Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki

1 He Kupu Arataki

Kua mahi ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ngā whānau, ngā kaiārahi, me ngā hapori ki te whakatakoto i ngā tirohanga aromātai e whai wāhi nui ai ki te hāpai i ngā 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 Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki ki te papakāinga o te marae o Kaiwhāiki, ki te taha o te awa o Whanganui. E whai wāhi matua ana tēnei kōhanga reo ki ngā wawata o ngā hapū, ngā mokopuna, me ngā whānau o Ngā Paerangi mō te reo me ngā tikanga Māori. Kua mahi te whānau ki te taha o te marae me te purapura ki te whakapakari ake i ngā whakaritenga i te kōhanga reo me ngā putanga ako ki ngā mokopuna.

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te poipoi i ngā matea me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā mokopuna?

Ko ngā matea me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā mokopuna kei te pūtake o ngā whakaritenga a te whānau.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E whakamōhio ana ngā matea me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā mokopuna i ngā mahere me te whakapuakitanga o te hōtaka. Tū ai ngā hui ā-kaimahi i ia te wā, kia whai whakaarohia, kia mahere tonuhia hoki ngā akoranga a ngā mokopuna. Ka whakamōhiotia te whānau ki ngā akoranga a ngā mokopuna mā ngā hui o ia marama, ā, mā ngā pāpāho matihiko hoki. E wātea ana ki ngā mokopuna te tangongitanga o ngā tūmomo taumahi ako ā-kaupapa hei kōwhiringa mā rātou. E āta whakatairangatia ana te reo Māori mā ngā huarahi māoriori, whai pūtake hoki. E whakaongaongatia ana ngā mokopuna kia tūhura ai rātou i ō rātou ngākau nuitanga.

E arotahi ana te whānau whakahaere ki te whakapai ake i te kounga o te atawhai o ngā mokopuna me tā rātou ako. Whai muri i te arotake o mua a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i te tau 2017, kua whakapakarihia e te whānau ngā wāhanga katoa o te whakahaeretanga i te kōhanga reo me te tari. Kua whakatakotohia ngā tukanga aroturuki me ngā tukanga mahi kia whakatutukihia i ia te wā. E arotahi ana ngā hui ā-whānau o ia marama ki te whakatau ngātahi i ngā whakaritenga, ā, ki ngā mahi e hāpai ai i te whakapai tonutanga. Kua whakapakarihia te katoa o ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te whakahaeretanga o te hauora, te haumaru, me ngā kaimahi, ā, e whakatinanahia ana ēnei nā runga i te āhua tonu o ngā aratohu o te tūtohinga i whakahoungia ai. Ko ngā mokopuna kei te pūtake o ngā whakataunga a te whānau.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Kōrerohia ai e ngā kaimahi i ia te wā, ngā ngākau nuitanga me ngā matea o ngā mokopuna. Engari, kāhore aua whakawhitinga kōrero e āta tuhia ana. He mea nui kia āta tuhia ngā kōrero i ngā hui ā-kaimahi e whakamōhio ai i ngā whakataunga ka whai ake mō te whakapaitanga ake o te hōtaka, hei whakapakari ake i ngā putanga ki ngā mokopuna.

E mōhio ana ngā mema o te whānau, e tika ana kia āta whakamaheretia te rautaki hei ārahi i te tupu tonu o te kaupapa o te kōhanga reo. Ko te whakawhanake tonutanga o te mahere rautaki, e tohu ana i ngā whāinga, ngā matea, me ngā wawata o whānau mō te pae tawhiti, ka hāpai ake pea i taua tupu me te rōnakitanga o te kōhanga reo.

5 Te Whakatau ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

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

• 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.

6 Te Taunakitanga

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

• kia whakawhanake tonu, kia tupu tonu te whānau i ā rātou mahi whakahaere me ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te aromātai hōtaka, hei hāpai i te whakapai tonutanga me ngā putanga e whai hua ai ki ngā mokopuna.

