Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kotahitanga Ki Waitaha

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 Te Kotahitanga ki Waitaha ki te hapori o Aranui, ki Ōtautahi. Ko te rū whenua i Ōtautahi i te tau 2011 i tino pā kaha ki a rātou. E tautoko tonu ana Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo i te tupu me te noho pūmau o ngā kaimahi, me te whakahou ake o ngā whare. E wawata ana te whānau kia rumakina ngā mokopuna ki te reo Māori, ki te ao Māori, ā, kia whakawhiti hoki rātou ki te kura kaupapa Māori.

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te hāpai o ngā tukanga me ngā pūnaha a te whānau i ngā putanga e whai hua ana ki ngā mokopuna?

Kua whakaritea e te whānau ngā pūnaha hei hāpai i te waiora o ngā mokopuna me tā rātou ako.

4 Mana Whakahaere

He tukanga, he pūnaha hoki ā te whānau mō te whakahaere i te nuinga o ngā āhuatanga o ngā whakaritenga. Tū ai ngā hui ā-whānau i ia te wā, ā, he kaha hoki te taetae atu. Kei ngā meneti o ngā hui ngā mōhiohio papai. Kua whakahāngaitia ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga o te hauora me te haumaru ki ngā herenga ā-ture. Whakatutukihia ai e ngā kaimahi ngā akoako hōneatanga ohotata i ia te wā. Ka āta tuhi hoki i aua akoako. Ka noho mātua rā te hauora me te waiora o ngā mokopuna. Ka whakatinanahia te mahere rautaki ki Te Ara Tūāpae, ā, e whakatakoto ana hoki i te tirohanga me ngā wawata o te whānau mō ngā mokopuna. E āta whakatau ana te mahere ā-tau i te whakatutukitanga o ngā mahi whakahaere matua i roto i te wā e tika ana. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaiako i ia te wā, i tēnā e mahia ana, e ākona ana hoki e ngā mokopuna. Ko te whai oranga me te ako a ngā mokopuna e whai wāhi atu ana ki te whakatau ngātahi a te whānau i ngā whakaritenga.

Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaimahi ki te whakawhanake i te hōtaka akoranga. He matawhānui ngā mahere, ā, ka hāngai ki Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo. Kei ngā mahere ako, ko ngā mahere ā-tau, ā-wāhanga, ā-wiki hoki hei āta ārahi i ngā kaimahi, ā, hei āta whakatau i te whai aronga me te whai pūtaketanga o te hōtaka. Ka kapo atu ngā huarahi aromatawai i ngā wā ako me te ahu whakamua a ngā mokopuna. Ko ētahi o aua huarahi aromatawai, ko te mātai tamaiti, ko ngā kitenga, me ngā paki ako a ia tamaiti kua whakatakotohia ki te pūnaha matihiko o Te Aho Poutama. E whai hua ana ngā mokopuna nā te whakatōpūtanga o ngā whakaritenga a ngā kaimahi.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake 

Me whakapakari tonu i te aromātai hōtaka. Kua tīmata noa ngā kaimahi ki te tautuhi i te kounga o te hōtaka akoranga. Ko ngā whakaritenga ka whai atu, ko te tuhi i tēnā i whai hua ai, me tēnā hoki e tika ana kia whakapai tonu. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā te whai aronga o ngā huarahi i whakaritea ai.

Kāhore anō kia kitea ētahi o ngā wāhanga kaupapa e pā ana ki ngā tuhinga kaimahi. Kua whakatau ngātahi te whānau me Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ka noho wātea aua tuhinga hei tirohanga i te wā ka tae atu 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.

6 Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia mahi te whānau ki te taha o te tari ā-rohe o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo kia tautokona tā rātou aromātai hōtaka, ā, kia whakaritea hoki ngā tuhinga katoa e pā ana ki ngā take kaimahi mō te wā ka tae atu Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ki te kōhanga reo.  

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

16 Whiringa ā-nuku, 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 provides important information for hapū and iwi.

2 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kōtahitanga ki Waitaha is situated in Aranui, Christchurch. The whānau were severely impacted by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust are providing ongoing support with kaimahi growth, retention and building upgrades. Whānau aspire for mokopuna to be immersed in te reo Māori, te ao Māori and transition on to kura kaupapa Māori. 

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do whānau processes and systems support positive outcomes for mokopuna?

Whānau have established systems to support mokopuna wellbeing and learning.

