Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wairoa

1 Te Horopaki

Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Tauranga te moana
Ko Te Wairoa te awa
Ko Ngāti Kahu te hapū
Ko Ngāti Ranginui te iwi

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wairoa ki te marae o Te Wairoa, ki Peterehema, i Tauranga. He tino aronga kia tupu ake ngā tamariki mā tō rātou mōhio ki a rātou anō me tō rātou tūrangawaewae. He mātātoa te tautoko o ngā kaumātua me te whānau i te kōhanga reo, kia whakahaerehia ai te kōhanga reo mā ngā huarahi e whai pānga nui ana ki tō rātou noho marae tonu. Ka whakatairangatia e rātou, kia hōhonu ngā māramatanga o ngā tamariki katoa ki tēnā e noho motuhake ana ki a rātou hei tangata whenua.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga me tō rātou tuakiri hei uri o te marae o Te Wairoa?

E ako ana ngā tamariki i tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga me tō rātou tuakiri hei uri o tō rātou marae me ō rātou whenua noho.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

E whai wāhi atu ana ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga e poipoi ana i tō rātou tuakiri. E āta whakamahia ana te marae me ngā wāhi o waho hoki o te kōhanga reo, hei whakakoia i ngā hononga o ngā tamariki ki a rātou anō me tō rātou taiao. Hīkoi haere ai ngā tamariki i ia te wā puta noa i te hapori nei, tae atu ki tō rātou awa, tō rātou maunga me te urupā. Ka ako ngā tamariki ki te taha o tō rātou whānau, ā, e hāpai ana tēnei i a rātou ki te whakawhanake i tō rātou mōhio me tō rātou mārama ki te whanaungatanga. Ka ako rātou i te pepeha o te marae o Te Wairoa. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi kia poipoi ngā akoranga i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te āta tūhonohono ki ō rātou hoa, tō rātou whānau, me tō rātou marae. E whakawhanake ana ngā tamariki i te māramatanga ki tō rātou tuakiri me tō rātou tūrangawaewae.

E ako ana ngā tamariki i te whakahirahiratanga o tō rātou tūrangawaewae. He hononga ā-whakapapa tō ngā tamariki katoa ki te marae o Te Wairoa. E mōhiotia ana, e whakanuia ana hoki rātou e ngā kaumātua hei mokopuna o te marae. Ka whakatauira ngā kaumātua me te whānau i ngā tikanga me ngā kawenga i te marae. Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā kaupapa katoa i te marae, ā, e whakatupu ana tēnei i tō rātou māramatanga ki tēnā ka kawea atu e rātou ā tōna wā hei tangata whenua. Ka ako rātou i ngā tino pouwhenua tuku iho me te hītori o tō rātou marae. He mauritau, he tūmāia hoki ngā tamariki ki tō rātou marae.

E ākina ana ngā tamariki kia pākiki, kia tūhura hoki rātou i ā rātou akoranga. Ka āta whai pūtake ngā mahi a ngā kaimahi i a rātou e hāpai ana i ngā tamariki ki te tūhonohono ki ngā atua Māori. Ka ako ngā tamariki i te whai pānga nui o ngā atua Māori ki te taiao tūroa. Ka whai pūtake anō hoki ngā haerenga, ā, e whakawhānui ana i te mōhiotanga me te māramatanga o ngā tamariki, ki tua atu tonu o tō rātou ake wāhi. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te whakahaere i ētahi āhuatanga o tā rātou ake ako, ā, kia tūmāia hoki rātou i roto i ā rātou whakataunga. E hāpaitia ana ngā tamariki kia whanake ai ō rātou pūkenga hīraurau hopanga, me tō rātou taha auaha. E whanake ana te māramatanga o ngā tamariki ki te whai wāhi nui o tō rātou kōhanga reo me tō rātou marae ki te whānuitanga o tō rātou taiao.

