We want to hear from you too. If you have any comments or want to share community stories and successes, please email us: ece.info@education.govt.nz .

• Calendar of key ECE Ministry dates
• Key ECE funding dates
• 2017 Early Learning Bulletins | He Pānui Kōhungahunga
• 2016 Early Learning Bulletins | He Pānui Kōhungahunga
• 2015 Early Learning Bulletins | He Pānui Kōhungahunga

Calendar of key ECE Ministry dates

Please be aware that theThis calendar has all key ECE Ministry datesEarly Childhood Education (ECE) dates, including funding dates.

This calendar is a static calendar, which can be imported into most calendar publishing formats including Microsoft Outlook, Google calendar, Apple iCal, Mozilla Sunbird and Lightning.

To import this calendar into other calendar formats, select the ‘Download calendar button’. To import individual events, click an individual event and select ‘Download.ics file’.

Note:

• You cannot download the calendar from a phone or tablet . You will need to download it to your computer and then ‘sync’ your calendar with other devices.
• New events/changes won’t automatically update in your calendar. You will need to download the calendar again or add additional events individually.

To use this calendar, click on each item to bring up additional details.

View the key ECE Ministry dates calendar or if you want to import events into your own calendar that can be downloaded into Microsoftview the download instructions for Outlook, Google calendar or Apple iCal is currently unavailable. We are working on a solution and will advise services when it is available again.

Key ECE funding dates

For key ECE Funding Dates please refer to the ECE Funding Key Dates for 2017 page .Calendar etc.

All project managers engaged to deliver school property projects must complete the module and achieve at least 80% (12/15) on the test.

School boards of trustees may also apply the Ministry procurement framework as a good practice guide for non-property related procurement.

Register

To get a login for the Learning Management System, email  eis.training@education.govt.nz with your name, organization and contact details.

Log in

To complete the module:

1. Log in to the  Training Services website [Learning Management System(LMS)] 
2. Select Browse Training (left side menu) > Self Paced Modules > Education Infrastructure > School Property Procurement Framework > Begin Module.

Southern Cross Campus (SCC) and Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae share 1 site in Mangere, and both are being redeveloped at the same time.

Construction work on stage 2 of the SCC upgrade began in December, and the site is a hive of activity.

Stage 1 of the SCC project is complete, and included the building of a trades academy to provide valuable work skills for students.

The 2 schools act as an education hub for the area and the upgrades will create an inspiring platform for future success.

Students will benefit from new high quality buildings with teaching spaces that can be changed around to suit a variety of teaching and learning situations.

Six temporary classrooms are in place for Southern Cross to use, allowing the overall building programme to be fast tracked. The project was previously planned as a 6 stage build, but there is now a shorter timeframe.

The 2 schools, with a combined roll of 1900 on completion of the project, will be physically separated, and the end result will give each school a defined area with some shared facilities.

The budget for the SCC upgrade is $23.5 million. This will deliver new teaching spaces, a library, administration and multipurpose centre, and the day care will be relocated.

Demolition of the college’s junior block and the kura’s administration building is underway.

The $21.7 million upgrade to Ngā Tapuwae will allow the kura to relocate to a larger area on the site and involves construction of new buildings and an upgrade of the wharenui. Some staff and students have been moved to temporary accommodation during the work.

Stage 1 for the kura allows the roll to grow to 400 and a proposed stage 2 to 500.

For SCC the first stage of demolition, and installation of temporary accommodation, is due to be completed this month (February 2017). 

Stage 2, incorporating the college’s junior block, is on track for completion in December this year.

Stage 3, incorporating the senior block, multipurpose space and administration building, is due for completion in April 2018.

The overall site building programme is scheduled to be completed in June 2018.

The upgrade is a significant investment in the local community and will have a positive impact on educational opportunities for students.

Factsheets

Our factsheets have been written for schools, ECE services and kōhanga reo to use.

• Leadership factsheet (part 1) : Who or what is a PCBU and the PCBU’s duty of primary care
• Leadership factsheet (part 2) : Who or what is an officer, their role, and their duty of due diligence.
• Leadership factsheet (part 3) : Volunteer Associations and Volunteers

School duty holders

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (the Act) has a set of defined duty holders. Use the information sheet below to help you identify which positions have duties at your school/kura.

• Health and Safety in Schools: Duty holders and their responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Early Childhood Education (ECE) duty holders

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (the Act) has a set of defined duty holders. The types of positions considered to be duty holders vary depending on the service type. Use the information sheets below to help you identify which positions have duties in your early learning service.

Information sheets:

• Early childhood education (ECE) centres
• Kindergartens
• Playcentres
• Home-based ECE services
• Hospital-based ECE services
• Playgroups

The Health and Safety in Early Childhood Education table sets out the definitions and responsibilities of the duty holders and has space for you to fill in the positions at your early learning service. We recommend you print this document and write in your service’s positions.

Powerpoint presentation to explain the new Health and Safety at Work Act

Use this schools/Kura focused powerpoint presentation, with speaking notes, to help you explain the new Health and Safety at Work Act to your boards, staff and community. Your sector representatives played a key role in developing this presentation.

Download the Health and Safety at Work Act presentation .

Early learning services presentation

Use this early learning service powerpoint presentation, with speaking notes, to help you explain the new Health and Safety at Work Act to your, staff and community.

Download the Early learning service Health and Safety at Work Act presentation .

