Te Kōhanga Reo o Waitakaro

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakarua ki te papa whenua o Whakarua, ki Ruatōrea. He tino hononga tō te kōhanga reo ki te kura o Hiruhārama. Ka whakawhiti atu te nuinga o ngā tamariki ki te akomanga rumaki reo Māori o te kura. He rangatahi tonu te whānau me ngā kaimahi, ā, e ū pūmau ana ki te mātauranga o ā rātou tamariki.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i tō rātou mauritau ki tō rātou kōhanga reo?

Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki tō rātou tino mauritau ki tō rātou kōhanga reo.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Kua whakapūmautia e ngā tamariki ngā tino hononga ki ō rātou hoa me ngā kaimahi. He pai te aro atu a ngā kaimahi ki ngā matea ā-whatumanawa, ā-tinana hoki o ngā tamariki. Ka whai whakaaro nui ngā tamariki tuākana ki ngā pēpi. Ka whakatutuki rātou i tō rātou tūnga hei tuākana, mā te whakatinana tonu i te manaakitanga. Ka whakamihi ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki i ngā wā ka tohatoha rātou. Ka whai whakaaro ngā tamariki ki ō rātou hoa, ā, he pai tā rātou mahi ngātahi ki ētahi atu. Ka toro atu ngā tamariki ki ngā manuhiri ka taetae mai ki tō rātou kōhanga reo. He ngākau titikaha ō rātou hei ākonga. He mauritau ngā tamariki i roto i ō rātou hononga ki ētahi atu.

Ka whakamahi ngā tamariki i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo rauemi hei ākonga. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te whai i ō rātou ake ngākau nuitanga. Ka ū ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga mō te wā roa. He whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te tūhura haere i te taiao o waho. Kua waia ngā tamariki ki te hōtaka akoranga, ā, he ngāwari tā rātou whakawhitiwhiti haere ki ngā taumahi me ngā mahinga. E whakarato ana ngā kaimahi i tētahi hōtaka riterite e tū auau ana i ia te wā. E tupu ana te tūmāia o ngā tamariki hei ākonga.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

E whanake ana te noho pūmau ki te reo Māori i roto i te kōhanga reo. Ka kōrero ngā kaimahi i te reo Māori i te nuinga o te wā. Kei te kōrero tonu kē ngā tamariki i te reo Pākehā. He mea nui, kia rapu rautaki te whānau kia ū te noho rumaki ki te kōhanga reo i ngā wā katoa. E taunaki ana hoki Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia whai whakaaro te whānau ki ngā huarahi ka whakapakari ake i tō rātou pūmanawa, ō rātou āheinga hoki, hei whakawhānui i ō rātou mōhiotanga me tā rātou whakamahinga o te reo Māori. Me hāpai i ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo Māori.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

E noho matua ana ngā kaimahi me te kaiwhakahaere tari ki te whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo. He rawaka ngā tukanga whakamahere, tukanga aromatawai hoki i whakatakotohia ai e ngā kaimahi. Kei ngā tuhinga mahere ngā āhuatanga e tika ana ki te ārahi i te whakatinanatanga o te hōtaka akoranga. E hāngai ana ngā aromatawai ki ngā kitenga e tāutu ana i te ako e whai pānga nui ai ki ngā tamariki. Ka whakamōhiotia te whānau ki te ako a ā rātou tamariki.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Ko te whakahaeretanga a te whānau i ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo tētahi āhuatanga hei tirohanga ake. Kāhore te whānau e tino mārama ana i ō rātou tūranga me ā rātou kawenga hei kaitiaki o te kaupapa o te kōhanga reo. Kāhore anō rātou kia whakatakoto i tētahi tukanga arotake whaiaro hei āta whakarite i te aroturukitanga i ia te wā o ngā āhuatanga matua o ngā whakahaeretanga.

Kāhore he tukanga mārama e aromātai ana i te whai huatanga o te hōtaka akoranga. Kāhore ngā meneti a ngā kaimahi me ngā pūrongo a ngā kaiako e tohu ana i tēnā e whai hua ana, ā, i ngā āhuatanga e tika ana ki te whakarerekē, hei hāpai ake i te kounga o te hōtaka a ngā tamariki. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki mā ngā whakaritenga ka whāia hei poipoi i ō rātou huarahi ako ake.

I tēnei wā, kāhore te tūtohinga e whakatakoto ana i ngā tirohanga whānui ki ngā whakaritenga i whakatū ai i te kōhanga reo. Kāhore hoki e hāngai ana ki Ngā Pou e Whā. Ahakoa he tukanga e pā ana ki ngā kaupapa here, kāhore aua tukanga e hāngai ana ki ngā herenga ā-ture o te wā, tae atu hoki ki Te Ture Oranga Tamariki 2014. He take tēnei hei whakatutuki wawe nei. Me āta whakarite te whānau i te whakatutukitanga i ia te wā o ngā mahere hōneatanga ohorere mō te rū whenua me te tai āniwhaniwha. Ko te kore whakatakotoranga o aua tūmomo tukanga e whakamōrea ana i te noho haumaru o ngā tamariki.

Kāhore i te whānau tētahi mahere rautaki e āta whakarite ai i te pūmautanga o te kōhanga reo hei ngā tau kei te heke mai. Ahakoa he wawata ō te whānau mō te kōhanga reo, kāhore he mahere mahi hei hāpai i a rātou ki te whakatutuki i aua wawata. He mea nui anō hoki kia mārama te whānau ki te pūtake o tētahi mahere ā-tau, hei āta whakarite i te whakatutukitanga o ngā take whakahaere katoa i te wā e tika ana, mā ngā huarahi anō hoki e tika ana.

