Te Puna Reo o Hinemataroa Montessori

1 He Kupu Arataki

Kua mahi ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me ngā kaiārahi, ngā whānau, ngā kaiako me ngā hapori o ngā Puna Reo me ngā Whare Kōhungahunga 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. 

2 Te Horopaki 

E tū ana Te Puna Reo o Hinemataroa Montessori ki ngā papa o Te Kura o Tāneatua, ki Tāneatua i te rohe o Te Moana-a-Toi. He hononga tō rātou ki te iwi o Ngāi Tūhoe. Ka whai wāhi matua te Tūhoetanga ki te tikanga whakaaro o te puna reo. Ko te reo Māori te reo whakaako, ā, kua pou herea te marautanga ki ngā tikanga whakaaro Montessori. 

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whakapuaki mai a ngā tamariki i tō rātou māramatanga ki te tuakiri me te aronga toi whenuatanga? 

Ka kitea ki ngā tamariki tō rātou tū takitahi, tū ngākau titikaha hoki hei kaiārahi. 

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga 

Ka poipoia ngā tamariki ki tētahi wāhi rāhiri e kōkirihia ana e ngā kaiako mārie, ā, ka whakatairanga rātou i ngā tamariki ki te tūhura mātātoa me te whai wāhi nui atu. E wātea ana ki ngā tamariki te tangongitanga o ngā taumahi me ngā rauemi i āta whakaritea ai. Ka whakawhanake rātou i ngā pūkenga nukuiti, ā, ka kōkiri rātou i tā rātou ake ako, tae atu ki ngā wheako e hāpai ana i te tīmatanga ki te pānui, te tuhituhi, me te mahi pāngarau. Kei te whakaaro pohewa, kei te mahi auaha hoki, ā, ka ngākau nui ki te whai wāhi atu ki te tākaro takirōpū, takitahi hoki. He ngākau titikaha ō rātou ki te whakaputa i ō rātou whakaaro, ā, ka ngākau nui ki te whakapuaki i ā rātou whakatutukitanga ako ki te taha o ētahi atu. Kua taunga ngā mahinga me ngā ritenga o ia rā, ā, ka hāpai i te kawe atu a ngā tamariki i ngā tūranga ārahi, pērā i te ārahi i ngā karakia, ngā waiata koroua, me te kori tinana. Ka ngākau nui ngā tamariki ki te ako, ā, he pai tā rātou mahi ki te taha o ētahi atu. 

E whai wāhi atu ana ngā tamariki ki tētahi marautanga e mau ana i te hōhonutanga o te ahurea, ā, e aro nui ana hoki ki ō rātou ngākau nuitanga me ō rātou matea. He mātau ngā kaiako ki ngā mātauranga Māori. Ka whai pānga nui te reo Māori, te tikanga Māori, me te ao Māori ki ngā wheako o ngā tamariki i ia rā. He ngākau titikaha ō rātou ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā tūāhuatanga katoa o te pōhiri. Ko ngā wāhanga ōkawa o te hōtaka o ia rā, he whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te taki i ō rātou pepeha. He tūāhuatanga tēnei e whakapūmau ana i te ako i tō rātou tuakiri, ā, ka hāpai i tā rātou whakapuakitanga i ō rātou mōhiotanga ki ngā whakapapa, hei uri o Hinemataroa rāua ko Tāneatua. E whai hua ana ngā kaiako ki te whakamahi i te tangongitanga o ngā rautaki reo Māori e whakatairanga ana i te hopu reo a ngā tamariki. Kei te pakari ngā tamariki – ā-whatumanawa, ā-tinana hoki – hei ākonga. 

He pai te aroturuki i te ahu whakamua me te ako a ngā tamariki. Ka whakaatuhia, ka whakaemihia hoki ō rātou huarahi ako ki ngā kete mātauranga ātaahua a ia tamaiti. Ka whakanuia ngā whakatutukitanga a ngā tamariki, tae atu ki ā rātou whakatutukitanga ā-tangata, ā-ahurea, ā-akoranga hoki. E wātea ana ngā kete mātauranga hei tirohanga, hei kōrerotanga hoki mā ngā whānau, ā, ka whakatakoto i ngā paki ako e whakahāngai ana i ngā pūkenga me ngā āheinga e whakawhanakehia ana e ngā tamariki, ki ngā pūmanawa o ngā tūpuna, me ngā whakataukī. Ka whakatakoto hoki i ngā tauira mahi a ngā tamariki, me ngā whakaahua, hei whakatairanga ake anō i ngā mōhiohio aromatawai. Ka whakatairangatia te ako me te ahu whakamua a ngā tamariki nā te papai o ngā whakaritenga aromatawai. 