Tools and resourcing

• Example health and safety policy
• Example health and safety policy - Word version
• Example policy/procedure: Others in the workplace
• Example policy/procedure: Others in the workplace - Word version
• Tool 1: Health and safety policy checklist
• Tool 1: Health and safety policy checklist - Word version
• Tool 2: Board of trustees checklist
• Tool 2: Board of trustees checklist - Word version
• Tool 3: School Officer’s checklist
• Tool 3: School Officer's checklist - Word version
• Tool 25: Others in the workplace (students and visitors checklist)
• Tool 26: Contractor's checklist
• Tool 26: Contractor's checklist - Word version
• Tool 27: Example contractors health and safety contract - Word version

External Resources

• MBIE Safety culture snapshot survey
• Institute of Directors Health and safety resources

Factsheets

• Worker participation (part 1) : Effective worker engagement and participation practices
• Worker participation (part 2) : Roles of Health and Safety Committees and Health and Safety Representative
• Worker participation (part 3) : Health and Safety Representatives Election Process
• Worker participation (part 4) : Training for Health and Safety Representatives

Tools and resources for schools

• Tool 4: Worker engagement and participation checklist
• Tool 5: Roles of a HSC and HSR
• Tool 6: HSR election process
• Tool 7: HSC membership list - Word version
• Tool 8: Example HSC meeting agenda - Word version
• Tool 9: HSC example minutes template - Word version
• Tool 10: Worker engagement guidelines
• Tool 11: Consultation checklist
• Tool 11: Consultation checklist - Word version
• Tool 24: Worker’s health and safety training plan and record - Word version
• Example policy/procedure: Worker Participation - Word version
• Example policy/procedure: Worker Participation

These resources have been developed through the Sector Reference Group and NZSTA.

Tools for early learning services

• Tool 2 - Health and safety representative list template - Word version
• Tool 3 - Health and safety committee agenda template - Word version
• Tool 4 - Health and safety committee meeting minutes template - Word version

External resources

• The WorkSafe Interpretive Guidelines on HSRs and HSCs that came out in late April 2016 are called Interpretive Guidelines: Worker representation through Health and Safety Representatives and Health and Safety Committees [PDF; 628KB] .

Attendance Services combines the Non-Enrolled Truancy Service (NETS) and the District Truancy Service (DTS) into one integrated service. We aim to support schools to:

• effectively manage attendance
• reduce unjustified absence rates and non-enrolment
• reduce the time taken to return students to education.

The Attendance Service vision is: Every student attending school every day, as a foundation for engagement in learning and achievement. 

Student attendance, along with effective teaching, has the greatest influence on student engagement and achievement.

Making absence referrals to the Attendance Service

To make absence referrals to the Attendance Service, you’ll need to use the Attendance Service Application (ASA) and have a service provider.

Once a referral is generated in ASA, it goes straight to the service provider who will allocate the referral to an Attendance Advisor or Kaiawhina for action.

Non-enrolment notifications are made through ENROL .

If your school is part of a Social Sector Trial, go to the  Ministry of Social Development website .

Making absence referrals to the Attendance Service using the Attendance Service Application

List of attendance service providers by region

Training for schools in managing attendance

Our Training Services team run online training in managing attendance for school leaders and administration staff.

If you haven’t yet received an email invite to online training, contact us at:  training.services@education.govt.nz .

List of Attendance Service providers by region

Your school should have heard from your service provider already. If you haven’t or don’t yet have a provider, use this list to find one.

On this page:

• Project Form
• Ministry-led Project Forms
• Asset Update Form
• Design Fees Release Form
• Invoice Templates
• Procurement Forms

Project Form

Who completes it?

The project manager completes the form with input and agreement from the school's board of trustees.

When to complete it

Complete the form at the beginning of any capital building project.

What is in the form?

The form records the project scope, timing and financial information. Your completed application will include copies of the design certificate, occupancy use certificate and construction observation form.

Download the form

Fill in electronically ( right click > save ... then begin. You'll need the latest version of Adobe Reader ):

• Project Form
• Example: Project Form

Print and fill in by hand if you're unable to open the above form:

• Project Form

Submit the form

Send the completed form to your property adviser so that we:

• can release funding for projects
• can track the project’s progress
• meet legal and accounting requirements for a capital building project
• can make sure funding goes to the correct project 
• have the documentation needed for audit purposes
• can upload the data into our asset management system (Helios).

Ministry-led Project Forms

Who completes it?

The Ministry project manager/delivery lead.

When to complete it

Complete the form at the beginning of any capital building project run as a Ministry-led project.

What is in the form?

The form records: the project scope, financial information, procurement, components and allocations and also contains relevant certificates (design, occupancy and construction observation).

Download the form

• Ministry-led Project Forms

Asset Update Form

What's it for?

Complete a form for each new, altered or demolished asset as the final record of work completed.

Who completes it?

Project managers.

When to complete it

Complete the Asset Update Form at the beginning of the project and at the end of the project if further changes were made.

Download the form and guide

• Interim Asset Update Form
• Example: Interim Asset Update Form
• Guide: Interim Asset Update Form

Submit the form

Save the form and fill it electronically, or print, fill and send to your local Ministry office .

Note: The asset update forms on the PMIS site are no longer available. The Interim Asset Update Form should be used until we release an online version in 2017.

Release dates and training informaton for the online process will be provided early in 2017.

Design Fees Release Form

What’s it for?

Use this form if you need to pay for consultancy services and/or consent fees before completing the construction tender (for projects over $100,000).

Note: Only Type 3: School (Prof PM) projects that are already authorised may have the design fees released.

Who completes it?

Project managers.

When to complete it

Before completing the construction tender, and if the school has not sent a procurement plan (including design and consent costs) to the Ministry, before going to market.

Download the form

Save the form and fill it electronically, or print to fill it in.

• Design Fees Release Form

Submit the form

Send to your local Ministry office .

Invoice Templates

What’s it for?

Use this template to submit project invoices to the Ministry if the school has not supplied their own project invoices.

Who completes it?

Project managers.

Download the form

• Invoice Template
• Invoice Template (with retention option)

Submit the form

Send to your  local Ministry office .

Procurement forms

Download procurement guides and templates from:

• Procurement templates and guides

Complete the forms during the procurement process to ensure a fair and transparent tendering process.

When the funding forms are submitted they must be accompanied by the signed/approved Procurement Plan and Procurement Recommendation Report.

Each exchange involves a 10 week, single term placement for Term 3 2017. Principals are expected to arrive a week before the beginning of the term and return a week after the term ends. 

• Exchange timeframes
• Who can apply
• Apply for the exchange
• Information for boards and principals about how the exchange works
• Further information

Exchange timeframe

• Applications open: December 2016 – principals apply with the support of their board.
• Applications close: 27 February 2017
• Principals (and boards) advised of outcome: 10 April 2017
• Exchange begins: 24 July 2017
• Exchange ends: 29 September 2017

Who can apply 

New Zealand principals employed on a full time permanent basis in a primary, area or secondary state or state integrated school can apply.  The application form covers the eligibility criteria in full.

