia me ngā hīmene. E whanake ana ngā ngākau titikaha me ngā pūkenga o ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo Māori ki te kōhanga reo.

Ka whakamanahia ngā tamariki i roto i ā rātou akoranga. Ka akiaki ngā tamariki ki te ringaringa atu, te mihimihi atu hoki ki ngā manuhiri, mai i te mahau o te kōhanga reo. Ko te ao o te pā e whai pānga nui ana ki ngā akoranga e āta whakanuia ana e te whānau me ngā tamariki. He tini ngā tūmomo kaupapa māoriori ki te pā hei tūhuratanga mā ngā tamariki i ia te wā. E wātea ana ki ngā tamariki ngā rawa me ngā taonga māoriori. Ka whakamahia hoki te hangarau matihiko ki te kōhanga reo, mā te whakaratonga o ngā īPapa e hāpai ai i ngā akoranga. He ngākau titikaha ō ngā tamariki ki te ako, ā, he whakahirahira ā rātou tūmomo wheako ako ki te pā o Whakarewarewa.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

Kua whakatakotohia ngā huarahi ki te whakamahere i te hōtaka, te aromatawai, me te aromātai. E hāngai ana ngā mahere ki te ao o te pā me te taiao o ngā tamariki. Kua āta whakaarohia ngā matea matatini o ngā tamariki ki ngā mahere. He ātaahua, he pai hoki te whakatakotoranga o ngā pūkete e whakaratohia ana e ngā kaimahi, ā, e āta whakaatu ana hoki i ngā wheako ako i whakamaheretia ai. E tohu ana ngā mōhiohio aromatawai i tēnā e ākona ana e ngā tamariki, ā, i te āhua anō hoki o tā rātou ahu whakamua. Hui ai ngā kaimahi i ia te wā ki te whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro mō te hōtaka akoranga. Ka whakatakoto te kaiako i tētahi tuhinga pūrongo ki ngā hui ā-whānau. E arotahi ana ngā kaimahi ki te whakarato i te kounga o tētahi hōtaka akoranga e whakamana ana i te tuakiri o ngā tamariki hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

He pai te whakahaeretanga o ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. Ka mahi ngātahi te whānau ki te taha o te kaiwhakahaere me ngā kaimahi, ki te hāpai i te ako me te atawhai o ngā tamariki ki te kōhanga reo. He pai te whakahaeretanga o te kaiwhakahaere i ngā pūnaha me ngā tukanga ki te kōhanga reo. Arotakengia ai, whakahoungia ai hoki te tūtohinga i ia te wā. E hāngai ana ngā kaupapa here ki Ngā Pou e Whā me ngā herenga ā-ture e tika ana. He mārama te mahere ā-tau hei ārahi i te āta whakatinanatanga o ngā whakahaeretanga, puta noa i ngā wāhanga katoa o te kōhanga reo. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi kia tutuki i a rātou ngā whakaritenga matua e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru, i ngā tamariki e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā tūmomo kaupapa, huri noa i te pā. He pai te aroturuki me te tuhi haere hoki i ngā akoako me ngā rehita. E hāpai ana ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau i ngā putanga ako e whai hua ana ki ngā tamariki.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Ko tētahi āhuatanga hei āta whakawhanake ake, ko te whakamahinga a ngā tamariki i te reo Māori kia rere, kia māhorahora hoki. Ahakoa e tū ana te kōhanga reo hei wāhi kia kōrerohia, kia rangona hoki te reo Māori puta noa i te rā, he tokomaha tonu ngā tamariki e kōrero ana i te reo Pākehā ki te kōhanga reo. He mea nui, kia whakatupu anō hoki te whānau i ō rātou ake pūkenga reo kia āhei ai ngā tamariki ki te ako tonu, ki te whakamahi tonu hoki i te reo Māori ki ō rātou ake kāinga.

Me kōkiri tonu, me aroturuki tonu hoki i ngā whakawhanaketanga rautaki. I whakawhanake te whānau i tētahi mahere rautaki e whakaraupapa ana i tā rātou tirohanga me ā rātou whāinga mō te kōhanga reo. I nāianei, me whakawhanake, me whakatinana hoki rātou i tētahi mahere mahi kia tutuki ai ō rātou wawata rautaki. Mā te pūrongo ki ngā hui ā-whānau e hāpai ai i a rātou ki te aru i tā rātou ahu whakamua i roto i te roanga o te wā ki te whakatutuki i ā rātou whāinga.

