Te Kōhanga Reo o Whirinaki

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Whirinaki ki te hapori o Whirinaki, e pā tata ana ki te whanga o Hokianga, ki te Tai Tokerau. E tū ana te kōhanga reo me Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Tonga o Hokianga ki te wāhi kotahi. E whāngai ana ngā kuia me ngā kaumātua i ngā tikanga ki te kōhanga reo, ā, he pou tuarā hoki rātou. E whakarato ana te purapura i te ako ngaio me te whakawhanaketanga ngaio o ngā kaimahi, otirā, i te tautoko, i te whakawhanaungatanga hoki.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te taunekeneke a ngā tamariki ki ētahi atu?

E whai pūtake ana, he manaakitanga anō hoki tō ngā taunekeneke a ngā tamariki ki ētahi atu.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

He manaakitanga tō ngā hononga o ngā tamariki ki ētahi atu. He aroha tō ngā taunekeneke a ngā kaimahi ki ngā tamariki. Nā aua tūāhuatanga, e whakapuaki ana anō hoki ngā tamariki i te manaaki me te aroha ki ētahi atu. Ka poipoia te hononga o te tuakana me te teina. Ka whai whakaaro nui ngā tamariki tuākana i roto i ā rātou taunekeneke ki ō rātou tēina. He ngāwari te reo o ngā kaiako i a rātou e whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro ana me ngā tamariki. He mārie hoki ngā tamariki i ā rātou e whakahoki kōrero ana ki ngā kaimahi me ō rātou hoa. Ka aro nui ngā kaimahi ki ngā matea ā-tinana, ā-whatumanawa hoki o ngā pēpi ki te kōhanga reo, ā, ka whakatutuki tika i aua matea. Ko ngā taunekeneke a ngā kaimahi ki ngā pēpi, e whakamana ana, e akiaki ana hoki i a rātou kia rongo ai rātou i te tiaki me te āhurutanga. He mauritau te āhua o ngā tamariki.

E whai wāhi atu ana ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga e poipoi ana i ō rātou tuakiri. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi i te whai wāhi nui o ngā tamariki ki ngā pōwhiri me ngā whakatau. E ākina ana te tū o ngā kōtiro tuākana ki te karanga i ngā manuhiri ki tō rātou kōhanga reo. Ka mōteatea, ka waiata hoki ngā tamariki hei tautoko i ngā whaikōrero. He māhorahora, he ratarata hoki rātou ki ngā manuhiri. Ka kite ngā tamariki i ngā kaimahi e whakatutuki haere ana i ā rātou mahi hei tangata whenua o te marae. Ka hāpai ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te whai māramatanga ki ō rātou hononga ā-whakapapa, tētahi ki tētahi. Ka ngākau nui rātou ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou pepeha ki ētahi atu. E whakawhanake ana te māramatanga o ngā tamariki ki a rātou anō, ā, ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae hoki.

E hāpaitia ana te ako a ngā tamariki i te reo Māori. Ka toro atu ngā kaimahi ki ngā rautaki reo pērā i te whakatauira me te tāruarua, hei whakatupu ake i te mōhiotanga o ngā tamariki ki te reo Māori me tā rātou whakamahinga i te reo. Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga ōkawa, ā, i aua wā ka mārama haere rātou ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo hanganga reo. Ko ētahi o aua hanganga reo, ko ngā karakia, ngā mihimihi, ngā hīmene, ngā mōteatea, me te taki anō hoki i ō rātou pepeha. Kei te mārama ngā tamariki ki ngā tohutohu, ā, he tika anō hoki tā rātou whakatutuki haere. Ka taea e rātou te kupu kōrero me te pikitia te whakahonohono. Ka ngākau nui ngā pēpi ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou ake māramatanga ki te reo Māori, mā te āhua o ō rātou kanohi, mā te reo ā-tinana hoki. E whanake ana ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo Māori.

Ka tūhura ngā tamariki i ō rātou taiao māoriori, tūturu hoki. He wāteatea te wāhi o waho, ā, he pai anō hoki ngā rauemi me ngā wāhi hei haereere, hei tūhura. E ākina ana ngā tamariki e ngā kaimahi kia whakaparahia ngā tupu, hei whakatō ki te māra. He māra huawhenua, he māra amiami hoki e āta tiakina ana, ā, e whakawātea ana i ngā tamariki ki te haereere me te rongo ā-kiri, ā-ihu, ā-korokoro hoki i ngā kai. Tūhura ai ngā tamariki i te moana, te ngahere, me ngā pou whenua whakahirahira o te hapori. E ako ana ngā tamariki i ō rātou tū hei kaitiaki. He ātaahua te whakaatu mai o ngā mahi toi a ngā tamariki ki te wāhi o roto. He pai te whakaritenga me te noho wātea mai o ngā rauemi. E tākare ana te ako a ngā tamariki.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

He tukanga ā ngā kaimahi mō te whakamahere i te hōtaka. Ka arotahi te kiko o ngā mahere ki ngā mātauranga e pā ana ki te Hokianga, ki a Ngātokimatawhaorua, ki a Matawhaorua, ā, ki a Mamari hoki. Ka whakamahere ngā kaimahi mō ngā rōpū reanga ake o ngā tamariki, tae atu hoki ki te ako hei rōpū kotahi. Ka kitea ngā mahere ki te whakatinanatanga o te hōtaka akoranga.