Exclusions

Private and Partnership school principals and all assistant or deputy principals aren’t eligible to apply for this exchange.

Apply for the exchange

Download the application form .
Email your application to  principal.exchange@education.govt.nz by Monday 27 February at 5pm.

The application form also contains more information about the application process including what the selection panel will be looking for in the successful applicant.

Information for principals and boards about how the exchange works

Read about this years  exchange principal's term at Te Wharau School in Gisborne . 

and read about Steve Berezowski's experience in South Adelaide .

Board expectations of the exchange principal on both sides of the exchange

• take responsibility for the educational leadership and day-to-day administration of their host school, and any other tasks as delegated by the DECD (Australian based principal)principal). represent their host school to stakeholders, parents, families, whānau and the community
• represent their host school to stakeholders, parents, families, whānau and the community
• enhance their knowledge and leadership skills through collaboration with host school staff as they help their governing body address the pedagogical and other challenges facing the school
• report and share what they have learnt to support the development of principals in their own country.

The current principal continues to be involved with his or her school while on the exchange.

The role of the board during the exchange

Support for boards and the decision making process during the exchange

After the exchange

Secretary for Education: Iona Holsted

Iona Holsted was appointed as Secretary for Education on 5 December 2016.

Prior to this, Iona was the Chief Review Officer and Chief Executive of the Education Review Office. She was appointed to this role in July 2014.

Between 2007 and 2014 Iona held four senior management roles at the Ministry of Social Development, most recently as Deputy Chief Executive, Students, Seniors and Integrity Services. In this role she was responsible for services to seniors (superannuation payments), Studylink, and the integrity of the benefit system.

Iona also spent six years as a Deputy Commissioner at the State Services Commission.

She started her career as a primary school teacher in Auckland, later becoming an advocate and researcher for the Public Service Association and then as General Manager of a community controlled primary health care organisation.

Iona has completed an executive leadership programme at the INSEAD Business School, and studied strategic leadership at Oxford University.

She has been a mentor with the New Zealand Institute of Management since 2007, a Member of the Executive Leadership Learning Network and has served on Barnardos and YMCA Greater Wellington Boards.

Iona has a Higher Diploma of Teaching from Victoria University of Wellington and trained as a teacher at Waikato College of Teacher Education.

Deputy Secretary, Sector Enablement and Support: Katrina Casey

Katrina is Deputy Secretary for Sector Enablement and Support at the Ministry, responsible for ensuring all support to the sector and operations and programmes provided directly to learners are focused on maximising learner achievement.

Katrina has extensive experience across a range of public sector settings. She was General Manager of Community Probation Services at the Department of Corrections, leading 2,500 staff across 220 locations to manage offenders serving community sentences and orders. Katrina joined Corrections as General Manager Strategic Development when it was formed as a new Department in 1995. She had previously worked in the Inland Revenue Department and the Ministry of Works and Development.

Katrina holds a Bachelor of Science from Canterbury University and a Masters in Regional and Resource Planning (with Distinction) from Otago University.

Deputy Secretary, Parent InformationParents, Whānau and Community Intelligence:Communities: Apryll Parata

In July 2013, Apryll was appointed to the role of Deputy Secretary Priority Education Assignments. This group has been established to respond to urgent projects identified by the Secretary for Education.

Apryll has previously held two other Deputy Secretary roles within the Ministry. Deputy Secretary Māori Education in late February 2007, bringing a wealth of experience in education to this position. Deputy Secretary Performance and Change in April 2012. This group was charged with organisation-wide performance measurement, monitoring and improvement.

She has taught and held management positions in a number of secondary schools on the East Coast and in the Wairarapa.

Apryll has a BA in Māori Studies from Waikato University and a Diploma of Secondary Teaching. As well as being a teacher she has been Principal of Ngata Memorial College in Ruatoria, a Private Secretary to a Minister of the Crown and has also been the Director Education Practice at Gardiner Parata Ltd since 1997.

Some of her work as a consultant has included working in the area of Māori medium education, and facilitating reviews of planning processes at Te Puni Kōkiri.

Apryll has tribal affiliations with Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tahu.

Head of Education Infrastructure Service (EIS): Kim Shannon

Kim is a highly experienced operational and policy leader, who has been with the Ministry since 2000. She has led significant change in the Ministry, specialising in building value, driving good business practice and high standards of public service.

She has led programmes to unwind bulk funding, bring together multiple policy teams into one group, and managed major staffing reviews. As Programme Director for the Schools Plus initiative, she led a cross-government approach to lift achievement in education by developing pathways between secondary and tertiary education.

Kim was involved in the early part of Christchurch’s recovery, driving the business case for the capital works programme through to Cabinet’s approval. As Head of EIS, Kim introduced the first new schools PPP (public-private partnership) in education.

In Kim’s role of Head of Education Infrastructure Service (EIS), she is responsible for ensuring New Zealand’s schools are safe and inspiring learning environments, and oversees management of a $23.5 billion property portfolio, with a $600 million annual property spend.

EIS also delivers school transport assistance to more than 100,000 students in rural areas and students with special needs, drives better use of technology in schools through improved ICT infrastructure and the upgrades of all school IT networks, and ensures accurate, on-time payment for state education school employees.

Kim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and English and a Diploma in Secondary Teaching from Canterbury University. Prior to joining the Ministry, Kim worked at the Department of Internal Affairs and the State Services Commission.

Deputy Secretary, Graduate Achievement, Vocations and Careers: Claire Douglas

Claire joined the Ministry on 1 May as Deputy Secretary Graduate Achievement, Vocations and Careers. Claire is from Wellington and has held a number of policy leadership roles in central government on education policy matters. Her most recent role was at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Prior to that Claire worked in the Treasury from 2004 to 2010 and as a senior manager in the Ministry of Education from 1990 to 2004. An earlier role held by Claire was in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as an Agricultural economist.