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

15 Poutūterangi, 2021

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Introduction

The Education Review Office, whānau, leaders and communities provide evaluation insights that foster improvement, identify progress and build evaluation capability.

2 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki is based at Kaiwhāiki marae settlement, along the Whanganui. It is an integral part of the aspirations of te reo me ngā tīkanga Māori for Ngā Paerangi hapū, mokopuna and whānau. Whānau have worked with the marae and purapura to strengthen kōhanga practices and learning outcomes for mokopuna.

3 Evaluation Focus

To what extent are mokopuna needs and interests catered for?

Mokopuna needs and interests are at the heart of whānau practice.

4 Findings

Mokopuna needs and interests inform programme planning and delivery. Kaimahi hui are regularly held to reflect and plan ongoing learning for mokopuna. Whānau are kept informed about mokopuna learning through monthly hui and digital media. Mokopuna have access to a variety of kaupapa learning activities that they can choose from. Te reo Māori is well promoted in natural and meaningful ways. Mokopuna are stimulated to explore their interests.

Whānau whakahaere is focused on improving the quality of care and learning for mokopuna. Since the last ERO review in 2017, the whānau has strengthened all areas of management and administration. Regular monitoring and reporting processes are in place. Monthly whānau hui is focused on shared decision making and actions that will support ongoing improvement. All health, safety and personnel management practices have been strengthened and are implemented in line with the revised tūtohinga guidelines. Mokopuna are at the centre of whānau decision making.

Key Next Steps

Mokopuna interests and needs are regularly discussed amongst kaimahi. However, these discussions are not well documented. It is important to fully document kaimahi hui to inform future decisions about programme improvement that will strengthen outcomes for mokopuna.

Whānau members acknowledge the need for a well-planned strategy to guide the future growth of the kōhanga reo kaupapa. The ongoing development of the strategic plan that includes the longer-term goals, needs and aspirations of whānau should support this growth and the sustainability of the kōhanga.

5 Assurance on Legal Requirement

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.

6 Recommendation

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau developed the following recommendation:

• whānau continue to develop and grow whānau whakahaere and programme evaluation practices to support ongoing improvement and positive outcomes for mokopuna.

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

15 March 2021

7 Information about the Kōhanga Reo

Te Aromātai

E tū ana Te Kōhangā Reo o Kaiwhāiki ki te marae o Kaiwhāiki, e pā tata atu ana ki te awa o Whangānui. Ka kitea te tūmāia me te tākare o ngā tamariki ki te ako i tō rātou tuakiri hei uri o Ngā Paerangi. Ko ētahi āhuatangā matua hei whakapai ake, ko te aromātai o roto, te arohaehae i ngā kaimahi, me ngā take e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru. E mōhio ana te whānau he āhuatangā ēnei hei whakatutuki. 

Ka arotake anō Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki i roto ngā tau e rua.

1 Te Horopaki

‘Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.’

E tū ana Te Kōhangā Reo o Kaiwhāiki ki te taha o te whare karakia, ki te marae o Kaiwhāiki, e pā tata atu ana ki te awa o Whangānui. Ko Ngā Paerangi te hapū. He honongā ā-whakapapa tō te nuingā o ngā whānau ki te rohe nei. E ai ki te whānau, ko tō rātou wawata kia rumakina ā rātou tamariki ki te reo me ngā tikangā Māori. E hiahia ana hoki rātou kia tino mōhio a rātou tamariki ko wai rātou, a, no hea ratou.

E arotahi ana te whānau ki te whakatakoto i tētahi pūnaha whakahaere e whai hua ana, me te whakapai ake i ā rātou whakaritengā kia ako ai ngā tamariki i raro i te haumaru o te marae.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Arotake

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakapuaki i ō rātou whakaaro hei uri o Ngā Paerangi?