He pai te whakahaeretanga a te whānau i ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. He pai tā rātou mahi ngātahi, ā, ka tautoko tētahi i tētahi i roto i ō rātou tūranga. He ākonga o mua te heamana o te kōhanga reo kātahi nei i whakatūngia ai, ā, e whakatairanga ana ia i te kaupapa o te kōhanga reo. Tokomaha ngā mema o te whānau i poipoia ai ki tēnei kōhanga reo i a rātou e nohinohi ana. He mātātoa tā rātou whai wāhi atu ki te ao o te kōhanga reo, i ia rā. Kua arotakengia, kua whakahoungia hoki te tūtohinga. Kei te mahere rautaki ngā kaupapa matua o te pae tawhiti, ā, e whakatakoto ana i ngā aronga mārama ā te whānau. E hāpai ana te mahere ā-tau i te rere pai o ngā whakahaeretanga, puta noa i te kōhanga reo. E hāngai ana ngā pūkete kaimahi ki te rā, ā, he pai anō hoki te whakatakotoranga o ngā tuhinga. Ka āta aroturukitia, ka āta whakatakotohia anō hoki te katoa o ngā akoako me ngā rehita. E arotahi ana te whānau ki te whakapai tonutanga o te kōhanga reo.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Me whakapakari ake i te aromatawai i ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki. E rapu ana te whānau me ngā kaimahi i ngā huarahi e whakatōpū ai i ngā whakaritenga aromatawai ki te aru i te ako me te ahu whakamua o ngā tamariki i roto i te roanga o te wā, ā, ki te whakaaro huritao anō hoki ki aua tūāhuatanga.

Me arotake i te aromātai hōtaka. Ahakoa ka hui ngā kaimahi i ia te wā ki te whakawhiti kōrero mō te hōtaka akoranga, he uaua ki te aroturuki i ngā āhuatanga o te hōtaka akoranga i whakarerekēhia ai, i whakapai ake ai hoki. Kua tae ki te wā kia whai whakaaro te whānau me ngā kaimahi ki ngā tukanga e hāpai ake ai i a rātou ki te aromātai i te wāhi huatanga o te hōtaka akoranga.

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 ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te aromatawai
• arotakengia, kia whakatakotohia hoki te tukanga e aromātai ai i te hōtaka.

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 Whirinaki i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Charles Rolleston Toka ā-nuku

24 Kohitātea, 2019

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kohanga Reo o Whirinaki is located in Whirinaki near the Hokianga harbour in Northland. The kōhanga reo is based on the same site as Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Tonga o Hokianga. Kuia and kaumātua provide tikanga and guidance for the kōhanga reo. The purapura provides professional learning and development for kaimahi, support and whakawhanaungatanga.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children interact with others?

Children’s interactions with others are meaningful and caring.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children have caring relationships with others. Kaimahi interactions with children are loving. In return, children show manaaki and aroha for others. Tuākana tēina relationships are nurtured. The older children are considerate in their interactions with their tēina. Kaiako are softly spoken in their communication with children. Children are calm in their responses to kaimahi and their peers. Kaimahi are attentive to the physical and emotional needs of babies in the kōhanga reo and respond appropriately to those. Kaimahi interactions with babies affirm and encourage them to feel they are protected and safe. Children appear secure.

Children participate in learning where their identity is nurtured. Kaimahi ensure children participate in pōwhiri and whakatau. Older girls are encouraged to perform the karanga to visitors into their kōhanga reo. Children sing mōteatea and waiata tautoko following whaikōrero. They are open and friendly with visitors. Children observe kaimahi as they carry out their duties as tangata whenua on the marae. Kaimahi support children to understand how they connect through whakapapa to each other. They share their pepeha willingly with others. Children are developing an understanding of who they are and where they are from.

Children are supported to learn te reo Māori. Kaimahi draw on language strategies such as modelling and repetition to grow children’s knowledge and use of te reo Māori. Children engage in formal learning where they come to understand different language structures. These include karakia, mihimihi, himene, mōteatea and reciting their pepeha. Children understand instructions and respond appropriately. They can make connections between the spoken word and pictures. Babies happily communicate their understanding of te reo Māori through their facial expressions and body language. Children are developing as Māori language speakers.

Children explore their natural and physical environments. The outdoor area is spacious with appropriate resources and areas to move and explore. Children are encouraged by kaimahi to grow seedlings and transplant those into the garden. A well-maintained vegetable and herb garden enable children to freely wander – touching, smelling and tasting the kai. Children regularly explore the moana, forest and local landmarks. Children are learning about their roles as kaitiaki. The indoor area attractively displays children’s art. Resources are well organised and readily available. Children are enthusiastic learners.

Planning and Evaluation

Kaimahi have processes in place for programme planning. Planning content focuses on local knowledge of Hokianga, Ngātokimatawhaorua, Matawhaorua and Mamari. Kaimahi plan for specific age groups of children as well as whole group learning. Planning is reflected in the implementation of the learning programme.

The whānau manage the business of the kōhanga reo well. They work well together and support each other in their roles. The newly-appointed chairperson is a graduate of the kōhanga reo who promotes the kaupapa of kōhanga reo. Several whānau members are graduates of this kōhanga reo. They are active participants in the everyday life of the kōhanga reo. The charter has been reviewed and updated. The strategic plan includes long-term priorities and provides clear directions for the whānau. The annual plan supports smooth operations across the kōhanga reo. Personnel files are all up-to-date and well documented. Drills and registers are all well monitored and tracked. The whānau are focused on ongoing improvement in the kōhanga reo.

Key Next Steps

Assessment of children’s learning requires strengthening. The whānau and kaimahi are seeking ways to consolidate assessment practice to track and reflect children’s learning and progress over time.

Programme evaluation needs to be reviewed. While kaimahi meet regularly to discuss the learning programme, it is difficult to monitor what changes and improvements have been made to the learning programme. It is time for the whānau and kaimahi to consider processes that better support them to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning programme.

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:

• Strengthen assessment practices

• Review and establish a process for programme evaluation.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

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

Charles Rolleston Toka ā-nuku

24 January 2019

Information about the Kōhanga Reo