Claire has a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Victoria University and an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science.

The Graduate Achievement, Vocations and Careers Group is responsible for tertiary education strategy, policy, sector performance analysis, youth guarantee and vocational pathways, and international education. We work in a variety of ways to ensure young people transition successfully into work or further study. We also help New Zealand compete internationally as a place to study.

Acting Deputy Secretary Early Learning and Student Achievement: Karl Le Quesne

Karl was seconded to the acting Deputy Secretary Early Learning and Student Achievement in October 2016.

His previous role was Associate Deputy Secretary Early Learning and Student Achievement. He has led a number of functions in the Ministry including policy, funding, regulatory, Better Public Services, and ICT programmes, covering special education, early childhood education and other areas.

Karl has been with the Ministry since 2000 and has held a number of significant roles within the organisation such as Group Manager, Education Work Programme, Group Manager, Early Childhood Education, Director, Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Programme, Senior Manager, Education Management Policy, among others.

Karl has an Honours Degree in Geography from Victoria University of Wellington, and was a Leadership Development Centre Fellow in 2014.

Deputy Secretary, Education System Policy: Dr Andrea Schöllmann

Andrea took on the role of Deputy Secretary, Education System Policy, in November 2013.  She joined the Ministry of Education in 2007, and since then has held a number of senior management roles, in the tertiary, international and system policy areas.  Prior to this, Andrea worked at the then Ministry of Economic Development, in regional and sector development roles, for 7 years.

The Education System Policy Group is responsible for strategic policy advice on education system settings, including advice on the system’s ability to deliver material improvements for learners at all levels.  The group provides policy advice on early childhood education and schooling, and on the performance of the education system for Māori and Pasifika learners.  It also has a focus on strengthening the medium to longer term strategic focus of the education system, and manages the Vote Education Budget.  The group is also leading the development of a social investment framework for education.

Andrea holds a PhD and a Masters degree from Lincoln University, where she lectured for some years in tourism geography.  She emigrated to New Zealand from Germany in 1990, so she also holds a number of German qualifications in the area of business management and administration, and she worked in the private sector in Germany.

Deputy Secretary People, Capability and Resources: Zoe Griffiths

Zoe was appointed Deputy Secretary of the new People, Capability and Resources group on 16 February 2015.

The role is responsible for the Ministry’s organisational capability ensuring the critical people, processes, systems and infrastructure is in place to achieve the business strategies of the Ministry. The functions within this group include: IT, Finance, People Capability, Business Services and Procurement.

Prior to working for the Ministry, Zoe was seconded from the Ministry of Social Development to work as Director of the Ministerial Inquiry into Novopay. She was appointed to the Ministry’s Leadership Team as the Director of the Secretary’s Office on 1 June 2014.

Prior to this Zoe has held a range of senior roles in the Ministry of Social Development, including General Manager – Care and Protection Support in the Child, Youth and Family Service and General Manager Strategy and Service Development in Work and Income.

Zoe has a Bachelor of Laws from Auckland University.

Deputy Secretary Strategy, Planning and Governance: Ellen MacGregor-Reid

Ellen started with the Ministry of Education as Deputy Secretary Strategy, Planning and Governance on 28 May 2015. In this role Ellen is responsible for business strategy, education system stewardship, planning and governance, risk and assurance, legal services, communications, ministerial services and support for the Chief Executive.

Ellen joined the Ministry from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), where she was Deputy Director for the Policy Advisory Group and policy advisor to the Prime Minister on social sector issues. Prior to her 3 years with DPMC, Ellen had spent almost 5 years at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).

At MSD Ellen held a variety of roles including General Manager Social Sector Strategy, General Manager Planning, Performance and Governance, and Deputy Director of the Chief Executive's Office.

Ellen began her public service career at the Treasury over 13 years ago. She holds a Master of Arts in Geography from the University of Auckland.

Raukura/Chief Advisor Te Ao Māori: Kingi Matutaera Ihaka (Matu)

Matu has been appointed to a senior leadership role which works across the Ministry to ensure all our work helps us to lift Māori achievement. Matu supports the Secretary for Education and the Leadership Team by providing advice on policy issues and the Ministry’s capability and performance in cultural contexts.

Matu has been part of the Te Ao Māori team supporting the previous Chief Advisor, Te Rau Kupenga, working across the Ministry to support Māori achievement. He was contracting at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, where he supported the refresh of their Māori Strategy, Te Arataki, and engagement with iwi/Māori. He has also contracted to the Ministry of Health supporting Māori Health Providers from Te Hāpua to Awarua (Bluff) and was recently a member of the National Health Information Technology Health Board Consumer Panel and Patients First Steering Group. Currently a member of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners Quality Advisory Committee, Matu was a member of the Steering Group for Aiming for Excellence, a quality improvement framework for GPs throughout New Zealand, released in August 2016.

Deputy Secretary Evidence, Data and Knowledge: Dr Craig Jones

Craig was appointed to the role of Deputy Secretary, Evidence, Data and Knowledge in May 2016.

Originally from Invercargill and a graduate of Otago University, Craig has been involved in the New South Wales public service for most of his career. All of his roles have had a strong focus on research and evaluation to inform policy decisions with evidence about ‘what works’, for whom and under what conditions. He has held leadership roles in Justice and in the NSW Treasury and, most recently, at the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation within the New South Wales Department of Education. In his most recent role, Craig was overseeing the evaluation of major reform initiatives across the NSW education system and other strategic research projects to inform education policy decision-making. Craig holds a PhD in forensic psychology from the University of New South Wales.

• RS7 return update for October 2016 to January 2017 funding period
• Playgroup funding round for April 2017

RS7 return update for October 2016 to January 2017 funding period

Services that submitted their RS7 returns by 8 February will receive funding overnight on Wednesday 1 March 2017.

Services that submit an RS7 return after 8 February, but before 6 March 2017, will receive funding overnight on Monday 20 March 2017.

Emails acknowledging receipt of RS7 returns are sent out to services. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email within 2 days of your submission, please check your system to confirm submission and contact the Ministry.