Ka kitea te māia haere o ngā tamariki ki te whakapuaki i ō rātou whakaaro mā te reo Māori, a he uri whakaheke rātou no Ngā Paerangi.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka kitea te mōhiotangā ake o ngā tamariki ki a rātou anō, ā, ki tō rātou tūrangāwaewae hoki. E hāpai ana ngā karakia, ngā mōteatea, ngā tikangā, ngā kōrero, me ngā waiata i te tupu ake o ngā tamariki i tō rātou mōhiotangā ki a rātou anō i waengā tonu i te whānau, te hapū, me te iwi. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i ngā whai wāhitangā mō ngā tamariki ki te taki i ō rātou pepeha, me te waiata i ngā waiata tautoko ki te taha o ō rātou hoa. Whakanui ai, whakakoia ai hoki rātou i ia i te wā, i ngā whakamātau me ngā whakatutukitangā a ngā tamariki. He kuia te kaiako, ā, ka hāpai ia i ngā kaimahi rangātahi ake ki te ako i ngā hītori, ngā tikangā, me te reo o Ngā Paerangi. Ka whakarite ngā kaimahi i ngā haerengā ki ētahi atu marae, me ngā whare karakia, ngā urupā, me te taiao o te hapori nei. Ka kitea te whakawhanaketangā o te tuakiri me te arongā toi whenuatangā o ngā tamariki hei uri o Ngā Paerangi.

Rongo ai ngā tamariki i te reo me ngā tikangā Māori i ngā wā katoa. Ka whakatairangā te kaiako i te mita o Ngā Paerangi, me ngā tikangā o te iwi. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki, ā, ka whakapuaki i ngā pātai whānui hei hāpai i te whakawhitiwhiti kōrero mā te reo Māori. I ngā wā ako ōkawa, ka ū ngā tamariki ki te reo Māori i ngā wā katoa, ā, e tīmata ana ki te whakapuaki māhorahora nei i te reo Māori ki horopaki kē atu. E whanake ana ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo o Ngā Paerangi.

Ngā Whakaritengā Matua ka whai ake

Kāhore ngā pūkengā me ngā mātangā o ngā kaimahi e āta whakamahia ana. E mau ana ētahi o ngā kaimahi i ngā tohu mātaurangā me ngā mātangā e pā ana ki Te Whāriki, engāri e mahi kē ana rātou ki te tari ahakoa he pai kē atu ō rātou pūkengā mō te mahi ki te taha o ngā tamariki.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

E noho pūmau ana te whānau ki te whakahaere i te kōhangā reo. Tū ai ngā hui ā-whānau i ia marama, ā, ka whakatakotohia ngā meneti. Aroturuki ai te whānau i ngā wāhangā matua o te whakahaere tari me te kawengā takohangā i ia te wā. He mārama ngā tūmanako e pā ana ki te pūrongo ōkawa me te whakatakotorangā o ngā mauhangā. Ko ngā tamariki kei te pūtake o ngā whakataungā.

He pakari te whai wāhi a te whānau ki te kōhangā reo. Ka whai wāhi ngā mātua kia pai ai te rere o ngā mahingā i āta whakaritea ai, pērā i ngā mahi kai, te haere ki te wharepaku, te atawhai o ngā tamariki, me te pahi e whakawhitiwhiti ana i te kōhangā reo. Kua whakawhanakehia e te whānau tā rātou whai wāhi atu i roto i te roangā o te wā, nā ā rātou mahi ki te taha o te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhangā Reo, me tā rātou taetae atu ki ngā kaupapa whakangungu. Kua riro i ētahi o ngā mema ngā tohu mātaurangā, ā, kei te whakaoti tonu ētahi i ā rātou tohu. He harikoa, he tau hoki ngā tamariki ki te taha o tō rātou whānau ki te kōhangā reo.