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 te taunakitanga e whai ake nei, arā, kia:

• tāutu, kia whakatinana hoki te whānau me ngā kaimahi i ngā mahi matua e whakapakari ai i te whakamahinga a ngā tamariki me ō rātou whānau i te reo Māori, ā, i ā rātou whakaritenga hoki ki te aru i te ahunga whakamua o tā rātou whakatutuki haere i ngā kaupapa rautaki matua i te kōhanga reo.

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 Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Charles Rolleston

Toka ā-nuku

27 Haratua, 2019

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko is located in the Whakarewarewa Living Village, Rotorua. The children of this kōhanga reo are descendants of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. With the kōhanga reo located within the popular tourist attraction of Whakarewarewa, children are a regularly involved in a wide range of cultural and social activities that occur in the village.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How confident are children in their identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao?

Children participate in learning that supports them to be confident in their identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children learn who they are as descendants of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. Because the kōhanga reo is located within the village, children participate in all pōhiri and entertainment for visitors from around the world. Children know their tupuna whare and the kawa and tikanga of their marae. They make daily visits to the hot pools, waterfall and Puarenga river. Kaimahi tell stories of local myths and legends. The older children are familiar with the local landmarks identified with the stories. Kaimahi ensure children have as much access as possible to the carvings spread throughout the village. Children are developing a strong sense of their identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Children hear te reo Maori being spoken around them within the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi include graduates from kura kaupapa Māori who only speak te reo Maori to children. Children understand what is spoken to them and reply using single words or basic phrases when prompted. Kaimahi provide correct language structures in te reo Māori when children speak English. Kaimahi use strategies such as rotarota, waiata and korikori tinana to promote the use of te reo Maori within the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi encourage the older children to lead karakia and hīmene. Children are developing their confidence and skills to speak te reo Māori while they are at kōhanga reo.

Children are affirmed in their learning. Kaimahi encourage children to wave and greet visitors from the front deck of the kōhanga reo. The context of the village has a major impact on what learning is most valued by the whānau and children. The village offers a range of natural activity which the children are able to regularly explore. Children have access to physical and natural resources. Digital technology is also used in the kōhanga reo through the provision of iPads to support learning. Children are confident learners who have unique learning experiences within the Whakarewarewa Village.

Planning and Evaluation

Programme planning, assessment and programme evaluation are in place. Planning reflects the village lifestyle and environment of the children. Planning considers the needs of a range of children. Kaimahi provide attractive and well-presented profile books which clearly reflect the planned learning experiences. Assessment information shows what children are learning and how well they are progressing. Kaimahi meet regularly to discuss the learning programme. The kaiako provides a written report at whānau hui. Kaimahi are focussed on providing a quality learning programme that affirms children’s identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

The operations of the kōhanga reo are well managed. The whānau work collaboratively with the kaiwhakahaere and kaimahi to support children’s learning and care in the kōhanga reo. Systems and processes in the kōhanga reo are well managed by the kaiwhakahaere. The charter is regularly reviewed and updated. Policies are aligned to Ngā Pou e Whā and the relevant legislative requirements. The annual plan provides clear guidance to ensure that operations across all areas of the kōhanga reo are well implemented. Kaimahi ensure they observe key health and safety practices as children also spend time participating in activities around the village. Drills and registers are well monitored and recorded. Whānau management supports positive learning outcomes for children.

Key Next Steps

The natural and consistent use of te reo Māori by children is an area for development. While the kōhanga reo provides an environment where te reo Māori is used and heard throughout the day, many children speak English during their time at kōhanga reo. It is important for the whānau to also grow their own language skills so that children can continue to learn and use te reo Māori in their homes.

Further action and monitoring of strategic developments is required. The whānau developed a strategic plan that outlines their vision and goals for the kōhanga reo. They now need to develop and implement an action plan to realise their strategic aspirations. Reporting to whānau hui will enable them to track progress over time toward their goals.

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:

• The whānau and kaimahi should identify and implement key actions to strengthen the use of te reo Māori by children and their whānau, and to ensure they are able to track progress towards achieving their strategic priorities for the kōhanga reo.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko will be in three years.

Charles Rolleston

Toka ā-nuku

27 May 2019

Information about the Kōhanga Reo

Te Aromātai

E tū ana Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo ki Whakarewarewa, i Rotorua. He māoriori te ako a ngā tamariki i ō rātou hononga ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā tētahi hōtaka me te taiao e hāngai pū ana ki te tamaiti me te whakawhanaketanga o tōna katoa. Ka noho pūmau te whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te rōnakitanga o tō rātou kōhanga reo.

Ka arotake anō Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo   i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo ki Whakarewarewa, i Rotorua. Ka whai wāhi nui te kōhanga reo ki tēnei pā me te pakihi tūruhi o konei e whakahaerehia ana e Ngāti Wāhiao, e Tūhourangi.