4 Mana Whakahaere

Whānau have processes and systems in place for managing most aspects of operations. Regular whanau hui are held and are well attended. Hui minutes provide good information. Health and safety policies and procedures reflect legislative requirements. Kaimahi undertake emergency evacuation drills regularly. These are well documented. Mokopuna health and wellbeing is a priority. The strategic plan is informed by Te Ara Tuapae and includes the vision and aspirations whānau hold for mokopuna. An annual plan ensures key operational tasks are completed in a timely manner. Kaiako regularly share what mokopuna are doing and learning. Mokopuna overall wellness and learning informs collective whānau decision making. 

Kaimahi work together to develop the learning programme. Planning is detailed and aligns to Te Whāriki ā Te Kōhanga Reo. Mahere ako includes annual, term and weekly plans to guide kaimahi and ensure the programme is focused and purposeful. Assessment methods capture moments of mokopuna learning and progress. These include mātai tamaiti, observations and individual learning stories documented through a digital platform Te Aho Poutama. Mokopuna benefit from collaborative kaimahi practices. 

Key Next Steps

Programme evaluation continues to require strengthening. Kaimahi are in early stages of identifying the quality of the learning programme. Next steps are to document what worked well and what is required for ongoing improvement. Mokopuna would benefit from focused internal evaluation approaches.

Other matters related to personnel documentation are yet to be sighted. 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.

6 Recommendation

ERO recommends that whānau work alongside the district office for support with programme evaluation and to make available all relevant documentation for personnel matters during the onsite visit. 

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

16 October 2023

7 Information about the Kōhanga Reo

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kotahitanga ki Waitaha i Aranui, ki Ōtautahi. Kua roa nei te kōhanga reo e whai hononga ana ki ngā tāngata o tēnei takiwā. Nō iwi kē atu o tēnei rohe te nuinga o te whānau.

He maha ngā whakarerekētanga ki ngā tūranga kaimahi, whai muri i te arotake a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i te tau 2014, ā, mā te tautoko anō hoki o waho e whakawhanake ana ngā kaimahi o tēnei wā i ō rātou pūkenga ngaio.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu ana i tō rātou tuakiri me tō rātou aronga toi whenuatanga?

E whakawhanake ana ngā tamariki i te tino tuakiri me tō rātou tino aronga toi whenuatanga ki te kōhanga reo.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka whai wāhi nui ngā tamariki ki te reo Māori i roto i tētahi taiao e āta poipoi ana i a rātou. Ka tāutu te whānau i te reo Māori hei wawata matua mō tā rātou whakauru i ā rātou tamariki ki te kōhanga reo. E whakamahi ana ngā kaimahi i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo rautaki e whai hua ana ki te whakaako me te whakatairanga i te tupu o te reo, tae atu ki ngā waiata, ngā kēmu kupu, ngā kanikani, te tāruarua, me te whakatauira. E whakawhānui ana ngā kaupapa ako i te māramatanga o ngā tamariki i te reo Māori ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo horopaki o ia rā, o te ahurea hoki. E whakawhanake ana te tūmāia o ngā tamariki ki te whakamahi i te reo Māori i a rātou e tākaro ana.

Ka whai wāhi atu, ka whanake hoki te mōhiotanga o ngā tamariki ki ngā tikanga ka puta i te hōtaka o ia rā. He mārama ngā mahinga me te āhua o te noho ki te kōhanga reo. Ka hāpai ngā kaimahi i te ārahitanga o ngā tuākana i ngā tikanga i te hōtaka. He mātātoa te whai wāhi atu a ngā tamariki ki ngā karakia me ngā waiata. He pai ngā kaimahi ki te whakatauira ki ngā tamariki te āhua o ngā taunekeneke ki waenga i a rātou anō, ki ētahi atu pākeke hoki. Ka whakaatuhia ki ngā pakitara ngā whakapapa o ia tamaiti. Ka ako ngā tamariki i ō rātou hononga ki ētahi atu. E tūmāia ana ngā tamariki ki te kōhanga reo.