Funding payments are based on the information provided via the RS7 return. The March 2017 payment includes:

• wash-up for October 2016 to January 2017; and
• advance for March to June 2017.

The wash-up payment for February 2017 will be made in July 2017.

Funding advice notices are posted to services on the payment date. The Ministry does not provide confirmation of payment amounts prior to the payment date.

If you wish to discuss any ECE funding issues, please contact the Resourcing Division Contact Centre between 8am and 5pm on 0800 ECE ECE (0800 323 323) or email resourcing@education.govt.nz.

For all other queries, contact your regional office.

Resubmissions

Resubmissions are available to correct genuine errors or oversights that come to light at a later date. They should not be considered a normal part of the process. ECE services are expected to do all they can to ensure the accuracy of all data submitted.

Resubmissions for the October 2016 to January 2017 period should be made electronically via ELI. Resubmissions can be made electronically up until 31 May 2017. After this date, services wanting to resubmit data for this funding period must do so via hardcopy submission of their RS7 return.

Resubmissions may be audited by the Ministry’s Monitoring Team to verify their accuracy before they are processed. Resubmissions relating to prior periods that are more than 12 months old will not be processed.

Calendar of key ECE Ministry dates

Please be aware that the key Ministry dates calendar that can be downloaded into Microsoft Outlook, Google calendar or Apple iCal is currently unavailable. We are working on a solution and will advise services when it is available again. For key funding dates please refer to the ECE Funding Key Dates for 2017 page.

Playgroup funding round for April 2017

All PG3 Playgroup Funding forms must be returned by 28 February 2017 to your regional Ministry of Education office. Payment to playgroups will be made on 20 April 2017.

It is important that the Ministry has the most current details for your playgroup. If your playgroup’s funding contact person, postal address or bank account details have changed, please notify your local ECE Playgroup Advisor as soon as possible. Incorrect playgroup details may result in delayed funding.

• Updated police vetting request form
• Emergency planning
• Teacher-led Innovation Fund (TLIF) eligibility extended to early learning sector

Updated police vetting request form

The NZ Police have updated their vetting request and consent form. A new guide to completing the form is also available. You can find these on the NZ Police website.

The guide contains information that might be useful to agencies and applicants such as:

• a description of all the required fields in the request and consent form
• a list of acceptable primary and secondary evidence of identity documents
• an explanation on what information may be released in a vetting result, including how the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act is applied
• information on requesting an Australian National Police History Check.

Any feedback or suggestions on the new form and guide can be emailed to queryme@police.govt.nz.

Emergency planning

Now is a good time to review your emergency planning to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to deal with fires, earthquakes and other emergencies.

We recommend you review the emergency health and safety licensing criteria (HS4-8 for centre-based services, HS4-7 for home-based services and HS2-HS4 for playgroups).

This includes:

• designated safe assembly areas
• securing heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment
• written emergency plans and supplies
• practising emergency drills.

We also recommend that you check enrolment forms include up-to-date information on emergency contact numbers and the names of people authorised to collect children (GMA10 for centre-based services, GMA9 for home-based services and MA5 for playgroups).

There is good guidance alongside each of the criterion to help you meet or exceed the requirement. This includes links to tools and resources.

We also have information on our website for what to do in an emergency, including traumatic incidents. We recommend that you read these resources before you need them.

If your service’s emergency contact person’s details have changed, please email these through to your regional office.

If you have any questions, please email ECE.info@education.govt.nz.

Teacher-led Innovation Fund (TLIF) eligibility extended to early learning sector

The TLIF supports teams of teachers to collaboratively develop innovative practices that improve learning outcomes.

ECE qualified teachers and kōhanga reo kaiako holding Tohu Whakapakari can now apply directly to the TLIF for their inquiry project.

Teachers working within Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako are encouraged to collaboratively develop their TLIF project proposal.

To give ECE teachers time to prepare quality proposals, a separate funding round for qualified ECE teachers and kōhanga reo kaiako holding Tohu Whakapakari is now open and will close on 13 April 2017. ECE teachers need to express their interest in applying by 16 March 2017.

More information about the fund and how to express interest and apply is on the Ministry of Education website.

A Community of Learning | Kāhui Ako is a group of early childhood education services me ngā kōhanga reo (early learning services), schools, kura, and post-secondary, working together to help students achieve their full potential.

Kāhui Ako are part of the Investing in Educational Success (IES) initiative announced in January 2014.

There are now 180 Kāhui Ako spread throughout the country, involving 95 early learning services, 1503 schools, 3 tertiary providers and more than 495,000 students.

Although voluntary, we encourage early learning services to consider what they can contribute to a Kāhui Ako. This includes being able to share valuable expertise, knowledge and experience and support learners to navigate the 0-18 learning pathway.

As you will note from Katrina’s message in the February issue of He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin, we are encouraged that a number of early learning services have joined Kāhui Ako already. We also know that many more services are interested in joining a Kāhui Ako.

Our regional staff are actively involved in making connections between early learning services, schools and kura around joining a Kāhui Ako. To find out more about Kāhui Ako in your area, and to start getting involved, contact your local Ministry of Education Office.

• Tai Tokerau regional news
• Auckland regional news
• Waikato regional news
• Bay of Plenty – Waiariki regional news
• Hawke’s Bay / Tairāwhiti regional news
• Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu regional news
• Wellington regional regional news
• Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast regional news
• Canterbury regional news
• Otago regional news

Tai Tokerau regional news

Tēnā koutou katoa – Pōwhiri ki 2017

We welcome a new staff member to our team – Te Riini Henare – who is an education adviser who will be working alongside Des, Sacha and Shar. She will be working mostly with licensed services, including home-based.

This year the Ministry will continue to focus on participation in quality early learning services. We would like to see all 4 year olds having spent time in an early learning service prior to starting school. Take time to work with whānau in your communities to support them into your services and work with the schools you feed into to give support when they find children that haven’t had this prior experience.

Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako

The development of Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako will also continue. In Kāhui Ako, schools, early learning services and tertiary providers will work together in their community to improve pathways and outcomes for learners.

Congratulations to the following early learning services that have been formally recognised by Minister Parata as being part of a Kāhui Ako.

