Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirimai

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirimai ki Whanganui. Ko te reo Māori me ngā tikanga ngā kaupapa matua ki te whānau. He tino hononga tō te katoa o ngā tamariki me ngā whānau ki te marae o Koroniti, ā, ka āta whakawhanaunga anō hoki rātou ki Te Kōhanga Reo o Koroniti e noho o roto ake ana i te awa o Whanganui. E mahi ana ngā whānau ki te taha o te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo ki te whakamana i tō rātou noho hei whānau kotahi e whakahaere ana i ngā kōhanga reo e rua. Ka noho tahi ngā kōhanga reo mō te nuinga o ā rātou mahi. Ko te wāhi ako o Pirimai te wāhi matua o ngā pēpi, ā, ka whakawhiti haere ngā tamariki tuākana me ētahi o ngā kaimahi ki waenga i ngā kōhanga reo e rua, hei āhuatanga tonu o te hōtaka akoranga.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te aro nui o ngā tamariki ki te reo Māori?

Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki te pai o tō rātou māramatanga ki te reo Māori.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

He pai te taunekeneke a ngā tamariki ki waenga i a rātou anō, ā, ki ngā pākeke hoki. Ka whakatairanga ngā kaimahi i ngā ariā o te noho tahi hei tuakana, hei teina, me ngā uaratanga anō hoki o te aroha, te manaaki, me te āwhina. He pai te tākaro ngātahi a ngā tamariki, ā, ka tino whakaahei rātou i ngā manuhiri. E whakarato ana ngā kaimahi i ngā wāhi i āta whakaritea ai mō te ako ngātahi o ngā tamariki. He mauritau te āhua o ngā hononga o ngā tamariki ki ētahi atu. Ka whakahaere ngā kaimahi i ngā akoranga me ngā taunekeneke a ngā tamariki mā ngā huarahi papai. Ka whakapūmau rātou i te āhua o te whanonga me ngā tikanga e tūmanakohia ana. Ko ngā tino hononga ki waenga i te whānau, e whakatinanahia ana hoki ki te āhua o te whanaungatanga ki waenga i ngā tamariki, tētahi ki tētahi. Rangona ai te katakata, puta noa i te rā. Ka rongo ngā tamariki i te haumaru me te mauritau.

Kua waia ngā tamariki ki tō rātou taiao. Ka whakarato te whānau i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te tūhura i te mana whenua. Ko ngā haerenga i ia te wā ki te marae o Koroniti, e hāpai ana, e whakakoia ana hoki i te aronga toi whenuatanga o ngā tamariki. Ka whakaako ngā kaimahi i ngā hītori ki ngā tamariki mā ngā waiata. Ka ākina ngā whai wāhitanga ki te ārahi, i ngā wā o ngā karakia, ngā mihimihi, me ngā waiata. Ka whai whakaaro ngā kaimahi ki ngā tūmomo reanga o ngā tamariki i a rātou e ako ana i ō rātou pepeha me ō rātou whakapapa. E āhei ana ngā tamariki tuākana ki te tū takitahi ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou pepeha. Ka whakaatuhia ngā pepeha o ngā pēpi ki ngā pakitara i tō rātou wāhi ako. E whakawhanake ana te māramatanga o ngā tamariki ki tō rātou whai wāhi nui ki te kōhanga reo me te hapori whānui.

Ka rumakina ngā tamariki ki te reo o te rohe nei. Ko te reo Māori tētahi kaupapa matua ki te whānau. E āta whakatauira ana te kuia i te mita ake o Whanganui. Ka whakamahi te whānau i ngā waiata, ngā karakia, ngā mihi, me ngā pao hei taumahi ako reo. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo rautaki e akiaki ana i te whakawhanaketanga reo o ngā tamariki. Ko ētahi o ēnei, ko te tāruarua, te patapatai, te akiaki, me te whakatauira. He pakari ngā tamariki tuākana ki te whakautu i ngā pātai, me te whakapuaki kōrero i te wā e ākina ana. Ka whakapuakihia e ngā pēpi tō rātou māramatanga ki ngā kōrero mā ō rātou kanohi, me ngā nekehanga o ō rātou ringaringa, ō rātou tinana hoki. He pai te aro nui o ngā tamariki ki ngā tohutohu i roto i te reo Māori. E whakawhanake ana ngā tamariki i ngā pūkenga ki te whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro mā te reo Māori.