He pai te mahi ngātahi a ngā kaiako ki te whakarato i tētahi marautanga e poipoi ana i ngā uara matua o te kotahitanga, te manaakitanga, te ngākau nui, me te harikoa. Ka akiaki aua uara i ngā pūmanawa o te atawhai, te ngākau titikaha, te pākiki, te arotahi, me te reretahi, puta noa i ngā wāhanga katoa o te hōtaka. Ka aro pū ngā kaupapa ako ki ngā kaupapa o te wā i te puna, te whānau, me te hapori, hei whakawhānui i te māramatanga o ngā tamariki ki te ao e noho nei rātou. Ka whakanuia, ka ākina hoki te whai wāhi mai a ngā whānau, ā, he whai wāhitanga mō rātou ki te hāpai i ngā akoranga, tae atu ki te whakatakoto i ētahi tino whāinga whakawhanaketanga mō ā rātou tamariki ake. Ka āta poipoia ngā tamariki hei āta hāpai ake. Kua tīmata noa te whakamahinga a ngā kaiako i Te Ara Māori me Te Whāriki o Aotearoa, hei hāpai i ngā mahi aromatawai me te aromātai marautanga i whakahāngaitia ai ki Ngā Aho, ki Ngā Whāinga, ki Ngā Hua Ako me ngā wawata o te whānau. Ko te ako a ngā tamariki, ko tō rātou whakawhanaketanga hoki kei te pūtake o te whakatakotoranga o te marau. 

Ko ngā uaratanga o te Tūhoetanga me te Montessori e pou here ana i ngā whakaritenga ārahi, ā, e pai here ana i ngā hononga ki te whānau o te puna reo. E whakatairanga ana te tautōhito o ngā kaiārahi i te rere pai o ngā whakahaeretanga o ia rā ki te puna reo. Kei te mārama ngā tūmanako e pā ana ki te whakaako me te ako. E tino tautokona ana ngā kaiārahi e tētahi pou ārahi ngaio. Ka whakahāngaitia te tupu ngaio me te whakawhanaketanga ngaio ki ngā whakawhanaketanga matua i te marau me ngā matea hoki o ngā tamariki. Ka hāpai ngā kaiārahi i te whakawhanaketanga me ngā pūkenga o ngā kaiako mā te ārahi ako, ngā whakaritenga tuakana-teina, me te māramatanga o ngā whakawhitinga kōrero. Ka aro pū te rōpū ki te whakapai tonutanga. He aronga nahanaha, he aronga matawhānui hoki ki te whakahaeretanga o ngā kaimahi. Ka āta whakatinana ngā hononga i te tino whakawhirinakitanga, i te rere pai o ngā whakawhitinga kōrero, me te whakaute o ngā taunekeneke i pou herea ai ki te aroha, te manaakitanga, me te atawhai. E poipoia ana ngā tamariki ki ngā pou ārahi e kaha manaaki ana i a rātou. 

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake 

Me whakapakari i te aromātai o roto. Kua tata eke te mahere rautaki, te tirohanga, me te tauākī taketake o te puna reo ki te rima o ngā tau, mai i te tau 2020 ki te 2025. Kua tae ki te wā ki te hoki anō ki aua tuhinga ārahi, me te arotake i runga anō i te tikanga whakaaro o te puna reo, hei āta whakatau i te hāngai tonutanga o aua tuhinga ki te motuhaketanga o te ratonga me ngā wawata o te whānau, te hapū, me te iwi mō ā rātou tamariki. Kua tae hoki ki te wā ki te arotake me te whakahāngai ake i ngā pūnaha, ngā tukanga, me ngā whakahaeretanga – tae atu hoki ki te huringa taiāwhio tupu ngaio me te arohaehae – kia hāngai ai ērā ki te hōhonutanga o te tikanga ako e pou here ana i Te Puna Reo o Hinemataroa Montessori. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki i te wā ka mahi ngātahi te taha kāwana o te puna reo, ngā kaiārahi, me ngā kaiako, hei painga mō te pae tawhiti. 

5 Te Whakatau a te Whakahaere ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te arotake, i tirohia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha o te ratonga ki te whakahaere i ngā wāhanga e whai pānga nui ai ki te waiora o ngā tamariki, 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; ngā ritenga akuaku; 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 hōneatanga me ngā tikanga hōneatanga e pā ana ki te ahi me te rū whenua.

Ko te tikanga, ka whakatairanga ngā ratonga mātauranga kōhungahunga katoa i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, ā, ka arotake i ia te wā i tā rātou whakatutukitanga i ngā herenga ā-ture. 

6 Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia mahi ki te taha o te kura me ngā pou ārahi ngaio ki te whakatutuki i ngā whakaritenga matua ka whai ake, me ngā herenga ā-ture i tautuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo. 