Ka āta mahi ngātahi te whānau ki Te Kōhanga Reo ki Pukeroa Ōruawhata. Ko te nuinga o ngā tamariki ki te rārangi ingoa kei raro i te rua o ngā tau, ā, he tokomaha ngā tamariki tuākana ka whakawhiti atu ki Te Kōhanga Reo ki Pukeroa Ōruawhata. Kua piki ake te rārangi ingoa i roto i ngā marama 12, nā te kaha o te whānau ki te āta arotahi atu ki ngā tamariki ki raro i te rua o ngā tau.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Arotake

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i tō rātou hononga ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae?

Ka kite ki ngā tamariki tō rātou tino hononga ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

He ngāwari, he māoriori hoki te ako a ngā tamariki i te reo Māori. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te whakawhiti kōrero ki waenga i a rātou anō, ki ngā pākeke hoki mā te reo Māori. Ka whakamahi rātou i ngā waiata ā-ringa, ā, ka rongo ngā tamariki i te hōhonutanga ake o te reo i a rātou e whakawhanake ana i tō rātou māramatanga. Ka whakapuaki māhorahora ngā tamariki mā te reo Māori.

Ka ako ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao ā-whānau e atawhai ana, e poipoi ana hoki. Taunekeneke ai ngā tamariki ki ngā kaumātua i ia te wā, ā, ka āta tūhonohono atu ki ētahi atu. Ka whai wāhi rātou ki ngā karakia i te wharenui e whakatau ana i te āhua o te rā. He hononga tō ngā kaimahi ki te pā, ā, ka whakapuaki rātou i tō rātou mōhiotanga, hei whakaako i te āhua o te wāhi nei ki ngā tamariki. Ka rongo ngā tamariki i te haumaru, i te mauritau anō hoki i a rātou e ako ana.

He aronga tuakiri tō ngā tamariki. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaimahi i ngā waiata o Te Arawa ki ngā tamariki, ā, ka akiaki hoki i a rātou ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā kaupapa i te pā. Taunekeneke ai ngā tamariki i ia te wā ki te tokomaha o ngā pākeke, whānau mai, tūruhi mai anō hoki. Ka tūmāia ngā tamariki nā runga i tō rātou mōhiotanga ki a rātou anō, ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae hoki.

E wātea ana ngā tamariki ki te whiriwhiri i ā rātou tākaro. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā taumahi e whakahihiri ana, e whakakipakipa ana hoki i ngā tamariki. He pārekareka ki ngā tamariki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo taumahi, ā, ka kitea tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga, tō rātou tautāwhi ki tō rātou taiao. He ākonga māia, he ākonga tākare hoki ngā tamariki.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā tētahi hōtaka i āta whakamaheretia ai. He pai te whakariterite a te kaiako, ā, ka mahi ngātahi ia ki ngā kaimahi. Kua whakaritea ngā mahere, ā, e tino whai kiko ana, e hono ana hoki ki te kaupapa o te kōhanga reo, ā, e whai pānga anō hoki ki te taiao ngāwhā o konei e ākona ana e ngā tamariki. He ākonga ngana ngā tamariki.

Ka āta aroturukitia te ako a ngā tamariki. E mau ana ngā pūkete a ia tamaiti i ngā mōhiohio aromatawai e tino whai hua ana, tae atu ana ki tētahi rārangi arowhai e whai pānga ana ki Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira, me ngā kōrerorero e whakamārama ana i ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki. He tauira hoki o ngā mahi a ngā tamariki, ā, e hāngai ana ēnei ki ngā mahere hōtaka. Ka whakaatu ngā kaimahi i tō rātou tino mōhiotanga ki ngā tamariki, ā, ka aro nui ki ō rātou matea ako me ō rātou ngākau nuitanga. He pai te whakamōhio i te whānau mō te ahu whakamua a ā rātou tamariki.

Ka whakahaere te whānau i te kōhanga reo hei tino painga mō ngā tamariki. E noho pūmau ana te whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te rōnakitanga o tō rātou kōhanga reo. Ka whakarato ngā kaiako i ngā pūrongo e tino whai kiko ana ki te whānau mō te hōtaka me te ako a ngā tamariki. Ka tino whakamōhiotia te whānau mō ngā pūtea, ā, ka hāpai rātou i ngā kaimahi i ngā wā e tika ana. He harikoa, he tau hoki ngā tamariki ki te kōhanga reo.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kāhore anō kia oti te arohaehae i ngā kaimahi. Nō nā tata tonu nei ētahi o ngā kaimahi i whakatūngia ai, ā, kāhore te kiko o ngā arohaehae whaiaro e hāngai ana ki ngā tūmanako o ngā kaupapa here. Kāhore anō te whānau kia āta whakatinana mārika i ngā mahi arohaehae hei whakamōhio i ngā whāinga e pā ana ki te whakawhanaketanga ngaio, ā, hei whai wāhi atu hoki ki ngā whakaritenga ngaio.

