Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kotahitanga

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. Ka whakarato ngā pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i ngā mōhiohio mātuatua mā ngā whānau, ngā hapū, me ngā iwi.

2 Te Horopaki 

Ko Te Pūpūtahi te maunga
Ko Wairoro te awa
Ko Tokareireia te puke
Ko Te Kotahitanga te marae
Ko Ngāti Whakaeke te hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi.

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kotahitanga ki te marae o Te Kotahitanga, ki Kaikohe. E whakatairanga ana te whānau me ngā kaimahi i te reo Māori, i te ao Māori, me ngā tikanga Māori mō ngā mokopuna. He hononga ā-whakapapa ō te whānau ki waenga i a rātou anō, ki te marae, ā, ki te whenua hoki. Ka aro nui te whānau ki te hāhi Rātana. 

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whakaatu mai a ngā mokopuna i tō rātou māramatanga ki te whanaungatanga? 

Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna tō rātou tino māramatanga ki te whanaungatanga mā ngā taunekeneke whai tikanga ki te taha o ētahi atu.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E rumakina ana ngā mokopuna ki te reo Māori. He matatau ngā kaimahi ki te kōrero i te reo Māori, ā, kei te tautōhito hoki ki te kaupapa o te kōhanga reo. Ka whakamahi rātou i ngā rautaki e whai hua ana ki te hāpai i te whakawhanaketanga reo Māori o ngā mokopuna. Ko ētahi o aua rautaki, ko te whakatauira, ko te whāngai kupu, ko te patapatai, me te whakamihi. Ko te toro atu ki ngā waiata ki te kawe i ngā akoranga tētahi kaupapa e noho pūmau ana ki te kōhanga reo. Ka āta whakamahi ngā kaimahi i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo waiata ki te whakatau i ngā mokopuna, ki te whakawhitiwhiti i a rātou ki ngā tūmomo akoranga, me te tautoko hoki i ngā akoranga e pā ana ki ngā pepeha me ngā kaupapa. Ka whakamahi hoki ngā kaimahi i ngā pao, ngā rotarota, ngā haka, me ngā kōrero paki ki te whakapakari ake i ngā mōhiotanga o ngā mokopuna, me te hāpai i te tupu o tō rātou reo. Ka aro pai ngā mokopuna ki aua rautaki, ā, nā tēnā, kei te tupu tō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te kōrero i te reo. 

E whiwhi ana ngā mokopuna i ngā taunekeneke papai. Ka aroha, ka manaaki, ka tiaki hoki ngā kaimahi i ngā mokopuna. He mōhiotanga hōhonu, he tino māramatanga hoki ō rātou ki ngā mokopuna, ki ō rātou whakapapa, me ō rātou pūmanawa ake. Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna tō rātou ngākau titikaha i tō rātou kōhanga reo. Ka waihanga ngā kaimahi i ngā taumahi ako e tautāwhi ana i ngā ngākau nuitanga o ngā mokopuna me ngā tūāhuatanga e noho pākiki ana ki a rātou. Ka whakapuakihia e rātou tētahi taiao ako whakangahau, taiao ako whitawhita hoki e akiaki ana i te taha tūhura me te kaha o te tamaiti ki te whakapuaki i a ia anō. Kei te whakahihiri, kei te whitawhita, kei te pārekareka hoki ngā wā whāriki mō ngā mokopuna. Ka kitea tō rātou pārekareka mā roto mai i te katakata, i te kanikani, me tō rātou whakapuaki whakaaro mā te manawa whakahī. Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna tō rātou tino hononga ki ō rātou hoa, ki ngā kaiako, ki te whānau, ā, ki tō rātou kōhanga reo. Ka ngākau nui ngā mokopuna ki te ako ki te taha o ētahi atu, me te whai wāhi nui ki ngā taunekeneke e whai pūtake ana. 

