Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatāne

1 He Kupu Arataki 

Kua mahi ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ngā whānau, ngā kaiārahi, ngā kaimahi me ngā hapori ki te whakawhanake i ngā tirohanga aromātai e whai wāhi nui ai ki te hāpai i te kawenga takohanga me te whakapaitanga, ki te tautuhi i te ahu whakamua, ā, ki te whakapakari ake hoki i te āheinga ki te aromātai. E hāngai ana tēnei pūrongo ki ā rātou pūnaha, ki ā rātou whakaritenga, me ā rātou mahi whakahaere. Ka whakarato ngā pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i ngā mōhiohio mātuatua mā ngā hapū me ngā iwi.  

2 Te Horopaki  

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatāne ki te tāone o Whakatāne. Ka whakawhiti atu te nuinga o ngā mokopuna ki te mātauranga rumaki reo Māori me ngā kura kaupapa Māori. Ko te reo Māori te aronga nui mō ngā mokopuna me te whānau.   

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai 

He pēhea rawa te whānau e āta whakatau i te papai o ngā taunekeneke mā ngā mokopuna?  

E whakarato ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatāne i tētahi taiao papai e poipoi ana, e whāngai ana hoki i ngā hononga e whai hua ana, e whai pūtake ana hoki.   

4 Mana Whakahaere 

E whakahaere ana te whānau i ētahi o ngā tūāhuatanga o ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. Kei te tūtohinga ngā kōrero tuku iho me te tūāpapa e hāpai ana i te whai māramatanga ki ngā whakaritenga, ngā uara, me ngā tikanga a te whānau. Ka whakaemihia, ka whakatakotohia hoki ki ngā rēhita ngā mōhiohio e tika ana mō te hauora me te haumaru. Kei ngā pūrongo a ngā kaiako ngā mōhiohio whai hua mō tēnā e ākona ana e ngā mokopuna. Ka tautuhi te mahere ā-tau i ngā mahi whānui e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o te kōhanga reo me te tari, me te rārangi wā anō hoki mō te whakatutukitanga o aua mahi. Ka whakatinanahia te mahere rautaki ki Te Ara Tūāpae, ā, ka whakaraupapa i ngā whāinga me ngā tūmanako o te pae tawhiti, me ngā rautaki, ngā mahi hoki e hāpai ai i te whakatutukitanga. Ko tētahi aronga matua ki te whānau, ko te whakatupu i te reo Māori me te whakapiki ake i te āheinga o te whānau. Ko ngā mokopuna kei te pūtake o ngā whakataunga a te whānau.  

Ka whai pūtake ngā mahi a ngā kaimahi ki te whakamahere i te hōtaka akoranga me te aroturuki i te ako a ngā mokopuna. He matawhānui ngā mahere, ā, kua whakahāngaitia hoki ki Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo. He mahere ā-tau, ā-wāhanga, ā-wiki hoki hei āta whakatau i te whai aronga me te whai pūtaketanga o te hōtaka akoranga. Kua takunetia, kua āta whakaarohia hoki ngā mahi aromatawai. Ka āta kapo atu ngā mōhiohio i te ako a ngā mokopuna me tā rātou ahu whakamua i roto i te roanga o te wā. E wātea ana aua mōhiohio ki te whānau, ā, he whakatakotoranga kōrero mō te whanaketanga o ngā mokopuna. He mārama ngā tauira o ngā taumahi me ngā mahinga, ā, e whakaatu ana i te mahi ngātahi a ngā mokopuna, tētahi i tētahi. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā te tōpūtanga o ngā whakaritenga a ngā kaimahi me te whānau.   

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake   

Me titiro ki te whai wāhi atu a te whānau. Ahakoa he whai wāhitanga mō te whānau ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou whakaaro mō ngā take whakahaere, kāhore anō kia whakatutukihia e rātou ā rātou kawenga ki te taetae atu ki ngā hui ā-whānau. E tika ana i nāianei kia whakawhanakehia e te whānau tētahi rongoā e whakatutuki pū ai i ā rātou haepapa i te kōhanga reo. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna i te wā e whakaarohia ana ō rātou matea.  

Kāhore anō kia whakamanahia ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru. He mea nui kia hāngai ēnei ki ngā herenga ā-ture o te wā. Kāhore te whānau me ngā kaimahi e tino mārama ana ki te whai pānga o tēnā ki ngā nekehanga i te kōhanga reo. Tē taea te hauora me te waiora o ngā mokopuna te whakatūturu.  