Tiwana Hibbs
Toka ā Nuku 
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

19 Poutūterangi, 2025

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te puna reo 

1 Introduction

The Education Review Office (ERO) in collaboration with Puna Reo or Whare Kōhungahunga leaders, whānau, kaiako and their communities develop evaluation insights that foster accountability and improvement, identify progress and build evaluation capability.

2 Context 

Te Puna Reo o Hinemataroa Montessori is located on the grounds of Te Kura o Taneātua in Taneātua, Bay of Plenty. They affiliate to the iwi of Ngāi Tūhoe. Tuhoetanga is fundamental to the philosophy of the puna reo. Te reo Māori is the language of instruction, and the curriculum is underpinned by the Montessori philosophy. 

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do tamariki express their understanding of identity and belonging?  

Tamariki demonstrate they are independent and confident leaders. 

4 Findings 

Tamariki experience a welcoming atmosphere facilitated by kaiako who are calm and promote and encourage tamariki active exploration and engagement. Tamariki have access to a wide range of well-organised activities and resources. They develop fine motor skills and participate in self-directed learning including early reading, writing and numeracy experiences. They are imaginative and creative and happily engage in group and solitary play. They confidently express their thoughts and ideas and enjoy sharing their learning achievements with others. Daily routines and rituals are familiar and allow tamariki to take on leadership roles such as leading karakia, waiata koroua, and kori tinana. Tamariki are willing learners who work well alongside others. 

Tamariki engage in a culturally rich curriculum responsive to their interests and needs. Kaiako are experienced in mātauranga Māori. Te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and te ao Māori are an integral part of tamariki daily experience. They participate in all aspects of pōhiri confidently. The formal parts of the daily programme provide opportunities for tamariki to recite their pepeha. This reinforces learning about their identity and supports them to share their knowledge of whakapapa as uri of Hinemataroa and Taneātua. Kaiako successfully utilise a range of te reo Māori strategies to enhance tamariki language acquisition. Tamariki are emotionally and physically capable learners. 

Tamariki progress and learning is well monitored. Their learning journeys are represented and collated in attractive kete mātauranga, individual portfolios. Tamariki milestones and their social, cultural and learning achievements are celebrated. Kete mātauranga are available for whānau to view and discuss, they contain learning stories that align tamariki developing skills and abilities with the attributes of ancestors and whakatauki. They also include samples of tamariki work and photos, enriching assessment information further. Tamariki learning, and progress is enhanced because of effective assessment practice.

Kaiako work well collectively to provide a curriculum that fosters core values of kotahitanga, manaakitanga, ngākau-nui and harikoa. These values encourage dispositions of kindness, confidence, curiosity, concentration and coordination across all aspects of the programme. Learning kaupapa focus on current events within the puna, whānau and the community to extend tamariki understanding of the world around them. Whānau input is welcomed and encouraged and have opportunities to contribute to learning, including setting specific developmental goals for their own tamaiti. Tamariki requiring additional support are well catered for. Kaiako are in the early stages of using Te Ara Māori, Te Whāriki o Aotearoa, to support assessment practice and curriculum evaluation aligned to Ngā Aho, Ngā Whāinga, Ngā Hua Ako and whānau aspirations. Tamariki learning and development is at the heart of curriculum design. 

Tuhoetanga and Montessori values underpin leadership practices and sustain strong connections with the puna reo whānau. Leaders’ expertise promotes the smooth day to day operation of the puna reo. Teaching and learning expectations are clear. Leaders are well supported by a professional mentor. Professional growth and development align to prioritised developments in the curriculum and tamariki needs. Leaders support kaiako development and capability through mentoring, tuākana-teina practices and clear communication. The team is improvement focused. There is a strategic and comprehensive approach to personnel management. Relationships exemplify high trust, open communication and respectful interactions underpinned by aroha, manaakitanga and kindness. Tamariki are nurtured by caring positive role models.

Key Next Steps

Internal evaluation practice requires strengthening. The puna reo strategic plan, vision and mission statement have been in place for almost five years, from 2020-2025. It is timely to revisit these guiding documents and review them alongside the puna reo philosophy to be assured this continues to reflect the uniqueness of the service and whānau, hapū and iwi aspirations for their tamariki. It is also timely to review and customise systems, processes and operations, including a robust professional growth cycle and appraisal, that reflect the rich pedagogy that underpins Te Puna Reo o Hinemataroa Montessori. Tamariki benefit when governance, leaders and kaiako work in partnership for their futures.  

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

During the evaluation, ERO looked at the service’s 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 early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

6 Recommendation

ERO recommend working alongside contributing kura and professional mentor to address the key next steps and non-compliance items as identified in this report.

Tiwana Hibbs 
Toka ā Nuku - Director
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

19 March 2025

7 Information about the puna reo