Ka tākaro, ka ako hoki ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao e āta tiakina ana. He wāteatea te kōhanga reo, a kua āta whakaritea hoki. He nui ngā rauemi i ngā wāhi tākaro kia āhei ai ngā tamariki ki te whakatau haere i ā rātou ake whiringa, me te kōkiri anō hoki i ā rātou ake tākaro. E hāpai ana te wāhi tākaro o waho i te whakatōpūtanga o ngā tamariki i te tākaro me te korikori tinana. E wātea ana ki ngā tamariki ngā rauemi ako o te kounga pai. E ākina ana, e hāpaitia ana hoki te tūhura o ngā pēpi i tō rātou taiao. Ka kapo atu ngā kaimahi i ngā wā ako ka pupū ake. He ākonga mātātoa ngā tamariki.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

Ko te waiora o ngā tamariki kei te pūtake o te whakahaeretanga ki te kōhanga reo. Ko ngā mahere rautaki me te mahere ā-tau, e hāpai ana i te whānau ki te whakahaere me te whakarite i ngā wāhi e rua, arā, i a Pirimai me Koroniti. Nā te pakari o te whakahaere i ngā pūtea, kua hokona – e tiakina ana hoki - e rātou tētahi pahi hei kawe i ngā tamariki. Tū ai ngā hui ā-whānau i ia te wā ki te whakawhiti kōrero mō ngā mahi e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo. Ka ārahi ngā kuia me ngā kaumātua i ngā whānau me ngā kaimahi. E tino tautokona ana ngā tamariki, ā-whatumanawa, ā-tinana hoki.

E whiwhi ana ngā tamariki i ngā painga o tētahi hōtaka akoranga i āta whakamaheretia ai. Ka āta whakaatuhia ngā mahere o te paetawhiti me te pae tata, ā, he pai ngā mōhiohio o roto hei ārahi i ngā kaimahi me te whānau. Kua whakawhanakehia e te whānau tētahi aronga ataata tino auaha, mō ngā mahi ki te whakamahere i te hōtaka. Nā tēnei, ka noho mōhio ngā tamariki me te whānau ki ngā kaupapa me ngā ariā ka whakatutukihia ki te kōhanga reo i ia wāhanga. E whiwhi ana ngā whānau i te kiko o ngā kōrero urupare e pā ana ki te ahu whakamua o ngā ako, ā, ki te whakawhanaketanga anō hoki o ngā tamariki, tae atu hoki ki ngā pūrongo hei te mutunga o ia tau.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kāhore ngā mahi ki te aromātai i te hōtaka akoranga e tuhia ana. He ōpaki ngā whakawhitinga kōrero a ngā kaiako me te whānau mō te hōtaka akoranga, ā, kāhore aua kōrerotanga e tuhia ana. Kāhore anō te whānau kia whakatau i te wā e tika ana, i te tukanga hoki mō te hui tahi o ngā kaimahi, me te whakatakoto ā-tuhi nei i ā rātou whakawhitinga kōrero. Ka hāpaitia te āta whakarite i te tāutu me te whakatutukitanga o ngā matea ako o ngā tamariki, mā te tuhi auau i ngā aromātai.

Ahakoa he wawata ō te whānau mō tō rātou kōhanga reo ā ngā tau kei te heke mai, ko te arotake ake me te aroturuki ake anō hoki i ia te wā i te ahu whakamua i runga i te āhua o te mahere rautaki me te mahere ā-tau, ka hāpai i te whakapai tonutanga. Ka whakapakari tēnei i ngā putanga e whai hua ana ki ngā tamariki.

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 tāutuhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga te wāhanga e whai ake nei, kāhore e tutuki ana e ai ki te ture. Kia tutuki i te whānau o te kōhanga reo ngā herenga ā-ture, me tahuri rātou ki te:

• whakarite i te whakatinanatanga o te marautanga mā te whakamahere, te whakapuakitanga, me te aromātai.
  [R41 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; C2 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]

4 Ngā Taunakitanga

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

• whakarite i te whakatakotoranga ā-tuhi nei i ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te whai huatanga o te hōtaka akoranga
• whakarite i te tū auau ake o ngā mahi ki te aroturuki me te pūrongo i te mahere mahi ā-tau.