Ka rangona e ngā tamariki te reo Māori ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo horopaki. Ka rongo rātou i te reo Māori e whakamahia ana ki mua i a rātou, mā ngā huarahi ōkawa me ngā huarahi ōpaki. Ko te whai wāhi atu ki ngā kaupapa i te marae i ia te wā, he whai wāhitanga anō hoki mō ngā tamariki ki te rongo i te reo o te karanga, te whaikōrero, me ngā mōteatea. E āta whakatauira ana te kuia i te reo Māori ki te kōhanga reo. Ka tāwhai ngā pēpi i ngā oro o te reo e rangona ana e rātou i te wā o ngā mihimihi me ngā karakia. Ka whakamahi ētahi o ngā tamariki tuākana i ngā kupu māmā me ngā kīanga māmā i roto i ā rātou whakawhitinga kōrero e pā ana ki ngā kaupapa ako. He pai ngā rautaki e whakamahia ana e ngā kaimahi hei akiaki i ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo. E whanake ana ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo Māori i te kōhanga reo me tō rātou marae.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kāhore te hōtaka akoranga e āta whakatutuki ana i ia te wā, i ngā matea me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ia tamaiti. I ētahi wāhanga o te rā, e kōkiri rawatia ana ngā taumahi e ngā pakeke, ā, ka kārangirangi, ka takeo haere te noho o ngā tamariki. Kāhore e taea e ngā tamariki nohinohi te nukunuku haere i ngā wā o ngā waiata, ngā karakia, me ngā mihimihi, nā tō rātou noho ki ngā tūru teitei. Kāhore ngā kaimahi me te whānau e aro wawe atu ana i ia te wā ki te whanonga me ngā nekehanga o ngā tamariki. E whakaae ana rātou, e tika ana kia kitea, kia wawe ake hoki tā rātou aro atu ki ngā ngākau nuitanga, ngā hiahia, me ngā matea o ngā tamariki. Kāhore ngā matea me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā tamariki e āta tautokona ana i ngā wā katoa.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

E ū pūmau ana te kōhanga reo i ōna tino hononga ki te marae. E haere tonu ana ngā mahi a te marae me te whānau o te kōhanga reo ki te whakapai ake i te whakahaeretanga o ngā pūtea, hei āhuatanga tonu o tā rātou aronga kia pakari ake te kawenga takohanga me te māramatanga. Tū ai ngā wānanga i ia te wā, ā, he pai te taetae atu a ngā kaimahi me te whānau. E arotahi ana aua wānanga ki te mātauranga Māori me ētahi atu āhuatanga o te ako a te whānau. Ko te ako ki te marae e hāpai ana anō hoki i te aronga toi whenuatanga me ngā tuakiri o ngā tamariki.

Kua whakatakotohia ngā mahere hōtaka. Ka whakauru ngā kaimahi i ngā taumahi me ngā wheako e whai pānga ana ki te hapori, ā, e whai pūtake ana hoki ki ngā tamariki. He aronga ki te tūhura i te ao tūturu, māoriori hoki, me ngā hononga ki waenga i te tangata me te taiao. E whakatakoto ana ngā mahere i te aronga mō ngā kaimahi, i a rātou e whakarite ana, e whakahaere ana hoki i ngā akoranga ā-kaupapa e whakatairanga ana i te tuakiri me te aronga toi whenuatanga ki te marae o Te Wairoa.

Kua kapohia atu ki ngā pūkete, ko ngā whakaaturanga e tohu ana i te ako a ngā tamariki, me ō rātou tuakiri, tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga hoki. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo huarahi ki te whakaemi me te whakaatu i te ahu whakamua a ngā tamariki me tō rātou whakawhanaketanga. Ko ētahi o aua mahi, ko ngā kōrerorero, ngā whakaahua e tohu ana i te whai wāhi atu a ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga, me ngā tauira o ngā mahi toi. E wātea ana ki ngā whānau ngā mōhiohio e whai pūtake ana mō te whakawhanaketanga o ā rātou tamariki.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kua tāutuhia e te whānau ngā whakaritenga matua ka whai ake i roto i ngā wāhanga whakahaere o te kōhanga reo me te tari. Me whakapakari ake i te aromātai hōtaka. Tū ai ngā hui kaimahi i ia rua wiki, heoi, kāhore he aronga nui ki tēnā i whai hua ai me tēnā kīhai i whai hua ai ki ia tamaiti, ki ia rōpū tamariki anō hoki. Ahakoa ka whakawhiti kōrero ngā kaimahi mō te hōtaka, kāhore aua mōhiohio e āta whakamahia ana hei whakapai ake i te hōtaka, ā, i ngā putanga hoki ki ngā tamariki.