Kāhore anō ngā akoako rū whenua kia whakamātauhia. Me āta whakarite te whānau i te whakatutukitanga o ngā tikanga e pā ana ki ngā akoako hōneatanga rū whenua, ā, me tuhi hoki i aua akoako. E whakamōrearea ana i te noho haumaru o ngā mokopuna.  

He ōpaki te aromātai hōtaka. He uaua ki te tātari i te āhua o ngā mahi e aroturuki ana i te whai huatanga o te hōtaka akoranga. Ka kōrero ngā kaimahi mō tēnā e whai hua ana, mō tēnā hoki kāhore e whai hua ana, engari, kāhore aua kōrerotanga e tuhia ana. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna mā te whakapiki ake i te mōhiotanga o ngā kaimahi ki te aromātai hōtaka hei painga mō te whakatairanga tonutanga.  

Kīhai ngā tuhinga e pā ana ki ngā kaimahi i whakaratohia. Kua whakatau ngātahi te whānau me Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ka whakawāteahia aua tuhinga hei te taenga atu a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ki te kōhanga reo.  

5 Te Whakatau ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga 

I te wā o te arotake, i tirohia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha ki te whakahaere i ngā wāhanga e whai ake nei, arā, ki: 

• te haumaru ā-whatumanawa, tae atu ki te ārahi mauritau me te ārai tamariki 
• te haumaru ā-tinana, tae atu ki te mātakitaki tamariki, ngā whakaritenga whakamoe, ngā aituā, te whāngai rongoā; me ngā kaupapa here, ngā tukanga hoki mō ngā haerenga whakawaho 
• te tū tika o ngā kaimahi, tae atu ki te tika o ngā tohu mātauranga, ngā mahi arowhai a ngā pirihimana, me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaiako me te tamaiti   
• ngā whakaritenga ohotata me ngā tikanga ohotata e pā ana ki te rū whenua, te ahi, te waipuke, te tai āniwhaniwha, me te mate urutā.  

Kia tutuki i te whānau ngā herenga ā-ture, me tahuri rātou ki te:  

• whakarite i tētahi tukanga o te arotake whaiaro, o te aromātai o roto rānei e whakahaerehia ana i ngā wā katoa, hei hāpai i te kōhanga reo ki te whakapūmau me te whakapai ake i te kounga o te mātauranga me te atawhai. 

[R46 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]   

• āta whakatau i te noho mōhio o rātou ngā pakeke e whakarato ana i te mātauranga me te atawhai, ki ngā akoako hōneatanga rū whenua e tika ana, ā, kia whakatutukihia aua mahi ki te taha o ngā tamariki i ia toru marama noa te putuputu, koni atu rānei. 

[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 tukanga e aromātai ai i te whai huatanga o te hōtaka akoranga 

[R43 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; C1 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008] 

6 Te Taunakitanga 

I whakatau tahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau o te kōhanga reo ki te mahi ki te taha o te tari ā-rohe o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo, kia whai tautoko ki te whakatutuki i ngā take i whakaraupapahia ai ki tēnei pūrongo.   

Darcy Te Hau 
Toka ā Nuku 
Te Uepū-a-Motu – Māori Services 

​​28 Hōngongoi, 2023​ 

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te Kōhanga Reo 

1 Introduction 

The Education Review Office (ERO) in collaboration with whānau, leaders, kaimahi and their communities develop evaluation insights that foster accountability and improvement, identify progress and build evaluation capability. This report reflects their systems, operations and management practices. ERO’s reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi.  

 2 Context 

Te Kohanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatane is located in Whakatane. Most mokopuna continue on to Māori immersion and Kura Kaupapa education. Te reo Māori is a strong focus for mokopuna and whānau.   

3 Evaluation Focus 

How well do whānau ensure positive interactions are nurtured for mokopuna? 

Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatane provides a positive environment that nurtures and fosters positive and meaningful relationships.   

4 Mana Whakahaere 

Whānau manage aspects of the kōhanga reo operations. The Tūtohinga includes the historical context and the foundation for understanding the practices, values and tikanga for whānau. Relevant health and safety information is collected and recorded in registers. Kaiako reports provide valuable information of what mokopuna are learning. The annual plan identifies overall operational and administration tasks and a timeline for completion. The strategic plan is informed by Te Ara Tūapae and outlines the long-term goals and objectives along with strategies and actions needed to achieve them. A main focus for whānau is growing te reo Māori and increasing whānau capability. Mokopuna are the focus of whānau decision making. 