Kua whakatakotohia ngā whakaritenga e pā ana ki te whakamahere, te aromatawai, me te aromātai. Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaimahi, ka tiri i ō rātou whakaaro, ā, ka waihanga ngātahi i ngā mahere e whai pānga ana anō hoki ki ngā hiahia me ngā whakaaro o te whānau. E whakatutukihia ana ngā matea o ngā mokopuna ki ngā rōpū ako ake o ia reanga. Kua whakatakotohia ngā tukanga mō te aromatawai mokopuna. Ka tukuatu ngā kaimahi i ngā aromatawai mokopuna ki tētahi pae ā-ipurangi, ā, ka whakamahi i te Mātai Mokopuna ki te aroturuki i te ahu whakamua. Whiwhi ai ngā whānau i ngā mōhiohio o te wā, ā, e āhei ana rātou ki te tāpiri kōrero me te whakautu i ngā pōhi. Kua tuhia te aromātai hōtaka, ā, ka whakawhiti kōrero ngā kaimahi i ia te wā mō ngā whakarerekētanga e whakapai ai i te hōtaka akoranga. Ka āta whakaarohia te ako a ngā mokopuna me ō rātou matea whakawhanaketanga. 

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

E whanake ana ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau. Ko tētahi aronga o mua i te mahere rautaki, ko te hāpai i te whakangungu kaimahi. Kua whakatutukihia e te whānau taua whāinga, ā, i nāianei kei te nuinga o ngā kaiako ki te kōhanga reo Te Tohu Whakapakari Tino Rangatira a Te Kōhanga Reo. Engari, tērā tonu ētahi wāhanga o ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau e tāwēwē ana, hei tirohanga atu. E whakatau tahi ana te whānau me Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ko ngā whakaritenga matua e tika ana kia whakatutukihia, ko te:

• whakawhanake i tētahi mahere mahi e āta whakatau i te aroturukitanga me te whakatutukitanga o ngā whāinga rautaki
• whakatinana i tētahi hōtaka mō te aromātai o roto, tae atu ki te arotakenga nahanaha o te tūtohinga, ngā kaupapa here, me ngā tukanga
• whakawhanake me te whakatinana i tētahi mahere ā-tau e tautuhi ana, e aru ana, ā, e āta whakatau ana hoki i te whakatutukitanga o ngā mahi matua i te tari, tae atu ki te arotakenga o ngā kaupapa here
• whakatakoto i tētahi pūnaha ki te tuhi haere i te whakatutukitanga o ngā arowhai i ia rā o ngā tūāhuatanga whakamōrearea, me te tautuhi i ngā tūāhuatanga mōrearea hei whakaiti, hei whakakore rānei, me te
• whiwhi a ngā kaimahi i ngā whakangungu e pā ana ki ā rātou kawenga takohanga ki te Children's Act 2014. 

Mai i te arotakenga a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ki te kōhanga reo tonu, kua tīmata kē te whānau ki te whakatutuki i ngā wāhanga hei whakawhanake ake, tae atu ki te:

• whakatinana i tētahi pūnaha e āta whakatau ai i te ū pūmau o ngā whakaritenga arowhai o ia rā, me te tuhi haere i ngā tūāhuatanga ki te rēhita whakamōreareatanga
• whakauru i ngā kaimahi ki tētahi whakangungu ā-ipurangi, hei hāpai i tō rātou mōhiotanga me tō rātou māramatanga ki ngā whai pānga o te Children's Act ki te mahi a ngā kaimahi, me te waiora o ngā mokopuna. 

5 Te Whakatau a te Whānau o te Kōhanga Reo ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te arotake, i tirohia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha a te kōhanga reo 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 mahi 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, ngā rēhita a ngā kaiako, me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaimahi me ngā tamariki
• ngā whakaritenga ohotata me ngā tikanga ohotata e pā ana ki te rū whenua me te ahi. 

Ko te tikanga, ka whakatairanga ngā kōhanga reo 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. 

Hei whakatutuki i ngā herenga ā-ture, me tahuri te whānau ki te:

• whakatinana i tētahi tukanga o te arotake whaiaro 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.
  [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]   

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 toro atu te whānau ki te ārahitanga me te tautoko o te tari ā-rohe o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo ki te whakatinana i tētahi mahere mahi e whakatutuki ana i ngā whakaritenga matua i tautuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo kia whāia. 

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

24 Pipiri 2024

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. ERO’s reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi.