Me titiro hoki ki te arotake whaiaro me te whakamahere rautaki. Kāhore ngā wawata o te whānau mō te paetawhiti o te kōhanga reo e āta tāutuhia ana ki roto i te mahere rautaki. Kāhore anō kia tuhia te tirohanga e pā ana ki te rōnakitanga me te tauatanga, tae atu ki te whai wāhi mātātoa ā tōna wā o ā rātou tamariki ki te marae. Ko ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga i te tūtohinga, kāhore e āta whakaatu ana i te whai pānga motuhake o te marae ki ngā whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo. E mōhio ana te whānau, he maha ngā wāhanga o tā rātou tūtohinga hei whakahāngai ake tonu ki ngā tikanga me ngā kawa o tō rātou marae. Ka whai pānga anō hoki te mahi nei ki te whakapai ake i te tautoko i ngā kaimahi, me tā rātou ako ngaio, tō rātou whakawhanaketanga ngaio hoki. Ka taea te tuakiri, te aronga toi whenuatanga anō hoki o ngā tamariki te whakatairanga ake mā te āta whakamahere tonu mō te paetawhiti.

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 Ngā Taunakitanga

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

• kia whakapakarihia te aromātai hōtaka kia taea ai ngā tino whakapaitanga ki te hōtaka akoranga a ngā tamariki te whakatutuki
• kia tuhia te tirohanga rautaki a te kōhanga reo, kia taea ai te aroturuki ake me te pūrongo ake ā rātou kaupapa whakawhanaketanga e kōkiri tonuhia ana.

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 Te Wairoa i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

18 Mahuru, 2018

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Tauranga te moana
Ko Te Wairoa te awa
Ko Ngāti Kahu te hapū
Ko Ngāti Ranginui te iwi

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wairoa is situated at Te Wairoa marae in Bethlehem, Tauranga. There is a strong focus on children growing up knowing who they are and where they come from. Kaumātua and whānau actively support the kōhanga reo to operate in ways that reflect their special marae-based environment. They promote that all children should have an in-depth understanding of what is unique to them in the role as tangata whenua.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children display belonging and identity to Te Wairoa marae?

Children are learning about their belonging and identity to their marae and the surrounding area.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children participate in learning that nurtures their identity. The marae and the outdoor area of the kōhanga reo are used well to affirm children’s connections with each other and their environment. Children regularly go on walks in the local area including to their awa, maunga and urupā. Children learn alongside their whānau which enables them to develop their awareness and understanding of whanaungatanga. They learn the pepeha of Te Wairoa marae. Kaimahi ensure that learning fosters opportunities for children to feel connected to their friends, whānau and marae. Children are developing an understanding of who they are and where they belong.

Children learn about the importance of their tūrangawaewae. All children have whakapapa connections to Te Wairoa marae. They are recognised and acknowledged by kaumātua as the mokopuna of the marae. Kaumātua and whānau model marae tikanga and responsibilities. Children participate in all marae events which grows their understanding of what will be required of them as tangata whenua. They learn about significant ancestral landmarks and the history of their marae. Children are comfortable and confident on their marae.

Children are encouraged to be curious and explore in their learning. Kaimahi are deliberate in the ways they help children make connections to atua Māori. Children learn about the influence of atua Māori on the natural environment. Purposeful outings extend children’s knowledge and understanding beyond their immediate surroundings. Kaimahi encourage children to manage aspects of their own learning and feel confident in their decision making. Children are supported to develop problem-solving skills and to be creative. Children are developing their understanding of where their kōhanga reo and marae are placed within the wider environment.

