Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure ki mōwaho noa i te tāone o Te Kūiti, i Te Rohe Pōtae. Kei te taha o Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Maniapoto e tū ana, ā, ka whakawhiti atu te nuinga o ngā tamariki ki tēnei kura whai muri i te kōhanga reo. E whakatakoto ana te pūrongo nei i ngā take e pā ana ki ētahi āhuatanga o ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau, me te whai huatanga o te aromātai o roto ki te whānau.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i tō rātou mauritau, tō rātou tūmāia, me tō rātou harikoa?

Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki tō rātou mauritau, tō rātou tūmāia, tō rātou harikoa hoki i roto i ā rātou akoranga.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

E tautāwhitia ana ngā tamariki ki te aroha, te manaaki, me te āwhina. Ko ngā matea o ngā tamariki e noho matua ana ki te whānau me ngā kaimahi. Kua waihangatia e ngā kaimahi tētahi taiao ako e mau ana i te whakaute me te harikoa, hei painga mō ngā tamariki katoa. Ka poipoi, ka whakatauira hoki rātou i te manaakitanga me te aroha. Kei te harikoa, kei te tākare hoki ngā tamariki i ngā wā waiata. Koia nei tētahi wāhanga o te hōtaka e tino mōhiotia ana e ngā tamariki. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi kia whai kawenga ngā tuākana i roto i ā rātou taunekeneke ki ō rātou tēina. Ka whai whakaaro nui ngā tuākana i a rātou e taunekeneke ana ki ngā pēpi me ngā tamariki tēina. Kei te mauritau ngā tamariki.

E ako ana ngā tamariki i ō rātou tuakiri. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te ako i ō rātou tuakiri mā ngā waiata e hāngai pū ana ki Ōpārure, mā te taki i ō rātou pepeha, ā, mā te taetae atu hoki ki ngā tūmomo kaupapa i te hapori. Ka whai wāhi atu rātou ki te whakatau manuhiri ki tō rātou kōhanga reo, ā, ki te marae hoki. Ka whakatauira ngā kaimahi i ngā tikanga me ngā kawa e tika ana i aua wā. E ako ana ngā tamariki i tō rātou tū hei tangata whenua. Kei te mārama haere ngā tamariki i te āhua o ō rātou hononga ki ētahi atu tāngata, ā, ki ngā wāhi hoki.

E rumakina ana ngā tamariki ki te reo o Maniapoto. Ka whakapuakihia e ngā kaimahi tō rātou reo ā-iwi, ā, ka akiaki hoki rātou i ngā tamariki kia whakapuakihia te mita o Maniapoto. Ko ētahi o ngā rautaki e whakatinanahia ana hei hāpai i te whakawhanaketanga reo, ko ngā waiata, ngā karakia, me ngā hīmene, tae atu hoki ki ngā kēmu, te tāruarua, te whakatauira me te patapatai. He mārie, he ngāwari hoki te reo manaaki e whakapuakihia ana e ngā kaimahi i a rātou e whakawhiti kōrero ana ki ngā tamariki. Kei te mārama ngā tamariki, kei te whakautu tika hoki rātou i ngā kupu akiaki me ngā tohutohu a ngā kaimahi. E whanake ana rātou ki te kōrero i te reo o Maniapoto.

E whakaongaongatia ana ngā tamariki ki tō rātou taiao. Kua whakaritea ngā wā mō ngā kaupapa ako ōkawa me ngā kaupapa ako ōpaki. Tīmatahia ai ia rā ki ngā karakia, ngā hīmene, me ngā mihimihi. Kua waia rātou ki aua tikanga, ā, ka whai wāhi nui. E whakapuaki ana ngā kaimahi i ngā whai wāhitanga ako e whai pūtake ana ki ngā tamariki. He wā anō hoki mō ngā tamariki ki te kōkiri i ā rātou ake akoranga me te whakahonohono ki ā rātou wheako ake. He nui ngā rauemi ki te kōhanga reo hei hāpai ake i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te tūhura, te mahi auaha, me te hīraurau hopanga. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te mahi ngātahi i ā rātou e tākaro ana. He mātātoa te aro atu a ngā tamariki, ka ngahau hoki rātou, otirā, e ngākau nui ana rātou ki te tūhura ngātahi. E whakatairanga ana ngā kaimahi i te manaakitanga, ā, he tino tauira ngā tamariki ki tō rātou taiao. E ako ana ngā tamariki.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