Kaimahi work in meaningful ways to plan the learning programme and monitor mokopuna learning. Planning is detailed and aligns to Te Whāriki ā Te Kōhanga Reo. This includes annual, term and weekly plans to ensure the learning programme is focused and purposeful. Assessment practices is intentional and well considered. Information captured clearly shows mokopuna learning and progress overtime. These are accessible to whānau and provide information of mokopuna development. There are clear examples of activities and routines where mokopuna work with and alongside one another. Mokopuna benefit from collaborative practices amongst kaimahi and whānau.    

Key Next Steps 

Whānau participation requires attention. Whilst there are opportunities for whānau to contribute to management matters, they are yet to meet their responsibilities to attend whānau hui. The need has arisen for whānau to develop a solution that will adequately meet their responsibilities to the kōhanga reo. Mokopuna would benefit when their needs are considered. 

Health and safety policies and procedures have not been ratified. It is important that these align to current legislation. Whānau and kaimahi do not fully understand how this influences what happens in kōhanga reo. Mokopuna health and wellbeing cannot be guaranteed.  

Earthquake drills have not been practised. Whānau must ensure requirements for earthquake evacuation drills are carried out and recorded. Mokopuna safety is compromised.  

Programme evaluation is informal. It is difficult to gauge how the learning programme is monitored for its effectiveness. While kaimahi talk about what is working, or not working, there is no documentation of these conversations. Mokopuna would benefit from increasing kaimahi knowledge of programme evaluation for ongoing improvement. 

Matters related to personnel documentation were not provided. Whānau and ERO have agreed that documentation will be available during the onsite visit.  

5 Kōhanga Whānau Assurance on Legal Requirements 

During the evaluation, ERO looked at systems for managing the following areas:  

• emotional safety including positive guidance and child protection 
• physical safety including supervision, sleep procedures, accidents, medication, excursion policy and procedures 
• suitable staffing including appropriate qualifications, police vetting, ratios 
• emergency procedures and practices for earthquakes, fire, flood, tsunami and pandemic. 

Actions for Compliance  

To meet compliance requirements they must:   

• ensure there is an ongoing process of self-review or internal evaluation to help the kōhanga maintain and improve the quality of its education and care 

[Regulation 46 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA6 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008] 

• ensure adults providing education and care are familiar with relevant emergency earthquake drills and carry these out with children on an at least three-monthly basis 

[Regulation 46 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, HS8 Licensing criteria for kōhanga reo affiliated with the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008] 

• establish a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning programme. 

[Regulation 43 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; C1 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008].   

6 Recommendation 

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau agree to work alongside the district office with support to ensure the concerns outlined in this report are addressed.   

Darcy Te Hau 
Toka-ā-Nuku – Director 
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services 

28 July 2023 

7 Information about the Kōhanga Reo  

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatāne ki te tāone o Whakatāne. Ka arotahi te whānau o te kōhanga reo ki te whakapūmau i ngā mahi e whakatairanga ana i ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki me te atawhai i a rātou. Ka kitea tō rātou tino ngākau nui ki te whai wāhi atu ki te tupu o te kōhanga reo. Kua whai tonu te nuinga o ngā tamariki i te mātauranga rumaki reo Māori whai muri i te kōhanga reo, mā te whakawhiti atu ki Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ōrini.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i ō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te tū tangata?

Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki te tupu haere o ō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te tū tangata, i a rātou e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā akoranga e ahu mai ana i ngā mātauranga o te iwi me te hapori.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka rongo ngā tamariki i ngā hononga papai me ngā hononga tautoko ki te kōhanga reo. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou whakaaro ki waenga i a rātou anō. Ka poipoi rātou i te ngāwari, i te whakakoia, i te poipoi o ngā taunekeneke. He pakari ngā tamariki tuākana ki te ārahi i ētahi wāhanga o te hōtaka, ā, ka whakanuia ā rātou whakamātau i ia te wā. Ka manaaki, ka whakaute hoki ngā tuākana i ō rātou tēina. Ka kitea ngā uara o te rangimārie me te manaaki ki ngā whakaritenga tiaki tamariki. E mōhio ana ngā tamariki ki te āhua o te whanonga e hiahiatia ana. He ngākau titikaha ō ngā tamariki i roto i ā rātou taunekeneke ki ō rātou hoa me ngā pakeke.