Children are exposed to te reo Maori in a range of contexts. They hear te reo Māori used around them in formal and informal ways. Regular participation in marae events provide opportunities for children to hear the language of karanga, whaikōrero and mōteatea. The kuia is a strong role model of te reo Māori within the kōhanga reo. Babies mimic the sounds of the language they hear during mihimihi and karakia. Some older children use simple words and phrases in conversations about the kaupapa ako. Good strategies are used by kaimahi to encourage children to speak the language. Children are developing as speakers of te reo Māori in the kōhanga reo and on their marae.

Key Next Steps

The learning programme does not consistently meet the needs and interests of individual children. There are instances in the day where activities are largely directed by the adults, and children become restless and distracted. High chairs restrict the ability of younger children to move around during times for waiata, karakia and mihimihi. Kaimahi and whānau do not always respond to children’s behaviour and movements in a timely way. They agree there is a need to recognise and respond more promptly to children’s interests, preferences and needs. Children’s needs and interests are not always well supported.

Planning and Evaluation

The kōhanga reo maintains its strong links and relationship to the marae. The marae and kōhanga reo whānau continue to improve financial management as part of their focus on greater accountability and transparency. Ongoing wānanga are attended by kaimahi and whānau. These wānanga focus on mātauranga Maori and other aspects of whānau learning. Marae-based learning supports children’s sense of belonging and identity.

Programme planning is in place. Kaimahi include activities and experiences that are local and relevant. There is an emphasis on exploration of the physical and natural worlds, and connections between people and the environment. Plans give direction for kaimahi as they prepare and manage kaupapa learning that promotes identity and belonging to Te Wairoa marae.

Evidence of children’s learning about identity and belonging is captured in portfolios. Kaimahi use a range of methods to collect and show children’s progress and development. These include comments, photos of children involved in learning, and samples of art work. Whānau have meaningful information about their children’s development available to them.

Key Next Steps

The whānau has identified key next steps relating to areas of management and administration. Programme evaluation needs strengthening. The fortnightly kaimahi hui have not had a strong focus on what worked well and what didn’t go well for individual and groups of children. Although kaimahi have discussions about the programme, this information is not used well to improve the programme and outcomes for children.

Self review and strategic planning require attention. The aspirations of the whānau for the future of the kōhanga reo are not clearly defined in a strategic plan. The vision for sustainability and succession, including their children becoming active members of the marae in later years, has not been documented. The charter policies and procedures do not adequately reflect the unique role the marae plays in the operations of the kōhanga reo. The whānau acknowledge there are many parts of their charter that can better reflect the tikanga and kawa of their marae. This also includes improving support for staff and their professional learning and development. Children’s sense of identity and belonging can be further enhanced through deliberate long-term planning.

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 Recommendations

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendations:

• To strengthen programme evaluation so that deliberate improvements can be made to the learning programme for children
• To document the strategic vision for the kōhanga reo in order to better monitor and report against their ongoing development.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

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

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

18 September 2018

Information about the Kōhanga Reo

1 He Whakamārama

He Kupu Whakataki

Ka whakahaeretia tētehi arotake tāpiri i runga o te whakataunga ā te Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori 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 ētehi 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 aromātaitanga o te whakatutukitanga a te rōpū kāwanatanga, whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo, e pā ana 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 Mana Tangata, me te whakaū i tētehi hōtaka ako mā ngā pepi
• Te mahere me te arotake tatū atu ki te kuhutanga mai a te whānau, te whakamāro i te taura here tangata, te arotake i ngā tikanga me ngā tukanga, te manaaki kaimahi me te arotake i te hōtaka ako
• Ko te wāhi ki te ture, he manaaki tika i ngā tamariki
• ngā take e tārewa tonu ana nō te pūrongo o mua.