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 Pirimai i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

14 Hakihea, 2017

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirimai is in Whanganui. Te reo Maori and tikanga are priorities for the whānau. All of the children and whānau have close connections to Te Marae o Koriniti and a close association with Te Kōhanga Reo o Koriniti which is located further up the Whanganui River. The whānau are working with the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust to be formally recognised as one whānau operating across the two sites. The two kōhanga reo combine for most activities. The Pirimai site is the main space for the babies and the older children and some kaimahi move between both kōhanga reo as part of the learning programme.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children respond to te reo Māori?

Children show good understanding of te reo Māori.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children interact positively with each other and adults. Kaimahi promote the concepts of tuakana and teina, aroha, manaaki and āwhina. Children play well with each other and are very welcoming to visitors. Kaimahi provide well organised spaces for tamariki to learn alongside one another. Children are secure in their relationships with others. The kaimahi manage children’s learning and interactions in positive ways. They reinforce expected behaviour and tikanga. The close relationship within the whānau is reflected in the way children relate to one another. Laughter is heard throughout the day. Children feel safe and secure.

Children are familiar with their environment. The whānau provide opportunities for children to explore mana whenua. Regular visits to Koriniti marae support and affirm children’s sense of belonging. Kaimahi teach children about their histories through waiata. Leadership opportunities are encouraged during karakia, mihimihi and waiata sessions. They consider age differences of children when learning their pepeha and whakapapa. Older children are able to recite their pepeha independently. Babies have their pepeha displayed on the walls in their learning space. Children are developing an understanding of their place in the kōhanga reo and the wider community.

Children are immersed in the language of the area. The whānau consider te reo Māori a priority. The kuia is the role model for the unique dialect of Whanganui. The whānau use waiata, karakia, mihi and pao as language learning activities. Kaimahi use a range of strategies to encourage children’s language development. These include: repetition, questioning, prompting and modelling. Older children confidently answer questions and respond when prompted. Babies use facial expressions, and hand and body gestures to show their understanding. Children respond positively to instructions in te reo Māori. Children are developing the skills to communicate in te reo Māori.

Children play and learn in a well maintained environment. The kōhanga reo is spacious and well organised. Play areas are well resourced and allow for children to make choices and be independent in their play. The outdoor play area enables children to combine play with physical activity. Children have access to good quality learning resources. Babies are encouraged and supported to explore their surroundings. Kaimahi make use of teachable moments. Children are active learners.

Planning and Evaluation

Children’s wellbeing is central to the management of the kōhanga reo. Strategic planning and an annual plan support the whānau to manage and operate across the two sites at Pirimai and Koriniti. Sound financial management has enabled them to purchase and maintain a bus to transport children. The whānau hold regular meetings to discuss kōhanga reo operational tasks. Kuia and kaumātua provide guidance to young whānau and kaimahi. Children are well supported emotionally and physically.

Children benefit from a well-planned learning programme. Long and short term plans are clearly displayed and provide good information to guide kaimahi and whānau. The kuia has developed an innovative visual approach to programme planning. This enables children and whānau to be informed of the kōhanga reo kaupapa and themes to be covered each term. Whānau receive detailed feedback on children’s learning progress and development including end of year summary reports.

Key Next Steps

Evaluation of the learning programme is not documented. The kaiako and whānau have informal discussions about the learning programme, however they do not record their discussions. The whānau have yet to agree on a time and process for kaimahi to meet and record their discussions. Ensuring children’s learning needs are identified and met will be supported by regular written evaluation.

While whānau have aspirations for the future of their kōhanga reo, more regular review and monitoring of progress against the strategic plan and annual plan will support ongoing improvement. This will strengthen positive outcomes for children.

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.

ERO identified an area of non-compliance. In order for the kōhanga reo whānau to meet compliance requirements, they need to:

• ensure the curriculum is informed by planning, implementation and evaluation. [R41 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; C2 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008

4 Recommendations

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendations:

• ensure that discussions about the effectiveness of the learning programme are documented

• ensure there is more regularly monitoring and reporting on the annual action plan.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirimai will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

14 December 2017

Information about the Kōhanga Reo