Me titiro ki ngā take kaimahi. Ahakoa he tuhinga tūranga mahi, he kirimana hoki ā ngā kaimahi, kāhore anō ngā arohaehae kia whakatutukihia. Kia āhei ai ngā kaimahi ki te toro atu ki te tautoko ngaio e whai pānga ana ki ā rātou mahi, me whakaoti i ngā arohaehae. Ka whakatairangatia te kounga o ngā whakaritenga a ngā kaimahi mā te haere tonutanga o ngā mahi arohaehae i ia te wā.

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 ētahi wāhanga kāhore e whakatutuki ana i ngā herenga ā-ture. Kia whakatutukihia e te whānau o te kōhanga reo ā rātou herenga ā-ture, me tahuri rātou ki te:

• whakarite i tētahi tukanga arotake whaiaro, i tētahi 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 herenga ā-ture e pā ana ki te ārai i te tamaiti
  [R46 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; HS31 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]
• āta whakarite i te noho mōhio o ngā pakeke ki ngā akoako hōneatanga ohorere e tika ana, ā, kia whakatutukihia hoki aua akoako ki te taha o ngā tamariki i ia te wā
  [R46 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; HS8 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 ka ārahi i ngā whakahaeretanga o 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]
• whakapau kaha ki te whakarato ki ngā kaimahi katoa e mahi ana, e whai wāhi ana rānei ki te kōhanga reo, te rawaka o te tautoko ngaio, o ngā whai wāhitanga whakawhanaketanga ngaio, me ngā rauemi ngaio mā tētahi tukanga arohaehae e tika ana.
  [R47 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; GMA7 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]

4 Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, kia:

• toro atu te whānau ki te tautoko o te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo, ki te whakatutuki i ngā whakaritenga matua ka whai ake, me ngā wāhanga e whai pānga ana ki ngā herenga ā-ture i tāutuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo.

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 Whakarua i roto i te kotahi tau.

Charles Rolleston Toka ā-nuku

19 Poutūterangi, 2019

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakarua is located at Whakarua Park in Ruatōrea. The kōhanga reo has a close relationship with Hiruhārama School. Most of the children attend the rumaki unit at the school. The whānau and kaimahi are young and are committed to the education of their children.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children show they are comfortable in their kōhanga reo?

Children show they are very comfortable in their kōhanga reo.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children have established meaningful relationships with peers and kaimahi. Kaimahi respond well to the emotional and physical needs of the children. The older children are mindful of babies. They carry out their roles as tuākana with care. Kaimahi praise children for sharing. Children are considerate of their peers and work well with others. Children initiate contact with visitors to the kōhanga reo. They are confident in themselves as learners. Children are contented in their relationships with others.

Children use a range of resources as learners. Kaimahi provide children with opportunities to follow their interests. Children are engaged in learning for sustained periods of time. There are opportunities for children to explore the physical environment. Children are familiar with the learning programme and transition smoothly between activities and routines. Kaimahi provide a consistent and regular programme. Children are growing in their confidence as learners.

Key Next Steps

The consistent use of te reo Māori within the kōhanga reo is developing. Kaimahi speak te reo Māori most of the time. Children continuously speak English. It is important that the whānau seek strategies to maintain an immersion environment within the kōhanga reo at all times. ERO recommends also that whānau consider ways to strengthen their capacity and capabilities to grow their knowledge and use of te reo Māori. Children need support to become speakers of te reo Māori.

Planning and Evaluation

The kaimahi and administrator are critical to the management of the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi have planning and assessment processes in place that are adequate. Planning documents include the necessary elements to guide the implementation of the learning programme. Assessments are based on observations which identify learning that is important to the children. The whānau are informed of their children’s learning.

Key Next Steps

Whānau management of the kōhanga reo operations requires attention. The whānau do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities as guardians of the kaupapa of kōhanga reo. They have not established a process of self review to ensure that key aspects of operations are monitored regularly.

There is no clear process in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning programme. Kaimahi minutes and kaiako reporting do not indicate what has worked and what changes are required to improve the quality of the programme for children. Children would benefit from practice that seeks to cater for their unique learning styles.

Currently the charter does not include any historical overview of the establishment of the kōhanga reo. It does not make reference to Ngā Pou E Whā. While there are policy procedures in place, these do not align to current legislation, including the Vulnerable Children’s Act 2014. This is a priority that requires urgent action. The whānau must ensure that emergency evacuation plans related to earthquake and tsunami are carried out regularly. Children’s safety is compromised by the absence of these processes.

The whānau do not have a strategic plan to ensure the kōhanga reo will be sustained into the future. While the whānau have aspirations for the kōhanga reo, there is no action plan to assist them to realise their dreams. It is also important that whānau understand the purpose of an annual plan to ensure all operational matters are attended to in a timely and efficient manner.

Personnel matters require attention. While kaimahi have in place job descriptions and employment contracts, appraisals have not been carried out. In order for kaimahi to access professional support that is relevant to their work, appraisals must be completed. The quality of kaimahi practice would be enhanced through ongoing appraisals.

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 areas of non-compliance. In order for the kōhanga reo whānau to meet compliance requirements, they need to:

• 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 appropriate child protection requirements met and maintained
  [Regulation 46 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; HS31 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• ensure adults are familiar with relevant emergency drills and carry these out regularly with children
  [Regulation 46 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; HS8 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]
• take all reasonable steps to provide staff employed or engaged in the service with adequate professional support, professional development opportunities, and resources through an appropriate appraisals process.
  Regulation 47 (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA7 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]

4 Recommendation

ERO recommends:

• the whānau seek support from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust to address the key next steps and areas of non-compliance identified in this report.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakarua will be within one year.

Charles Rolleston Toka ā-nuku

19 March 2019

Information about the Kōhanga Reo