2 Te Horopaki

Ko Mauao te maunga Ko Tauranga te moana Ko Te Wairoa te awa Ko Ngāti Kahu te hapū Ko Ngāti Ranginui te iwi

E ai ki ngā kōrero o te pūrongo o mua, he nui tonu ngā āhuatanga o te kōhanga reo me whakatika e rātou. Ko te aronui ko te whakahaere a te whānau me ngā whāinga ako mā ngā pepi. I roto i ngā tau nei kua nui ake te tautoko a te whānau. I te wā o tēnei arotake i tino hiahia te whānau ki ngā kitenga mō te āhua o te poipoitanga o ā rātou tamariki i roto i tō rātou oranga, tūrangawaewae hoki. I kitea e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga e tino poipoia ana ngā tamariki i roto i tō rātou orange me te toi whenuatanga hoki.

3 Ngā Whakaaturanga

Mana Tangata

He whakamārama

He pēwhea rawa tā ngā tamariki whakaatu e poipoitia ana o rātou oranga, tūrangawaewae hoki?

E whakaatu ana ngā tamariki i te kaha o te poipoitanga o tō rātou oranga, toi whenuatanga hoki, ā, ko te poutokomanawa tēnei o te whare whakahaere, whakaū tikanga hoki o te kōhanga reo.

Ngā wāhanga e koke ana

Kua whakaūngia e te whānau he hōtaka ako mā ngā pepi. Ka aro ngā kaimahi i te nuinga o te wā ki te mātauranga me te manaakitanga o ngā pepi. Nō rātou te maringa nui he takitahi te aro atu. Kua māro ngā tikanga mahi. He maha ngā wā e taea ana e ngā pepi te whai wāhi atu ki ngā tuākana. He maha ngā rauemi o te hōtaka ako pepi. He pai ki ngā tamariki te momo hōtaka ako e aro kē ana ki ō rātou hiahia.

Te whakamahere me te aromātai

Ngā wāhanga e koke tonu ana

He nui tō te whānau tautoko i te kōhanga reo. Kua arotakengia te tukanga kuhu. Me tae atu te whānau ki ngā wānanga ka whakahaeretia e toru ngā wā ia tau ki te ako i te hītori me ngā kawenga a te kōhanga reo. Tērā tētehi tōputanga whānau kua tino kuhu ki roto i ngā nekehanga me ngā whakahaere a te kōhanga reo. He hua kua puta mai mō ngā tamariki.

I te arotake o mua kāore i kaha te whanaungatanga i waenganui i ngā kaimahi me te marae. I toko ake tēnei i te ngarohanga o te kuia mōrehu, he kaiako nō te kōhanga reo, he kuia nō te marae hoki. Kua tupu anō te whanaungatanga. Ka whāi wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā kaupapa katoa o te marae. Ka kuhu ngā kaumātua i ngā wā e wātea ana. E tino whai wāhi atu ana te marae ki ngā tamariki e ako ana mō ngā tikanga me te kawa o te marae.

Kua oti ngā arotakenga o ngā tikanga me ngā tukanga. Kua roa tēnei tukanga e whāiatia ana. Ka whakaū tukanga ngā kaimahi, ā, kua hopukina ngā kōrero e tika ana. E āta mātakihia ana te oranga me te hamarutanga o ngā tamariki e te whānau.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kāore anō kia whakaūngia e te whānau tētehi tukanga ki te arotake i te tika o te hōtaka ako. Me kaha te whānau ki te whai i tētehi huarahi ki te mātakitaki i te kounga o te hōtaka ako. Mā tēnei e tutuki ai i te hōtaka ako ngā hiahia o ngā tamariki.

Ngā herenga ā-ture

I tuhia ki te pūrongo o mua ngā māharaharatanga mō te korenga o ngā kaimahi me te here ki te manaaki tika-ā-nama nei i ngā tamariki. He tokorua anō kua whakaūngia hei kaimahi. Mā tēnei e ū ai, e wātea ai hoki ngā kaimahi ki te whakatā i ngā wā kua whakaritea me te āta mātakitaki i ngā tamariki hōrapa i te kōhanga reo. E ako ana ngā tamariki i tētehi taiao pono ki te manaaki me te tiaki.