Ngā Whakaritengā Matua ka whai ake

E mōhio ana te whānau, kei te āhua rangirua ngā whakaritengā ki te āta whakamahi i ngā pūnaha hei aroturuki, hei tuhi haere anō hoki i ngā aituā, te tiaki rawa, te arowhai i ngā āhuatangā mōrearea, me ngā akoako hōneatangā inā he ahi, he rū whenua rānei. Kāhore ngā aratohu kaupapa here o te wā e āta hāngāi ana ki ngā herengā ā-ture, ki te horopaki rānei o te kōhangā reo.

He tino ngoikore ngā kaimahi ki te mahi. Kāhore anō ngā pūkete kaimahi kia oti, ā, kāhore hoki he tuhingā e tohu ana i te whakatutukitangā a ngā pirihimana i te arowhai i ngā kaimahi. Kahore ngā mahi arohaehae e āta arotahi mārika ana i ngā huarahi me ngā mahi hei whai ma ngā pākeke, hei paingā hoki mō ngā tamariki.

Kāhore te aromātai o roto e āta māramahia ana. Kāhore anō kia oti i te whānau tētahi mahere rautaki e whakaraupapa ana i tā rātou ahungā whakamua, me ngā whāingā rautaki matua, ngā kaupapa matua hoki. Kāhore rātou e aroturuki ana i tēnā e mahia ana, i tēnā anō hoki i whakatutukihia ai e rātou, nō reira, kāhore e taea te tautuhi ā rātou wāhangā hei whakapai ake. Kāhore ngā kaimahi e aromātai ōkawa ana i te hōtaka akorangā, kāhore hoki e aroturuki ana i te whai huatangā o te hōtaka ki te hāpai i ngā akorangā a ngā tamariki.

3 Te Whakatau a te Whānau ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te arotake, i whakamātauhia e te Tari Arotake Mātaurangā ngā pūnaha o te ratongā ki te whakahaere i ngā āhuatangā i raro iho nei e whai pāngā 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 whakaritengā whakamoe; ko ngā aituā; ko te whāngāi rongoā; ko ngā whakaritengā akuaku; ko ngā kaupapa here me ngā tikangā haerengā whakawaho);
• te tū tika o ngā kaimahi (tae atu ki ngā taumata tohu mātaurangā; te arowhai a ngā pirihimana; ngā rēhitatangā kaiako; me te tataurangā ki waengā i te kaiako me te tamaiti)
• ngā whakaritengā, tikangā hōneatangā e pā ana ki te ahi me te rū whenua.

Ko te tikangā, ka whakatairangā ngā kōhangā reo katoa i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, me te arotake anō hoki i ia te wā i tā rātou whakatutukitangā i ngā herengā ā-ture. Me tahuri ki te whakatutuki i ngā wāhangā e whai ake nei kāhore e tutukihia ana e ai ki te ture, arā, me:

• whakarite, kia arowhaingia e ngā pirihimana ngā tāngāta katoa e mahi ana ki te taha o ngā tamariki
  [Wāhangā 319 Ture Mātaurangā 1989; Wāhangā 3 Vulnerable Children Act 2014]
• whakapūmau ngā kawengā mahi katoa a te kaituku mahi pai, tae atu ki te whakatinanatangā o tētahi pūnaha arohaehae pakari, hei hāpai i te tupu ngāio tonu o ngā kaimahi katoa, hei paingā mō ngā tamariki
  [R 47 Ture Mātaurangā (Kōhungāhungā) 2008; GMA5-7 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhangā Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhangā Reo 2008]
• whakarite i te whakatutukitangā i ia te wā o ngā arowhai e pā ana ki te wāhi, ngā rawa, me ngā āhuatangā mōrearea, me te tuhi haere o aua mahi kia haumaru ai te noho o ngā tamariki
  [R 46 (1)(2) Ture Mātaurangā (Kōhungāhungā) 2008; HS12 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhangā Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhangā Reo 2008]
• noho mōhio ngā pākeke e whakarato ana i te mātaurangā me te atawhai, ki ngā akoako hōneatangā e tika ana, tae atu ki ērā e pā ana ki te ahi me te rū whenua, me te whakatutuki i aua hōneatangā ki te taha o ngā tamariki i ia te wā, me te tuhi haere i aua akoako
  [R 46 (1)(2) Ture Mātaurangā (Kōhungāhungā) 2008; HS8 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhangā Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhangā Reo 2008]
• whakapūmau haere i ngā rehita katoa o te kōhangā reo e pā ana ki te hauora, te haumaru, me te atawhai, tae atu hoki ki ērā e pā ana ki ngā aituā.
  [R 46 (1)(2) Ture Mātaurangā (Kōhungāhungā) 2008; HS17, 25, 28-29 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhangā Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhangā Reo 2008]