Kei te tīmatanga tonu ngā mahi e whakawhanake ana i te whakamahere, te aromatawai, me te aromātai hōtaka. E āta whakaarohia ana ngā matea ako o ngā tamariki. Kei te tino whakamōhiotia ngā kaimahi ki te hōtaka o ia rā. E hāpaitia ana rātou e te kaupapa kaimahi ā-rohe. E ai ki ngā kaimahi, kua hihiko ake ā rātou mahi nā ngā kaupapa whakangungu. Ki tā rātou hoki, e haere tonu ana ngā whakawhanaketanga ki te whakapai ake i ā rātou pūnaha whakamahere me ā rātou mahi aromatawai. Ko te whanaketanga o ia tamaiti e whakapuakihia ana ki ō rātou whānau mā ngā pūkete me ngā pūrongo ahu whakamua. E whakapūmautia ana te ako a ngā tamariki.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Me aromātai i te whai huatanga o ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau. He whāiti noa ngā mōhiohio e noho wātea ana ki te whānau. Kāhore i te mārama ki a rātou ngā tukanga whakatau. E ai ki te whānau, e hiahia ana rātou ki te whakaputa whakaaro me te whai wāhi atu ki ngā hōtaka me ngā whakahaeretanga. I tēnei wā e whakahaerehia ana te kōhanga reo e te kaiwhakahaere.

Kāhore anō kia whakatakotohia te aromātai o roto. Kāhore ngā tuhinga matua i te wātea ki Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga. Ahakoa kua whakatakotohia ētahi o ngā kaupapa here o te wā mō te hauora me te haumaru, kāhore anō kia oti ētahi o ngā rehita. He mea nui anō hoki kia hāngai ai ngā kaupapa here katoa me ngā tukanga katoa ki te Children’s Act 2014. E noho mōrearea ana te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki. Kāhore anō kia oti te mahere rautaki. Ahakoa kua whakatakotohia ngā whāinga, kāhore he tukanga kia tutuki ngā putanga. Kāhore he mahere ā-tau a te kōhanga reo e āta whakarite ana i te whakatutukitanga o ngā mahi matua katoa me ngā wātaka katoa. Tē taea te pūmau tonutanga o te kōhanga reo mō meāke nei te whakatūturu.

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. I te wā o te arotake, i tāutuhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ētahi herenga ā-ture kāhore e whakatutukihia ana. Me tahuri te whānau ki te:

• whakarite i ngā whai wāhitanga mō te whānau ki te whai wāhi mātātoa atu ki ngā whakataunga katoa me ngā tūmomo kaupapa i te kōhanga reo
  [R47 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; GMA3 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]
• whakarite i tētahi tukanga o te arotake whaiaro, o te aromātai o roto rānei ka haere tonu i ia te wā, hei hāpai i te kōhanga reo ki te whakapūmau me te whakapai ake i te kounga o ngā whakaritenga mā ngā tamariki
  [R47 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; GMA6 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]
• arotake me te whakahou ake i ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga hei āta whakarite i te whakatutukitanga me te whakapūmautanga o ngā tino mahi e whakatairanga ake ai i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, hei painga mō te oranga ā-whatumanawa, ā-tinana hoki o ngā tamariki katoa
  [R46 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; HS1-33 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]
• whakarite i tētahi mahere ā-tau e ārahi ai i ngā whakahaeretanga ki te kōhanga reo.
  [R47 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; GMA8 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]

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:

• whakatinanahia tētahi tukanga o te aromātai o roto e whakatutuki ai i ngā take katoa i tāutuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo.

5 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 Ōpārure i roto ngā tau e rua.

Gloria Takuira

Toka ā-nuku Whakakapi

Te Uepū-ā-Motu - Māori Review Services

25 Whiringa ā-rangi, 2019

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure is just outside the King Country township of Te Kuiti. It is situated next to Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Maniapoto where most children attend after graduating from the Kōhanga Reo. This report raises concerns about aspects of Whānau management and the effectiveness of Internal evaluation at whanau level.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children show they are settled, confident and happy?

Children show they are settled, confident and happy in their learners.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children experience aroha, manaaki and awhina. Children’s needs are a priority for whānau and kaimahi. Kaimahi create a respectful and happy learning environment for all children. They nurture and model manaakitanga and aroha. Children are happy and enthusiastic during waiata time. This part of the programme provides familiarity for the children. Kaimahi ensure the older children are responsible in their interactions with their teina. The tuākana are considerate in their interactions with the babies and younger children. Children are settled.