Ka ako ngā tamariki i te whakahirahiratanga o tō rātou tū hei uri Māori. E noho matua ana ngā tikanga Māori ki te hōtaka akoranga o ia rā. Ka kitea te whakaute o ngā tamariki i ngā wā karakia o ia ata, ā, i ētahi atu wāhanga hoki puta noa i te rā. Ka whakapuakihia ngā mōteatea hei whakapūmau i ngā hononga o ngā tamariki. Ka kōkiri ngā kaimahi i ngā akoranga e akiaki i ngā tamariki ki te whai whakaaro ki ō rātou hononga ki te whānau me ō rātou tūrangawaewae. Ka āta whakapuakihia ngā whakapapa, ngā pepeha, ngā waiata, ngā karakia, hei hāpai i ngā tamariki ki te ako i ō rātou tuakiri. Ka taetae atu ngā tamariki ki ngā tūmomo huihuinga i ngā marae o te hapori. Ka kite ngā tamariki i ngā tikanga me ngā kawa i te marae, ā, ka whai wāhi atu ki ngā pōhiri mā ngā waiata tautoko me ngā harirū. E ako ana ngā tamariki i ō rātou tuakiri me ō rātou tūrangawaewae.

Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo wheako e akiaki ana i a rātou ki te tūhura haere. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi kia noho wātea ki ngā tamariki, ko ngā rauemi e whakaongaonga ana i ā rātou akoranga. Ka whiwhi ngā tuākana me ngā tēina i ngā hōtaka taumahi i whakatakotohia ai hei whakawhanake i ō rātou taha auaha, hei whakawhānui anō hoki i ō rātou whakaaro. He whai wāhitanga i ia te wā mō ngā tamariki ki te tūhura i te pāmu a tētahi mema o te whānau i te kōhanga reo. Kei te pākiki ngā tamariki i a rātou e toro atu ana ki ngā kararehe me tō rātou taiao. Ko te taetae atu ki ngā tūmomo huihuinga i te marae, e hāpai ana i tō rātou māramatanga ki ngā tūranga me ngā kawenga i roto i te hapū me te iwi. Ka arotahi ngā akoranga ā-rōpū ki ētahi tino kaupapa ako i whakaritea ai. He whai wāhitanga anō hoki mō ngā tamariki ki te whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro ki te taha o ngā kaimahi, hei whakapūmau i ā rātou akoranga hou. Ka ngākau nui ngā tamariki ki ngā wero me ngā tūhuratanga hou.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

E whakahaerehia ana te kōhanga reo me ngā mahi i te tari hei painga mō ngā tamariki. Whai muri i te arotake o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, kua tū ake ngā mema hou o te whānau ki ngā tūranga matua o ngā whakahaeretanga ki te kōhanga reo me te tari, tae atu hoki ki ērā o te heamana, o te kaiwhakahaere tari, o te kaitiaki pūtea. He pai te whakamōhio i ngā mema o te whānau mō ngā whakaritenga me ngā whakahaeretanga ki te kōhanga reo, mā ngā hui me ngā pānui i ia te wā. He pai te taetae atu o ngā mema o te whānau, ā, ka kitea tō rātou whai whakaarotanga nui ki te kounga o te atawhai me ngā paerewa, me te reo Māori o ngā tamariki. He pai te tūnga pūtea o te kōhanga reo ki te whai i ngā kaupapa rautaki e nui ake ai, mō te roanga ake anō hoki o te wā.

Ko ngā mahere mō ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki e arotahi ana ki ngā wheako ka whakapakari ake i te tū tangata me te aronga toi whenuatanga o ngā tamariki. Ka tuhia te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo taumahi, wheako hoki hei hāpai i te whakawhanaketanga o ngā tamariki, puta noa i Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira. He pai ngā mahere ā-wāhanga, ā-wiki, o ia rā hoki ki te whakatakoto i te aronga o ngā akoranga a ngā tēina me ngā tuākana.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kāhore anō ngā arohaehae a ngā kaimahi kia oti. E mōhio ana te whānau, kei te tīmata ā rātou whakawhitinga kōrero ki ngā kaimahi mō ā rātou whāinga whaiaro me ā rātou whāinga ngaio. He mea nui kia tāutu hoki te tukanga arohaehae i ngā whai wāhitanga whakawhanaketanga ngaio mō ngā kaimahi, kia āhei ai rātou ki te whakatairanga ake i ā rātou whakaritenga me te kounga o ngā wheako ako a ngā tamariki.

Me whakawhanake tonu i ngā mahi aromatawai me te aromātai i te hōtaka. Ko ngā mōhiohio aromatawai i whakaemihia ai mō ia tamaiti, kāhore e whakahonotia ana ki ngā wheako akoranga i whakamaheretia ai e ngā kaimahi. Waihoki, ko ngā whakaaturanga o ngā akoranga a ngā tamariki me tā rātou ahu whakamua i roto i te roanga o te wā, kāhore e āta tuhia ana. Ahakoa ka hui tahi ngā kaimahi i ia te wā, he maha ngā wā e aro nui ana aua hui ki ngā take whakahaere. Me whakarite ngā kaimahi ki te āta whakawhiti kōrero mō ngā āhuatanga o te hōtaka akoranga e whai hua ana ki ngā tamariki, ā, i ngā āhuatanga anō hoki hei whakarerekē, hei whakapai ake rānei. Me tuhi i ngā whakataunga o aua whakawhitinga whakaaro, kia taea ai e ngā kaimahi te aromātai te whai pānga o aua whakarerekētanga ki te kounga o ngā akoranga a 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.