4 Ngā Taunakitanga

I whakawhanakehia e Te Tari Arotake Mātaurangā me te whānau o te kōhangā reo ngā taunakitangā e whai ake nei, arā, kia tahuri rātou ki te:

• wānangā mō tā rātou tūtohingā, hei whakawhanake i ngā aratohu e whai pūtake ana, ā, e hāngāi ana ki ngā kaupapa here e whakatutuki ana i te Ture Mātaurangā Kōhungāhungā o te tau 2008, me ngā paearu raihana mō ngā Kōhangā Reo, me ngā whakaritengā ake o Te Kōhangā Reo o Kaiwhāiki, tae atu ki te tirohangā, ngā tikangā tuku iho, me ngā whakapono o Ngā Paerangi
• whakarite i te whakamahere rautaki, me te pūrongo i ia te wā i te ahu whakamua ki te whakatutuki i ngā whāingā mō ngā tamariki me te whānau
• toro wawe atu ki te āwhina e tika ana ki te whakatutuki i ngā whakaritengā matua ka whai ake i tāutuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātaurangā, hei paingā mō ngā tamariki.

Te Whakarāpopototanga

E tū ana Te Kōhangā Reo o Kaiwhāiki ki te marae o Kaiwhāiki, e pā tata atu ana ki te awa o Whangānui. Ka kitea te tūmāia me te tākare o ngā tamariki ki te ako i tō rātou tuakiri hei uri o Ngā Paerangi. Ko ētahi āhuatangā matua hei whakapai ake, ko te aromātai o roto, te arohaehae i ngā kaimahi, me ngā take e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru. E mōhio ana te whānau he āhuatangā ēnei hei whakatutuki.

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 Kaiwhāiki i roto ngā tau e rua.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

14 Poutūterangi, 2017 

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo 

Evaluation

Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki is at Kaiwhāiki Marae on the Whanganui River. Children show confidence and enthusiasm to learn about their identity as Ngā Paerangi. Key priorities for improvement include, internal evaluation, staff appraisal and matters of health and safety. Whānau acknowledge these need to be addressed.

The next ERO review of Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki will be within two years.

1 Context

‘Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au’.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki is next to the whare karakia at Kaiwhaiki Marae, alongside the Whanganui River. Ngā Paerangi is the local hapū. Most whānau have whakapapa connections to the area. Whānau say that they want their children to be immersed in the te reo and tikanga Māori. They are keen to see that their children know who they are and where they come from.

The whānau focus is on creating an effective management system and improving their practice, so that children are learning in a safe marae based learning environment.

2 The Review Findings

How well do children express themselves as Ngā Paerangi?

Children show increasing confidence to express themselves in te reo Māori, as Ngā Paerangi.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children show an increased awareness of who they are and where they are from. Karakia, mōteatea, tikanga, kōrero and waiata help children to grow their knowledge of themselves within the whānau, hapū and iwi. Kaimahi provide them with opportunities to recite their pepeha and support their peers with waiata. They regularly praise and affirm children’s efforts and achievements. The kuia-kaiako supports younger kaimahi to learn about Ngā Paerangi history, customs and language. Kaimahi organise visits to their other marae, whare karakia, urupā and local environment. Children show that they are developing a sense of identity and belonging to Ngā Paerangi.