Children are learning about who they are. Kaimahi provide opportunities for children to learn about who they are through waiata that is specific to Ōparure, reciting their pepeha and attending local events. They are involved in welcoming manuhiri in their kōhanga reo as well as on the marae. Kaimahi model correct tikanga and kawa during these processes. Children are learning about their role as tangata whenua. Children are growing in their understanding of how they connect to people and places.

Children are immersed in te reo o Maniapoto. Kaimahi use their iwi dialect and encourage children to use te mita o Maniapoto. Waiata, karakia, himene including games, repetition, modelling and questions are strategies applied to support language development. Kaimahi communicate with children using calm, gentle and caring voices. Children understand and respond appropriately to prompts and instructions from kaimahi. They are developing as early speakers of te reo o Maniapoto.

Children are immersed in a stimulating environment. There are times set aside for both formal and informal learning activities. Karakia, himene and mihimihi signal the beginning of the day for children. They are familiar and participate willingly with this protocol. Kaimahi create meaningful learning opportunities for children. These include times where children can initiate their own learning and make links to their own personal experiences. The kōhanga reo is well resourced to provide opportunities for children to explore, be creative and to problem solve. Kaimahi encourage children to work together during their play. Children actively respond, have fun and enjoy exploring with one another. Kaimahi promote manaakitanga where children become positive models in their environment. Children are learning.

Planning and Evaluation

Planning, assessment and program evaluation is in its early stages of development. Children’s learning needs are well considered. Kaimahi are well informed of the daily program. They are supported by the local trust kaupapa kaimahi. Kaimahi acknowledge that training has motivated them in their mahi. They also express that there is ongoing development to improve their planning systems and assessment practices. Individual development of children learning is shared with whanau in their profile and progress reports. Children’s learning is assured.

Key Next Steps

Whānau management needs to be reviewed for its effectiveness. Whānau have limited access to information. They are not clear about decision making processes. Whānau express that they would like opportunities to contribute to the programmes and operations. The kōhanga reo is currently managed by the kaiwhakahaere.

Internal evaluation is not in place. Key documents were not available to ERO. While current health and safety policies are in place, some registers are incomplete. It is also important that all policies and procedure are aligned to the Children’s Act 2014. Children’s health and safety is compromised. The strategic plan is incomplete. While goals have been set, there is no process in place to achieve any outcomes. The kōhanga reo does not have an annual plan to ensure that all critical tasks and deadlines are met. The future sustainability of the kōhanga reo cannot be guaranteed.

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. During the review, ERO identified areas of non-compliance. The whānau must:

• ensure whānau have opportunities to be actively involved in all decision making and activities of the kōhanga reo
  [Regulation 47 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA3 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• establish an ongoing process of self- review or internal evaluation to help maintain and improve the quality of practice for children
  [Regulation 47 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA6 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• review and update policies and procedures to ensure that all reasonable steps to promote the health and safety of children are met and maintained for the emotional and physical wellbeing of all children
  [Regulation 46 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; HS1-33 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• establish an annual plan to guide the operations of the kōhanga reo.
  [Regulation 47 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA8 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]

4 Recommendation

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendation:

• implement a process of internal evaluation to address all areas of concerns identified in this report.

5 When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure will be within two years.

Gloria Takuira Acting Toka ā-nuku

Te Uepū-ā-Motu - Māori Review Services

25 November 2019

Information about the Kōhanga Reo

1 He Whakamārama

He Kupu Whakataki

Ka whakahaeretia tētahi arotake tāpiri i runga o te whakataunga ā te Kaitiriwā Toihau Arotake i Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga.

E aromātai ana te arotake tāpiri i te whānuitanga me te whai hua o ngā mahi ā te kōhanga reo ki te whakatutuki i ngā take i whakatakotohia ai i roto i te arotake mātauranga o mua atu i tēnei, me ētahi atu wāhanga rānei kua tāutuhia whai muri o taua arotake.

Ngā Whakataunga mō ngā Whakapuakitanga

Ko tēnei arotake tāpiri i whakaritea i runga o te aromātai o te whakatutukitanga a te whānau i te whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo, ki ngā wāhanga i tāutuhia ai e te pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, i mua atu, me ngā take rānei kua tāutuhia whai muri o taua arotake. Ko ngā whakataunga mō ngā whakapuakitanga e pā ana ki tēnei arotake, ko te titiro ki:

• te hōtaka akoranga, tae atu ki te reo Māori me te aromātai i te hōtaka
• te whai wāhi a te whānau, te whakahaeretanga, ngā kaimahi, te hauora, me te haumaru.