Ka kitea te whakaute me te manaaki o ngā tamariki ki waenga i a rātou anō, ā, ki ngā pākeke hoki. E mōhio ana ngā tamariki ki ngā tūmanako e pā ana ki te whanonga pai. Ka whakatau ngā kaimahi i ngā matea o ia tamaiti, mā te toro atu ki ō rātou whānau me te āta mātakitaki i tā rātou whai wāhi atu ki te hōtaka. Ka akiaki rātou i te whai wāhi māhorahora o ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga, mā te noho takirōpū, mā te mahi takitahi rānei. He pākiki te aro atu a ngā tamariki ki ētahi atu, ki tō rātou whai wāhi nui hoki ki te kōhanga reo.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

E whai wāhi atu ana ngā tamariki ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo wheako akoranga. Ka whakamahere ngā kaimahi i ngā hōtaka akoranga e whakawhānui ana i te māramatanga o ngā tamariki ki te ao e noho nei rātou. He mārama ngā hononga ki Te Whāriki. Ka ahu mai ngā mahere i ngā kaupapa e hāngai ana ki Ngā Atua Māori me ngā kaupapa whakahirahira pērā i a Matariki. He harikoa ngā tamariki, ā, he ngana tā rātou whai wāhi atu.

Ko ngā matea ako, te waiora, me te noho haumaru o ngā tamariki tētahi kaupapa matua ki te whānau. He tino pai te whai wāhi atu me te tautoko o te whānau. He pai te tae ā-tinana atu ki ngā hui ā-whānau i ia te wā, ā, he maha ngā wā ka āta wānangahia ngā kaupapa kōrero. He pai te whakahaeretanga o ngā tuhinga e pā ana ki ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga, engari, kua makere atu ētahi o ngā whakaritenga auau e whai pānga ana ki ētahi o ngā tukanga haumaru. He mauritau ngā tamariki.

E tino tautokona ana ngā kaimahi i roto i ō rātou tūranga mahi ki te kōhanga reo. He tuhinga tūranga mahi, he kirimana mahi hoki ā ia kaimahi. Kua tīmatahia tētahi tukanga arohaehae auau hei tātari i te whakawhanaketanga ngaio me ngā whāinga ako. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā te kaha ki te tautoko tonu me te whakawhanake tonu hoki i ngā kaimahi.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Tērā anō ētahi wāhanga matua kia āta tirohia e ngā kaimahi, hei whakapai ake i te kounga o ngā whakaakoranga me ngā akoranga mā ngā tamariki. Ahakoa ka whakawhiti kōrero ngā kaimahi i ia te wā, mō tēnā me tēnā o ngā tamariki me te āhua o tā rātou ahu whakamua, kāhore ngā kaimahi e whakawhanake ana i ngā mahere ako e waihangatia ai hei whakatutuki i ngā matea me ngā ngākau nuitanga o ia tamaiti. Kāhore ngā kaimahi e tuhi ana i ngā aromatawai e pā ana ki ngā tamariki, hei whakamōhio ki ngā mātua i te ahu whakamua, te whakawhanaketanga anō hoki o ā rātou tamariki i roto i tā rātou ako. Ka kōrerohia ngā aromātai hōtaka, engari kāhore ēnei e tuhia ana. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki nā ngā tukanga aromatawai, aromātai hoki i āta whakaritea ai.

Kei te whanake tonuhia ētahi wāhanga o ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau. Kāhore i te whānau tētahi tirohanga paetawhiti, tētahi mahere paetawhiti hoki ka ārahi i te ahu whakamua o te kōhanga reo ā meāke nei. He iti noa ngā whakawhitinga kōrero e pā ana ki ngā kaupapa rautaki matua me ngā whāinga. Kāhore he mahere ā-tau hei āta whakarite i te whakatutukitanga o ngā tikanga haumaru i ia te wā me ngā whakaritenga matua, ngā mahi whakahaere matua anō hoki. Kāhore anō kia whakatinanahia ngā akoako hōneatanga ina he ahi. Kāhore ngā take pūtea e kōrerohia ana, e pūrongotia ana, otirā, e whakatutukihia ana hoki e te whānau. Ko te tikanga, me noho pūmau te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki ki te aronga o ngā mahi whakahaere ki te kōhanga reo. 

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.

I tāutuhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā wāhanga kāhore e tutukihia ana e ai ki te ture. Kia tutukihia e te whānau o te kōhanga reo āna herenga ā-ture, me tahuri rātou ki te:

• arotake me te whakahou ake i ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga katoa e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru, hei āta whakarite i te whakatutukitanga me te ū pūmau anō hoki o ngā tikanga e pā ana ki ngā akoako hōneatanga ohorere ina he ahi, hei painga mō ngā tamariki.
  [R 46 Ture Mātauranga (Kōhungahunga) 2008; HS1,8,12,25,28 Paearu Raihana mō ngā Kōhanga Reo kei raro i te maru o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo 2008]

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:

• whakatutukihia e te whānau ngā whakaritenga matua i tāutuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo hei whai ake
• tukuna tētahi mahere mahi ki Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, e whakaatu ana i te huarahi ka whāia e te whānau ki te whakatutuki ngā take katoa i whakatakotohia ai ki tēnei pūrongo.

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 Te Kotahitanga ki Waitaha i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

27 Hōngongoi, 2017

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo 

1 Context

Te Kotahitanga ki Waitaha is in Aranui, Christchurch. The kōhanga reo has had a long association with the people of this area. Most whānau whakapapa to iwi from out of this region.

A number of staff changes have occurred since the 2014 ERO review and the present kaimahi are developing their professional skills with the help of external support.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do tamariki demonstrate a sense of identity and belonging?

Tamariki are developing a strong sense of identity and belonging in the kōhanga reo.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Tamariki are exposed to te reo Māori in a supportive environment. Whānau identify te reo Māori as the key aspiration for enrolling their tamariki at the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi use a range of effective strategies to teach and promote language growth including waiata, word games, kanikani, repetition and role modelling. Kaupapa ako broadens tamariki understanding of te reo Māori in a range of familiar and cultural contexts. Tamariki are developing confidence to use te reo Māori in their play.

Tamariki experience and develop an awareness of tikanga within the daily programme. Routines and boundaries are clear. Kaimahi support tuakana to lead tikanga within the programme. Tamariki actively participate in karakia and waiata. Kaimahi are good role models for tamariki in their interactions with each other and other adults. The whakapapa of every tamaiti is displayed on the walls. Tamariki learn about how they are connected to others. Tamariki are confident at kōhanga reo.

Tamariki demonstrate respect and care for each other and for adults. Tamariki are aware of the expectations for good behaviour. Kaimahi determine the individual needs of tamariki with their whānau and through observations of them in the programme. They encourage tamariki to participate freely in learning either in groups or on their own. Tamariki are curious about other people and their place in the kōhanga reo.

Planning and Evaluation

Tamariki experience a broad range of learning experiences. Kaimahi plan programmes of learning that extend tamariki understanding of the world they live in. There are clear links to Te Whāriki. Planning is based on kaupapa related to Ngā Atua Māori and special events including Matariki. Tamariki are happy and engaged.

Tamariki learning needs, wellbeing and safety are a priority for the whānau. The participation and support of whanau is very positive. Regular whānau meetings are well attended and challenging discussions often occur. The documentation of policies and procedures are well managed however there has been some lapse in the regular practice of some safety procedures. Tamariki are settled.

Kaimahi are well supported as employees of the kōhanga reo. All kaimahi have job descriptions and employment contracts. A regular process of appraisal has begun to determine professional development and goals for learning. Tamariki benefit from ongoing kaimahi support and development.

Key Next Steps

There are some key areas that kaimahi need to focus on to improve the quality of teaching and learning for children. While kaimahi regularly discuss individual tamariki and their learning progress they do not develop learning plans that are designed to meet the needs and interests of individuals. Kaimahi do not document assessments for tamariki to inform parents of their progress and development with their learning. Programme evaluation discussions are not documented. Children will benefit from well-established assessment and evaluation processes

Some areas of whānau management are still developing. The whānau does not have a long term vision and plan that will guide the direction of the kōhanga reo into the future. Discussion on strategic priorities and goals is minimal. There is no annual plan to ensure regular safety practices and key operations and management tasks are met. Fire evacuation drills have not been implemented. Financial matters are not discussed, reported on and addressed by the whānau. Children’s health and safety should be the focus of kōhanga reo management.

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.

ERO identified areas of non-compliance. In order for the kōhanga reo whānau to meet compliance requirements they need to:

• review and update all health and safety policies and procedures to ensure requirements for emergency fire and evacuation drills, are met and maintained for children. [R46ECS2008/HS1,8,12,25,28) 

4 Recommendations

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendations:

• the whānau address the key next steps identified in this report
• to submit an action plan to ERO to show how the whānau will address all concerns raised in this report.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

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

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

27 July 2017 

Information about the Kōhanga Reo