Summary of Findings from Early Childhood Centres

Early Childhood Centres were asked a range of questions that focused on management and staff, centre practice, curriculum and delivery, and engagement with whānau.   A summary of the responses follows.

Curriculum and Delivery

Centres believe that cultural knowledge does improve teaching practice and leads to improved outcomes for Māori children.  Centres provide the opportunity to learn te reo but staff are not confident in accurate pronunciation of Māori words and less than half focus on Ngāti Kahungunu language.  Less than half of those who responded indicated that local Ngāti Kahungunu content is included in the curriculum.  Predominantly, staff are not confident in basic te reo, tikanga, and local content. 

• 94% provide the opportunity to learn basic te reo in the centre (16 of 17).
• 29% of staff are confident in the accurate pronunciation of Māori words and names (5 of 17).
• 35% focus on using Ngāti Kahungunu language (6 of 17).
• 41% include local Ngāti Kahungunu content, histories, and stories in the curriculum (7 of 17).
• 29% are confident in basic te reo and Ngāti Kahungunu tikanga (5 of 17).
• 11% are confident with local Māori history and stories (2 of 17).
• 94% state that cultural knowledge does improve teaching practice (16 of 17).
• 70% requested support in this area (12 of 17).

Centre Practice

Over half of respondents use te reo Māori greetings and incorporate a marae visit in their programme.  Only one centre holds a pōwhiri or whakatau for new students and staff.

• 58% use te reo Māori greetings to welcome guests, in newsletters, and formal public addresses (10 of 17).
• 5% hold a mihi whakatau or pōwhiri to welcome new children and staff (1 of 17).
• 52% include a marae visit in their programme (9 of 17).
• 52% requested support in the teaching of language and culture (9 of 17).

Whānau

A high percentage of respondents stated that the forms of communication used to engage whānau work.  Over half hold whānau hui.

• 88% state that the forms of communication they use are effective and inform whānau of important happenings in the centre (15 of 17).
• 64% hold whānau hui (11 of 17).
• 29% requested support in engaging with whānau (5 of 17).

Management and Staff

A high percentage of centre staff have undertaken Treaty of Waitangi training.  Centres also indicated that they have sufficient budget for staff training and development.   A small percentage of centres have management team members responsible for representing the Māori community.

• 70% have undertaken Treaty of Waitangi training (12 of 17).
• 11 % have management team members with responsibility for representing the Māori community (2 of 17).
• 70% have sufficient budget allocation for staff training and development and programme resourcing (12 of 17).
• 82% requested support in this area (14 of 17).

Professional Development Support

Responses to the Cultural Standards Review Form identify two key areas that centres have requested support in.   58% of respondents also requested a follow-up interview (10 of 17).

Centres have requested:

• professional development for language, culture, and history,
• development of resources to support teaching of language, culture, and history.