Far North: Doubtless Bay Kindergarten, Mission Place Kindergarten, Anne West Kindergarten, Nau Mai Mokopuna, Footprints Educare, Manaia – Early Childcare and Education (home-based), Ahi Ka Home-based Childcare, Mauri (home-based), Mauri: Whanau (home-based), Nga Wawata Bi-lingual Early Childhood Centre Ltd.

Te Arahura (Kaikohe): PAUA – Northland Tuatahi (home-based), Kowhai Corner, Whiz Kids, Hillcrest Kindergarten.

Peowhairangi (Bay of Islands): Te Waenganui Childcare Centre, Paihia-Waitangi Kindergarten, Oromahoe Kindergarten.

Twin Coast: Mangawhai Kindergarten, Wellsford Kindergarten, Wellsford Preschool Education Centre, Before Six Early Educational Childhood Centre.

You can find out more about Kāhui Ako at www.education.govt.nz.

Educator of the Year award from the NZ Home-based ECE Association

Congratulations to Jacquie Elsby, an educator with Totally Northland Home-based Childcare.

Jacquie recently won an Educator of the Year award from the NZ Home-based ECE Association. The award is given to educators who maintain professional relationships and values that promote and ensure the holistic well being of themselves, the teams they work in, families and whānau, and children.

Totally Northland Home-based Childcare see Jacquie as someone who has a great work ethic that shows she is conscientious, hard-working, and continues to build on her professional knowledge in practice through professional development. She has built strong relationships with families in her area and demonstrates a commitment to the bicultural partnership of Aotearoa through the use of Te Reo Māori, waiata and exploring individual pepeha with the children and whānau she works with. She also offers amazing role modelling and support to other educators working for Totally Northland Home-based Childcare.

Teacher-led Innovation Fund (TLIF)

The TLIF supports teams of qualified teachers from early childhood education services me ngā kōhanga reo (early learning services), schools and kura, to collaboratively develop innovative practices to improve learning outcomes.

Qualified teachers from early learning services can now apply directly to TLIF with their enquiry project. Applications close on 13 April 2017.

For further information, including how to apply, please see the Ministry of Education website.

Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards

The Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in early childhood education, primary and secondary schooling. The focus for the 2017 awards is on the design of a responsive local curriculum (delivered through the innovative use of digital technologies) that meets the aspirations of students, their whānau and communities and achieves improved outcomes for children and young people.

Congratulations to Raumanga Kindergarten who were finalists in 2016 for the Excellence in Governing – Awatea Award.

The awards are currently open, with entries closing at 4pm on Friday 17 March 2017.

Please see the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards website for information on how to enter.

Hira Gage
Director of Education Tai Tokerau
Phone: 09 436 8914
Email: hira.gage@education.govt.nz

Auckland regional news

Ngā mihi o te tau hou

Happy New Year and welcome back. I hope that over the summer break you were able to recharge your batteries, connect with family and friends, and that you all managed to find a little sunshine somewhere.

The volume of new services being licensed in Auckland continues to exceed expectations, with 81 new providers joining the Auckland ECE community over the last year. This is a significant factor in the increased participation rates we have achieved over the last year (see below) and certainly keeps our Auckland staff busy! Along with new early childhood providers, 3 new schools have opened in Auckland this term – 2 primary schools in Takanini and 1 junior high school in Flat Bush. It is really exciting for us at the Ministry to see so much growth and innovation happening in the sector and so many new opportunities for our tamariki.

Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako

On 5 December, the Minister of Education announced the next group of Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako. Congratulations to the 6 approved in Auckland – Otāhuhu, Tuakau, Mt Albert, Papakura Kōtuitui, Waiorea and Farm Cove. This brings the number of Kāhui Ako in the Auckland region to 43, including 326 schools and kura.

This year our Kāhui Ako lead advisors will be turning their attention towards the early childhood sector, and seeking to increase the number of early learning services involved in and sharing in the benefits of Kāhui Ako membership.

NZCER has recently published findings from its 2016 survey, including the views of principals, teachers, boards of trustee members and parents on their experience of Kāhui Ako. This may be a useful resource for those who are thinking about joining or establishing a Kāhui Ako.

Increasing participation

Our focus on increasing participation across our region continues to get results. At the end of September 2016, the total participation rate in early childhood was 96.2%, up from 95.5% in the previous year. We have made significant gains for children who identify as Māori, with an improvement of 2.1% to 94.5% over the year. For Pasifika children, the participation rate has improved by 1.1% to 91.7%.

The remaining non-participating children can be the most vulnerable and difficult to reach. However, they are often the ones who can benefit the most from quality ECE. Thank you all for your continued hard work supporting quality early learning opportunities.

New services

A big welcome to the new early childhood services which have been licensed or certified in Auckland from the beginning of December through to mid-January. These are set out below.

Services newly licensed since December:

• Ok Nannies (Flat Bush)
• Learning at Home (Whangaparaoa)
• Neemo Childcare Centre (Hillcrest)
• Discoveries Educare (Takanini)
• New Shoots Children's Centre (Pakuranga)
• The Rainbow Corner Early Learning Centre (Takanini).

Playgroups newly certificated since December:

• Owairaka Plunket Playgroup
• NZRL Suburbs Playgroup
• Marist Saints Playgroup
• YMCA Mt Albert Playgroup.

This month’s manager profiles

Last year we highlighted changes in our Auckland office structure and began introducing our new managers. This year we continue with 2 more of our education managers from the East and South-West teams.

Yvette Guttenbeil-Po’uhila – Education Manager, East Auckland

Yvette started at the Ministry in 2005, working in the early childhood team as a network coordinator, team leader and eventually became a manager for ECE and Pasifika Education in 2010. In August 2016, she became the Education Manager for East Auckland leading a team of 10.

Prior to joining the Ministry, Yvette worked at Child Youth and Family as a contract specialist, Auckland Public Health Services as a principal investigator leading a research team, and Auckland Health Promotion as the Pasifika health promotion adviser.

She hails from the islands of Tonga and has lived in Auckland for 42 years. She is privileged to share her life with her family and friends and to call Aotearoa home.