Children are exposed to te reo me ngā tikanga Māori at all times. The kuia-kaiako promotes the Ngā Paerangi dialect and tikanga of the iwi. Kaimahi prompt children and use open ended questions to encourage conversations in te reo Māori. In the formal learning times children use te reo Māori consistently and their use of te reo Māori in spontaneous situations, is emerging. Children are developing as speakers of te reo o Ngā Paerangi.

Key Next Steps

Kaimahi skills and expertise are not well utilised. Kaimahi who have qualifications and expertise in Te Whāriki work in the office when their skills are more suited to working with children. 

Planning and Evaluation

The whānau are committed to managing the kōhanga reo. Monthly whānau hui are held and minutes kept. Whānau regularly monitor key areas of administration and accountability. There are clear expectations for formal reporting and record keeping. Children are the priority for decision making.

Whānau participation at the kōhanga is strong. Parents help with the smooth running of established routines, including kai, toileting, the general care of children and the bus to and from the kōhanga reo. Whānau have developed their involvement overtime as a result of working with the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust, and while attending training courses. Some members have acquired qualifications, and others are working towards completion. Children are happy and settled alongside their whānau in their kōhanga reo.

Key Next Steps

The whānau recognise that there is confusion about how to effectively use the systems for monitoring and recording accidents, property maintenance, hazard checks, and fire and earthquake drills. Current policy guidelines are not clearly aligned to regulations or the kōhanga reo context.

Personnel management is weak. Staff files are incomplete and there is no evidence that police vetting has been completed. Appraisal is not sufficiently focused on how, or, what adults do or will do to positively influence outcomes for children.

Internal evaluation is not well understood. The whānau have not completed a strategic plan that outlines their future direction, with key strategic goals and priorities. They do not monitor what they do, or what they have achieved and so are unable to define their own areas for improvement. Kaimahi do not formally evaluate the learning programme or monitor how well the programme supports children’s learning.

3 Whānau Management Assurance on Compliance Areas

During the review, 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 kōhanga reo are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements. The following areas of non-compliance must be addressed:

• ensure all those working with children are police vetted 
  [Section 319 Education Act 1989; Part 3 Vulnerable Children Act 2014]
• ensure all good employer responsibilities are upheld, including implementing a robust appraisal system to support employees continued professional growth for children
  [R47 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA5-7 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• ensure property, premises and hazard checks are regularly carried out and recorded for the safety of children 
  [R46(1)(2) Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; HS12 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• adults providing education and care are familiar with relevant emergency drills, including fire and earthquake, and regularly carry these out with the children, and maintain records 
  [R46(1)(2) Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; HS8 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]
• maintain all kohanga reo health, safety and care registers, including accidents. 
  [R46(1)(2) Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; HS17,25, 28-29 Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008]

4 Recommendations

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendations, so that they:

• wānanga their tūtohinga to develop purposeful and aligned guidelines with policies that align to the 2008 Early Childhood Services Regulations, and Licencing Criteria practice standards for Kōhanga Reo and the unique practices for Kaiwhaiki Kōhanga Reo, including Ngā Paerangi vision, cultural practices and beliefs
• establish strategic planning and regularly report on progress made with goals for children and whānau
• seek immediate assistance to address all key next steps for children, identified in this ERO report.

Conclusion

Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki is at Kaiwhāiki Marae on the Whanganui River. Children show confidence and enthusiasm to learn about their identity as Ngā Paerangi. Key priorities for improvement include, internal evaluation, staff appraisal and matters of health and safety. Whānau acknowledge these need to be addressed.

When is ERO likely to review the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO review of Te Kōhanga Reo o Kaiwhāiki will be within two years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

14 March 2017 

Information about the Kōhanga Reo