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. Hei whakatutuki i āna whakaritenga, me tahuri te whānau ki te:

• whakarite i tētahi pūnaha mō te arohaehae i ngā kaimahi, me te hononga o aua arohaehae ki ngā tuhinga tūranga mahi.
  [R GMA7, Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008]

Te Whakarāpopototanga

E tū ana Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo ki Whakarewarewa, i Rotorua. He māoriori te ako a ngā tamariki i ō rātou hononga ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā tētahi hōtaka me te taiao e hāngai pū ana ki te tamaiti me te whakawhanaketanga o tōna katoa. Ka noho pūmau te whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te rōnakitanga o tō rātou kōhanga reo.

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

Ka arotake anō Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

20 Paenga-whāwhā, 2016

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

Evaluation

Nga Mōkai A Koko Kōhanga Reo is situated in Whakarewarewa, Rotorua. Children learn in a natural way their strong connections to their tūrangawaewae. Children benefit from a programme and environment that is child centred and considers their holistic development. Whānau and kaimahi are committed to the sustainability of their kōhanga reo.

The next ERO review of Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo will be in three years.

1 Context

Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo is in Whakarewarewa, Rotorua. The kōhanga reo is a central part of village life and the tourism industry owned and operated by Ngāti Wāhiao,Tūhourangi. The whānau work closely with Te Kōhanga Reo o Pukeroa Ōruawhata. The role has increased over the last 12 months and the children are predominately under two years of age. Older children transition to Te Kōhanga Reo o Pukeroa Ōruawhata.

2 The Review Findings

How well do children show they connect to their tūrangawaewae?

Children show a strong connection to their tūrangawaewae.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children are learning te reo Māori naturally and in a relaxed way. Kaimahi encourage children to communicate with each other and adults in te reo Māori. They use action songs and expose children to more complex language structures as children develop their understanding. Children respond spontaneously in te reo Māori.

Children learn in a warm nurturing whānau environment. Children regularly interact with kaumātua and establish close relationships with others. They participate in karakia in the wharenui which sets the tone for the day. Kaimahi have connections to the pā and they share their knowledge to teach children about their surroundings. Children feel safe and secure in their learning.

Children have a sense of their identity. Kaimahi expose children to waiata of Te Arawa and encourage them to participate in activities on the pā. Children frequently interact with a range of adults including whānau and tourists. Children are confident in who they are and where they come from.

Children freely choose their play. Kaimahi provide activities that are interesting and motivating for children. They enjoy the variety and demonstrate a sense of belonging and comfort in their environment. Children are confident and enthusiastic learners.

Planning and Evaluation

Children benefit from a well-planned programme. The kaiako is well organised and works collaboratively with the other kaimahi. Detailed planning is in place and is linked to the kaupapa of kōhanga reo and incorporates the natural geothermal environment where children learn about their environment. Children are engaged learners.

Children’s learning is carefully monitored. Individual profile books contain useful assessment information including a checklist that is aligned to Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira and anecdotes that describe what children are learning. There are samples of children’s work that are linked to programme planning. Kaimahi show that they know their children well and respond to their learning needs and interests. Whānau are well informed about their children’s progress.

Whānau manage the kōhanga in the best interests of children. Whānau and kaimahi are committed to the long term sustainability of their kōhanga reo. Kaiako provide detailed reports to the whānau about the programme and children’s learning. Whānau are well informed about the finances and they support kaimahi where they can. Children are happy and settled at kōhanga reo.

Key Next Steps

Kaimahi appraisals are incomplete. Kaimahi have been recently appointed. Self-appraisal is not in line with policy expectations. Whānau are yet to implement appraisal fully to inform professional development goals and contribute to professional practices.

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. In order to improve current practice the whānau must:

• ensure there is a system of kaimahi appraisal linked to job descriptions.
  [R GMA7, Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008]

Conclusion

Nga Mōkai A Koko Kōhanga Reo is situated in Whakarewarewa, Rotorua. Children learn in a natural way their strong connections to their tūrangawaewae. Children benefit from a programme and environment that is child centred and considers their holistic development. Whānau and kaimahi are committed to the sustainability of their kōhanga reo.

When is ERO likely to review the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO review of Nga Mōkai A Kōkō Kōhanga Reo will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

20 April 2016

Information about the Kōhanga Reo