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 te whānau ki te whakaoti i te tukanga arohaehae, ā, kia āta tautokona hoki ngā kaimahi, kia āhei ai rātou ki te whakatairanga ake i ō rātou mōhiotanga me ā rātou whakaritenga
• toro atu ngā kaimahi me te whānau ki te ārahitanga e whakapakari ai i te kounga o ngā mahi aromatawai me te aromātai hōtaka ki te kōhanga reo.

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 Apanui ki Whakatāne i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Charles Rolleston

Toka ā-nuku

12 Pipiri, 2019

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatāne is located in Whakatāne. The kōhanga reo whānau focus on sustained improvement for children’s learning and care. They show a strong interest in contributing to the growth of the kōhanga reo. Most children have continued in Māori immersion education at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ōrini.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children show confidence in who they are?

Children show growing confidence in who they as they participate in learning that draw on iwi and community knowledge.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children experience positive and supportive relationships in the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi encourage children to share their thoughts and opinions with each other. They foster gentle, affirming and nurturing interactions. Older children confidently lead aspects of the programme and are regularly praised for their efforts. Tuākana treat their tēina with care and respect. Child management practices reflect the values of rangimārie and manaaki. Children know what is expected of them. Children are confident in their interactions with their peers and adults.

Children learn about the importance of their identity as Māori. Tikanga Māori is integral to the daily learning programme. Children show respect during karakia each morning and also at different times throughout the day. Mōteatea are used to reinforce children’s connections. Kaimahi facilitate learning that prompts children to think about their connections to whānau and their tūrangawaewae. Whakapapa, pepeha, waiata, and karakia are used well to assist children in learning about their identity. Children attend different events at the local marae. Children observe tikanga and kawa on the marae, and participate in pōhiri with waiata tautoko and harirū. Children are learning about who they are and where they come from.

Children participate in a range of experiences that encourages them to explore. Kaimahi ensure children have access to resources to stimulate their learning. Tuākana and tēina are provided with set programmes of activities to develop creativity and extend their thinking. There are regular opportunities for children to explore a farm that belongs to a whānau member in the kōhanga reo. Children are curious as they interact with animals and their environment. Attendance at the marae on various occasions helps them to understand the roles and responsibilities of hapū and iwi. Group learning is focused on specific kaupapa ako. There are also opportunities for children to engage with kaimahi to reinforce their new learning. Children enjoy challenge and new discoveries.

Planning and Evaluation

The kōhanga reo is managed and administered in the interests of children. Since the previous ERO review, new whānau members have stepped into key roles of management and administration, including the chairperson, administrator and treasurer. Whānau members are well informed about the operations and management of the kōhanga reo through regular hui and pānui. There is good attendance from whānau members who show strong interest in quality care and standards, and te reo Māori for children. The kōhanga reo is well positioned financially to pursue larger and longer term strategic priorities.

Planning for children’s learning focusses on experiences that will strengthen children’s identity and belonging. A variety of activities and experiences are documented to support children’s development across Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira. Term, weekly and daily plans give good direction for tēina and tuākana learning.

Key Next Steps

Kaimahi appraisals are incomplete. The whānau acknowledge they are at the early stages of conversations with kaimahi about their personal and professional goals. It is important that the appraisal process also identifies relevant professional development opportunities for kaimahi in order to improve their own practice and the quality of children’s learning experiences.

Assessment practices and programme evaluation require further development. Assessment information gathered about each child is not linked to the learning experiences that have been planned by kaimahi. Furthermore, evidence of children learning and progress over time is not well documented. Although kaimahi meet regularly, these meetings are often focused on operational matters. Kaimahi must ensure they discuss the aspects of the learning programme that are working well for the children and what can be changed or improved. The outcomes of these discussions should be noted so that kaimahi can evaluate the impact of changes to the quality of children’s learning.

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:

• the whānau ensure that the appraisal process is completed and kaimahi are well supported to improve their knowledge and practice
• kaimahi and whānau seek guidance to strengthen the quality of assessment practices and programme evaluation in the kōhanga reo.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Apanui ki Whakatāne will be in three years.

Charles Rolleston

Toka ā-nuku

12 June 2019

Information about the Kōhanga Reo