2 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure ki te tapa tonu o te tāone o Te Kūiti, i Te Rohe Pōtae. I whakatūngia te kōhanga reo hei whakapiki ake i te mātauranga rumaki reo Māori i Ngāti Maniapoto. I whakatakotohia ki te pūrongo arotake tāpiri o mua ngā āwangawanga e hāngai ana ki ētahi āhuatanga whakahaere a te whānau, me te kounga o te hōtaka akoranga. E aromātai ana tēnei pūrongo i te whānuitanga o te whānau ki te ahu whakamua i roto i aua wāhanga.

3 Ngā Whakaaturanga

He harikoa, he tau hoki ngā tamariki ki te kōhanga reo. He pai te whakarite me te whakahaere i te hōtaka akoranga. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i tētahi taiao mārie, manaaki hoki. Ka whakanui, ka akiaki hoki rātou i ngā tamariki i a rātou e mahi ana. He ngāwari te reo kōrero ō ngā kaimahi, ā, ka whakatauira hoki ngā tamariki i tēnei āhuatanga i roto i ā rātou ake taunekeneke. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā whaiwāhitanga mō ngā tamariki tēina ki te whai i ō rātou ngākaunuitanga. He maha ngā wā ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā taumahi mō te wā roa. He kaha ake te hanganga o te hōtaka ā ngā tuākana, ā, ka hāpai ngā kaimahi i a rātou ki te whakaoti i ngā taumahi i whakaritea ai. Ka nekeneke haere ngā kaimahi ki waenga i ngā tamariki, hei hāpai i a rātou i ngā wā e tika ana. Ka kitea te manawareka i roto i ngā tamariki mō ā rātou mahi. He tākare te ako a ngā tamariki.

Rongo ai ngā tamariki i te reo Māori i ngā wā katoa, puta noa i te rā. Ka toro atu ngā kaimahi ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo rautaki ako, hei hāpai i te whakawhanaketanga reo o ngā tamariki. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te kōrero me te whakautu pātai mā te reo Māori. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i ngā waiata me ngā mahi ā-ringa hei hāpai i te ako a ngā tamariki. Pānui ai rātou ki ngā tamariki i ia te wā, ā, ka akiaki i a rātou ki te waia haere ki te ia o ngā kōrero. Ka tino whakatauira ngā kaiako me ngā kuia i te reo Māori. Ko te reo Māori te kaupapa matua ki te whānau. He tokomaha o te whānau e kōkiri ana i tā rātou ake ako i te reo Māori. Kei te pakari haere te mōhiotanga o ngā tamariki ki te reo Māori, me tā rātou whakamahinga i te reo.

Kua whakatūngia tētahi komiti whakahaere hei kawe i ngā mahi kāwana. He kaumātua nō te hapori te hanga mai o tēnei komiti, ā, i whai wāhi nui rātou ki te whakatūwheratanga o te kōhanga reo. Ka whai wāhi atu te whānau ki ngā whakahaeretanga o ia rā i ngā wā e tika ana, i ngā wā e hiahiatia ana. He pai ki a rātou te hanganga o tēnei wā. I tēnei wā e arotakengia ana te tūtohinga me ngā kaupapa here, ngā tukanga hoki e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru, mā te tautoko anō hoki a te rōpū ā-rohe o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo. E whiwhi ana ngā tamariki i tētahi taiao e āta whakamana ana i tō rātou waiora me tō rātou aronga toiwhenuatanga.

Kua mahi tahi ngā kaimahi ki te whakapiki ake i ngā whakahaere mō te hōtaka ako me ngā aromatawai. Kua whai wāhi matua rātou ki ngā whakawhanaketanga ngaio hei hāpai, hei whakapakari hoki i tō rātou mōhiotanga ki te kaupapa me te whakamahere hōtaka. Ko tētahi aronga matua, ko te whakapakari ake i te māramatanga ki Ngā Pou e Whā. He aratohu mahea tēnei mā ngā kaimahi, kia mārama ai rātou ki ō rātou tūranga me ā rātou kawenga. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā te whakariterite i ngā mahi.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kāhore anō te whānau kia whakarite i tētahi tukanga arohaehae e whai hua ana. He pīroiroi rawa te pūnaha o tēnei wā, ā, kāhore e hāngai pū ana ki ngā tuhinga tūranga mahi a ngā kaimahi. He uaua ki te whānau te whakawhanake ake i tētahi tukanga e whai pānga ana. E mōhio ana te whānau, kia oti tēnei mahi, ka māmā ake te tāutu a ngā kaimahi i te whakawhanaketanga ngaio ka whakatairanga ake i ō rātou mōhiotanga, ō rātou pūkenga, me ā rātou whakaritenga ki te taha o ngā tamariki.