Yvette and her team are looking forward to working with all parts of the sector and co-designing collaborative practices that are inclusive of all our students, whānau, education sectors and partners.

Lena Orum – Education Manager, South-West Auckland

Lena started with the Ministry in 2002, a great career change to support schools and clusters of schools in their focus on improvement.

She started teaching mathematics at Tangaroa College and was also a third form dean. After 2 years lecturing at Secondary Teachers’ College, she was appointed head of mathematics at Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, a role she held for 10 years.

Lena was appointed principal of Southern Cross Senior School at a time of great change, as 3 schools merged to become the Southern Cross Campus. During these years of teaching she was involved in the mathematics association and supporting secondary education.

Lena is looking forward to working with the team to support a focus on all children and young people through Kāhui Ako and the other opportunities that are developing for collaboration.

Isabel Evans
Director of Education Auckland
Phone: 09 632 9333
Email: Isabel.Evans@education.govt.nz

Waikato regional news

E te iwi tēnā koutou katoa

Nei rā ngā mihi o te tau hou Pākehā ki a koutou katoa. Welcome to 2017 and I hope that this first Pānui Kōhungahunga finds you well and that you have each had a chance to have a short break and spend valuable time with family and friends.

Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards 2017

We are well back into the swing of things here at the Ministry of Education. I would like to draw your attention to the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards for 2017 and encourage you to look at the website and the finalists from 2016 (which include a significant number of early learning services) and seriously consider applying. If you need help with the application process let us know as we can help. The awards are truly inspirational and are a way of acknowledging the special work that happens within the early learning sector.

I hope to be able to visit with you in your communities this year. If you would like me to come and see you and your team with your children in action, please let me know. I can be contacted at paula.rawiri@education.govt.nz

Iwi in Coromandel ECE

There have been great things happening in Coromandel early learning education centres and the tamariki (children) are reaping the benefits. This is because Ngaati Whanaunga Incorporated (NWI) who were awarded a Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities (SELO) contract have been working with teachers, parents, whānau and communities through open forum or wananga. This is to give early learning centres a better understanding of the unique place Ngaati Whanaunga hold in the education space and the importance of identity, language and culture as a critical ingredient to educational success for children.

Feedback from services has been extremely positive and reports from NWI show an increase in whānau involvement and engagement with staff, with some whānau becoming more active decision makers within services. One of the most exciting achievements has been the translation of the service name – Colville Bay Preschool to Te Koohungahunga o Te Uumangawhaa-O-Ngaa Waka. This has come about through ongoing meetings and consultation between the iwi and the early learning community. The name change has great historical significance to Colville Bay and the particular area where the centre is situated and reflects the partnership between Ngaati Whanaunga and education providers.

Paula Rawiri
Director of Education Waikato
Phone: 07 850 8924
Email: paula.rawiri@education.govt.nz

Bay of Plenty – Waiariki regional news

Kia ora and talofa lava

Ka nui nga mihi ki a koutou mo te tau hou.

Greetings for the New Year. I trust that you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday break with friends and family.

Te Whāriki update

I am aware of how busy it got at the end of last year for everyone and want to thank you for the large turn-out at the various Te Whāriki update meetings. While I wasn’t able to be at every meeting I was impressed with the feedback being provided at the Taupo meeting. Cheryl reports that the feedback themes were very similar across our region. Within this Early Learning Bulletin there is an article with details about the update meetings and where to next.

ECE vacancies in Rotorua

I also want to tell you about 2 early childhood senior advisor vacancies based in our Rotorua Office. The 2 vacancies have come about because Chrissy Russell has resigned so she can pursue other interests such as looking after grandchildren and Jon Dimock has been appointed as a Principal Advisor working directly with me. The link to the position details and job description and how to apply for these positions is jobs.education.govt.nz/EDU-1258438. Do feel free to pass this information onto your networks. These positions will cover the full range of work the Ministry does with the early childhood sector and includes working with certificated playgroups and licensed early childhood services, implementing ECE policy, and working toward ensuring that as many children get to go to an early childhood service as possible. They are exciting and interesting positions. If you would like to know more please make direct contact with Rebekah Wong, Senior Business Support Officer, at 07 343 1361. Her email address is rebekah.wong@education.govt.nz.

In the March 2017 Early Learning Bulletin I will let you know more about the position that Jon has taken up. In the meantime, we wish Chrissy all the very best as she enters a new chapter in her life and thank her for her eight-and-a-half years’ service in the Ministry of Education. A resounding theme that was used by people at her farewell was her passion and commitment to children and families. I know that the playgroup families will miss her valuable input.

Tauranga’s Ministry office has moved

Please be aware that the Tauranga office is no longer located in Elizabeth Street but is now at 132 First Avenue (corner of First Avenue and Cameron Road). The telephone numbers and email addresses for staff remain the same. This move means adjusting to mobile technology and new spaces that will ultimately improve how we engage with each other and the wider community – we are ready to embrace it and make it work.

This physical move follows the recent appointment of an education manager to Tauranga, Carol Ngawati, who is helping to connect further with the community and Tauranga Moana local iwi. Together these improvements will bring us closer to providing seamless learning support for Tauranga families as we all join up in a more integrated way.

If there is anything on this page you would like to discuss or an issue you want to talk about please email me or call my mobile (see below).

Ia Manuia

Ezra Schuster
Director of Education Bay of Plenty – Waiariki
Phone: 07 349 8309
Mobile: 027 296 8196
Email: ezra.schuster@education.govt.nz

Hawke’s Bay – Tairāwhiti regional news

Tēnā koutou

Welcome back for 2017. I hope you all had a well-earned rest with family and loved ones and made the most of the beautiful weather we had. The rest of the country are asking what happened to summer, but we all know it has spent all it’s time in Hawke’s Bay/Tairawhiti – the best place in Aotearoa to live and work! I have been back since early January preparing for the year ahead. There is so much going on the education space, both nationally and regionally, so we are looking forward to a productive and exciting year.