2 Context 

Ko Te Pūpūtahi te maunga
Ko Wairoro te awa
Ko Tokareireia te puke
Ko Te Kotahitanga te marae
Ko Ngāti Whakaeke te hapū
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kotahitanga is located on Te Kotahitanga Marae in Kaikohe. The whānau and kaimahi promote te reo Māori, te ao Māori and tikanga Māori for mokopuna. The whānau share whakapapa connections to each other, the marae and the whenua. The hāhi Ratana is observed by whānau.

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do mokopuna demonstrate an understanding of whanaungatanga?

Mokopuna demonstrate strong understanding of whanaungatanga through meaningful interactions with others. 

4 Findings 

Mokopuna are immersed in te reo Māori. Kaimahi are fluent speakers of te reo Māori and are experienced in the kaupapa of the kōhanga reo. They use effective strategies to support mokopuna in their reo development. These include role modelling, prompting, questioning and praise. The use of waiata to transmit learning is a consistent practice in the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi deliberately use a wide range of waiata to settle mokopuna, transition them to different learning, and to support learning about pepehā and learning kaupapa. Kaimahi also use pao, rotarota, haka, and kōrero paki to build mokopuna understanding and support their language growth. Mokopuna respond positively to these strategies and as a result they are growing as confident speakers of the language. 

Mokopuna experience positive interactions. Kaimahi treat mokopuna with aroha, manaaki and tiaki. They have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the mokopuna, their whakapapa and their individual characteristics. Mokopuna show they are confident in their kōhanga reo. Kaimahi create learning activities to embrace mokopuna interests and fascinations. They create a fun and lively learning atmosphere that encourages exploration and freedom of expression. Wā whāriki is exciting, energetic and engaging for mokopuna. They show their enjoyment by laughing, dancing and expressing themselves with pride. Mokopuna demonstrate a strong connection to their peers, kaiako, whānau and their kōhanga reo. Mokopuna enjoy learning alongside others and experience meaningful interactions.

Planning, assessment and evaluation practices are in place. Kaiako work collaboratively, share ideas, and create plans together that are inclusive of whānau desires and ideas. Mokopuna needs are meet in age specific learning groups. Mokopuna assessment processes are in place. Kaimahi upload mokopuna assessment to an online platform and use mātai mokopuna to monitor progress. Whānau receive timely information with the option to comment and contribute to postings. Programme evaluation is documented and kaimahi regularly discuss changes to improve the learning programme. Mokopuna learning and developmental needs are considered. 

Key Next Steps

Whānau whakahaere practice is developing. A previous focus of the strategic plan has been to support kaiako training. Whānau have been successful in this goal and most kaiako in the kōhanga reo are now holders of Te Tohu Whakapakari Tino Rangatira a te Kōhanga Reo. However, there are outstanding areas of whānau whakahaere that require attention. The whānau and ERO agreed that these key next steps need addressing:

• developing an action plan to ensure that strategic goals are monitored and achieved
• implementing a schedule for internal evaluation including a systematic review of, the tūtohinga, policies and procedures
• developing and implementing an annual plan that identifies, tracks and ensures key administration tasks are completed, including policy review 
• having a system in place to record daily hazard checks have been undertaken and any hazards identified are minimised or eliminated, and 
• kaimahi receiving training in relation to their responsibilities to the Children’s Act 2014.

Since the onsite review whānau have already begun to address areas of development, these include:

• implementing a system to ensure daily checks and recording are maintained in a hazard register
• enrolling kaimahi for an online course to support their knowledge and understanding of the implications of the Children’s Act on kaimahi roles and mokopuna wellbeing.

5 Kōhanga Whānau Assurance on Legal Requirements

During the review, 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.

Actions for Compliance 

To meet compliance requirements they must: 

• implement an ongoing process of self-review to help the kōhanga reo maintain and improve the quality of its education and care.
  [Regulation 47 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008; GMA6, Licensing Criteria for Kōhanga Reo affiliated with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust 2008].

6 Recommendation

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau developed the following recommendation that whānau seek guidance and support from Te Tari ā Rohe to implement an action plan that meets the key next steps in this report.

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

24 June 2024

7 Information about the kōhanga reo