4 Te Taunakitanga

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

• toro atu te whānau ki te tautoko ka āta whakarite i te whakatakotoranga o ngā pūnaha ki te whakahaere i ngā kaimahi.

Te Whakarāpopototanga

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure, ki te tapa o Te Kūiti. He nui ngā whakarerekētanga i pā ai ki te whānau i roto i ngā marama tekau mā rua kua pahure ake nei. E hāpaitia ana te whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo e te tari ā-rohe o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo. Ki tā Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga whakaaturanga, he pai te ahu whakamua a te whānau ki te whakatika i ngā wāhanga i tāutuhia ai ki te pūrongo o mua, hei āhuatanga i te noho āwangawanga.

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

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

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

09 Whiringa-ā-rangi, 2016

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Background

Introduction

A supplementary review is undertaken at the discretion of the Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori in the Education Review Office (ERO).

A supplementary review evaluates the extent and effectiveness of actions a kōhanga reo has taken towards addressing issues specified in its previous ERO review and/or any additional areas identified since that review.

Terms of Reference

This supplementary review is based on an evaluation of the performance of the kōhanga reo governing body and management in relation to areas identified in the previous ERO report or issues identified since that review. The terms of reference for this review are to investigate:

• The learning programme including te reo Māori and programme evaluation

• whānau participation and management, personnel and health and safety.

2 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure is just outside the King Country township of Te Kuiti. The kōhanga reo was established to increase Māori medium education across Ngāti Maniapoto. The previous Supplementary Report raised some concerns about aspects of whānau management and the quality of the learning programme. This report considers the extent to which the whānau has progressed in these areas.

3 Findings

Children are happy and settled at kōhanga reo. The learning programme is well organised and managed. Kamahi provide a calm and supportive environment. They praise and encourage children as they work. Kaimahi speak in soft tones and the children model this in their interactions. Kaimahi provide opportunities for younger children to follow their interests. Children are often engaged in activities for long periods of time. The tuakana programme is more structured and kaimahi support them to complete set tasks. Kaimahi move amongst children to provide support where needed. Children display a sense of satisfaction in their work. Children are enthusiastic learners.

Children hear te reo Māori consistently throughout the day. Kaimahi draw on a range of appropriate learning strategies to support children’s language development. Kaimahi encourage children to speak and answer questions in te reo Māori. Kaimahi use waiata and hand actions to support children’s learning. They regularly read to children and prompt them to become familiar with the story line. The kaiako and kuia are strong role models for te reo Māori. Te reo Māori is a priority for the whānau. A number of whānau are learning the language in their own time. Children are developing confidence in their knowledge and use of te reo Māori.

There is a management committee in place who carry out a governance role. This committee is made up of elders from the community who were instrumental in establishing the kōhanga reo. The whānau participate in the day to day operations when and where requested. They are happy with the current structure. The charter and health and safety policies and procedures are under review with the support of the District Te Kōhanga Reo Team. The children experience an environment where their wellbeing and belonging is a priority.

Kaimahi have worked together to improve programme planning and assessment practices. They have undertaken professional development to support and strengthen their knowledge of the kaupapa and programme planning. Understanding the purpose of Ngā Pou E Whā has been a strong focus. This provides clear guidelines for kaimahi to understand their roles and responsibilities. Children benefit from consistent practice.

Key Next Steps

The whānau have yet to put in place a reliable appraisal process. The existing system is too complex and is not directly linked to kaimahi job descriptions. The whānau have had difficulty developing a relevant process. Whānau acknowledge that once this is completed kaimahi can better identify professional development that will further enhance their knowledge, skills and practice with children.

4 Recommendation

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau developed the following recommendation:

• That the whānau seek support to ensure personnel management systems are in place.

Conclusion

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ōpārure is on the outskirts of Te Kuiti. The whānau have been through many changes over the past twelve months. The management of the kōhanga reo is supported by the District Te Kōhanga Reo Office. ERO findings are that the whānau have made good progress to correct outstanding areas of concern identified in the previous report.

When is ERO likely to review the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO review of Te Kōhanga Rep o Ōpārure will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

9 November 2016

Information about the Kōhanga Reo