4 Te Taunakitanga

I whakawhanakehia e te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau o te kōhanga reo te taunakitanga e whai ake nei:

Kia tautokona ngā kaimahi e te whānau ki te waihanga i tētehi tukanga arotake i te tika o te hōtaka ako.

Te Whakarāpopototanga

E tū ana Te Kōhanga reo o Te Wairoa ki te marae o Te Wairoa, kei te raki o Bethlehem, kei Tauranga. I whakaao māramatia e te pūrongo o mua ētehi wāhanga o te kōhanga reo, arā, ko ngā nekehanga me ngā tikanga hei whakaaroarotanga. He pai te mahi tahi a te whānau i roto i ngā tau ki te muru i ngā hara nei. E whakapono ana rātou e poipoi ana te kōhanga reo i te oranga me te toi whenuatanga o ngā tamariki.

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 Kōhanga Reo o Te Wairoa i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

24 Pipiri, 2015

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:

Mana Tangata including establishing a learning programme for babies planning and evaluation including whānau induction; building positive relationships; review of policies and procedures; staffing and programme evaluation

Areas of non-compliance including maintaining child ratios and any issues identified since the previous review.

2 Context

Ko Mauao te maunga Ko Tauranga te moana Ko Te Wairoa te awa Ko Ngāti Kahu te hapū Ko Ngāti Ranginui te iwi

According to the previous report, the kōhanga reo had a number of areas that required improvement. The focus was mainly on whānau management and the learning needs of babies. Over the past year whānau support has increased. During this review the whānau were keen to find out how well their children’s wellbeing and belonging is being nurtured. ERO found that the kōhanga reo is nurturing children’s wellbeing and belonging very well.

3 Findings

Mana Tangata

Background

How well do children show that their wellbeing and belonging is being nurtured?

Children show that their wellbeing and belonging is well nurtured and is at the centre of all kōhanga reo operations and practice.

Areas of progress

The whānau have established a learning programme for the babies. Kaimahi are allocated primarily to the education and care of babies. They are fortunate to have individualised attention. Routines are well established. The babies have many opportunities to interact with the older children. The baby programme is well resourced. Babies enjoy a learning programme that is responsive to their needs.

Planning and Evaluation

Areas of progress

Whānau support for the kōhanga reo is strong. The induction process has been reviewed. All whānau must attend wānanga at least three times a year to learn about the history and expectations of kōhanga reo. A group of whānau are now more active in the operations and management of the kohanga reo. This has had some positive outcomes for children.

At the previous review relationships amongst the kaimahi and marae were strained. This was due to the loss of a prominent kuia who was both the kaiako of the kōhanga reo and a kuia of the marae. Now relationships have improved. The children attend all marae activities. Kaumātua attend the kōhanga reo when they are able to. The marae contributes significantly to children learning about the tikanga and kawa of the marae.

Reviews of all health and safety policies and procedures have been completed. It has been a long and slow process. Kaimahi implement policies and documentation is in place. Healthy and safety in the learning environment is carefully monitored by whānau.

Key Next Steps

Whānau still do not have in place a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning programme. It is important that whānau seek ways to monitor the quality of the learning programme. This will ensure that the programme caters for the needs of all children.

Areas of non-compliance

The previous report outlined concerns about lack of staffing and the need to maintain adult to child ratios at all times. Since then, the whānau have employed two extra kaimahi. This will ensure that all kaimahi have time to take allocated breaks and supervision of children across the kōhanga reo will be maintained. Children learn in an environment where their safety is a priority.

4 Recommendation

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau developed the following recommendations:

• Whānau support kaimahi to establish a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the learning programme.

Conclusion

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wairoa is located on Te Wairoa Marae, North of Bethlehem, Tauranga. The previous review highlighted some aspects of kōhanga reo operations and practice that required attention. The whānau have worked well over the past year to achieve many of the issues raised. They are confident that the kōhanga reo nurtures the wellbeing and belonging of their children.

When is ERO likely to review the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO review of Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Wairoa will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

24 June 2015

Information about the Kōhanga Reo