Your Ministry team

We have been looking at the way our Ministry teams are organised to ensure we provide the best possible system stewardship to reflect and support the ever-increasing numbers of Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako in the Hawke’s Bay – Tairawhiti region. This may mean there is a change to your key contact.

My team has been asked to get in touch to discuss the new structure with you all as early as possible this term. As you can imagine, with over 300 early childhood services and 175 schools to be contacted across our region the team are making huge efforts to communicate with each of you as soon as possible.

Centrally funded PLD

The last day for submitting PLD journals was 14 February 2017.

We are looking at running some centrally funded PLD application workshops for interested Kāhui Ako / (Kāhui Ako with ECE). Please contact your advisor if you are interested in participating in these.

Finally, we will be contacting the next round of PLD panel members for Term One panels. We have rolling panels of sector representatives. Many of the panel members from 2016 remarked that panel membership was great PLD. If this whets your appetite, please contact your advisor and we can send a PLD panel member Expression of Interest application to you. It would be great to have more ECE representation.

Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako

Congratulations to the following principals who have been appointed to Kāhui Ako lead roles:

Robin Fabish (Ahuriri Kāhui Ako), Wendy Gray (Napier City Kāhui Ako) and Daniel Murfitt (Matariki Kāhui Ako) are continuing as Lead Principals of their respective Kāhui Ako for 2017.

We are keen to support ECE to engage with and join Kāhui Ako and are working on some strategies to get greater momentum. In the interim if you would like more information about forming or joining a Kāhui Ako in Hawke’s Bay please email barbara.bristow@education.govt.nz or phone 06 831 0647. In Gisborne/Tairawhiti please email rosina.shandley@education.govt.nz or phone 06 869 1539.

Congratulations to Georgina Kingi, QSO and Ross Brown

I wish to extend my sincerest congratulations to Georgina Kingi, QSO and Ross Brown for being recognised in the New Year’s Honours list. St Joseph's Maori Girls College Principal Georgina Kingi, QSO was made a Dame Companion to the Order of New Zealand for services to Māori and education. Ross Brown, former Napier Boys’ High School Principal, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for service to education. It is fantastic to have 2 of our region’s education leaders recognised for their service.

Te Matatini 2017

This week Ngāti Kahungunu are hosting Te Matatini 2017! Te Matatini is a biannual National Kapa Haka Festival and this year it includes 47 of the best Kapa Haka teams in the world. The last time Ngāti Kahungunu hosted this event was in 1983 and we won’t have the opportunity to host again until 2041! The powhiri will be held at 11am on Wednesday 22nd February and the competition will run from Thursday 23rd February 2016 until Sunday 26th February 2016. Please see attached an overview of events. I will be attending and hope to see you there.

Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards 2017

Entries for the Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards 2017 are closing soon. These awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in early childhood education, primary and secondary schooling. We encourage you all to enter. Last year, Te Puna Reo o Puhi Kaiti in Gisborne won the Atatū Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs so if you know of a school or centre doing something awesome encourage them to apply. You can get more information and enter online. Entries close 17 March so you still have time to prepare an awesome application.

New staff

Our Ministry whānau is growing. We have welcomed 10 new staff in January. Tawehi Munro has joined us as Strategic Advisor Maori, Hawke’s Bay and his counterpart Victor Walker has joined us as Strategic Advisor Maori, Tairawhiti. Arohanui Beamsley has joined us as an ECE Advisor, Joanna Bebarfald and Ashley Rollason have joined us as Speech Language Therapists and Rebecca Campbell joins us as a Business Support Officer in Gisborne. We have also welcomed four new intern psychologists.

Roy Sye
Director of Education Hawke’s Bay – Tairāwhiti
Phone: 06 833 6898
Email: roy.sye@education.govt.nz

Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu regional news

Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa

Welcome back to the New Year. I hope you all had a good break and the children and families in your service are excited about the year ahead. Our team look forward to supporting you and your communities in 2017.

Looking forward to meeting you all

Last year we ran forums focusing on a range of topics including, Self Review, Understanding Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako and the Te Whāriki workshops. These were really successful and gave us the opportunity to meet many of you. We plan to run more forums this year and will keep you informed.

Ministry staff

Many of you will have had contact with our staff. We have had some changes over the latter part of 2016 and we are taking this opportunity to introduce our team and to ensure you have the latest contact details. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

Rae Karipa, Manager Education

Rae has spent the past 11 years working in a variety of roles in the Ministry. The majority of her work has been in the Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu area, leading and managing teams to support schools and early learning services. Rae has also been focused on developing partnerships with key community groups and agencies.

Responsibilities

Oversight of schooling work programmes across Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu

Supporting staff with the implementation of early learning and school work programmes in New Plymouth, Stratford, South Taranaki and Ruapehu Territorial local authorities.

Phone: 06 349 6308
Mobile: 027 296 2195
Email: rae.karipa@education.govt.nz

Marlene Clarkson, Manager Education

Marlene began her career in early childhood in South Auckland as a kindergarten teacher. She has worked in a range of positions including a professional development facilitator, manager of a large multi-site early learning service and as a reviewer with the Education Review Office. She joined the Ministry in 2007 and during this time completed a Masters in Education Administration.

Marlene has worked in National Office in a range of initiatives to support the Better Public Service goal that 98% of all children participate in early learning prior to starting school.

Responsibilities

Oversight of early learning work programmes across Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu
Supporting staff with the Implementation of early learning and school work programmes in Whanganui, Palmerston North, Rangitikei and Manawatu Territorial local authorities.

Phone: 06 349 6304
Mobile: 027 275 1450
Email: marlene.clarkson@education.govt.nz

Nicole Hobbs, Education Advisor

Nicole has had over 20 years’ experience in the education sector as an Early Childhood Teacher and Manager and Early Childhood Education Tutor. She is committed to the well-being of young children and their whānau through supporting early childhood educators, ECE services and kōhanga reo to provide quality teaching and learning.

Nicole is an Education Advisor based in the Whanganui office and will be responsible for supporting licensed ECE services and child participation in quality services across the region.

Phone: 06 349 6310
Mobile: 027 704 8993
Email: nicole.hobbs@education.govt.nz

Leigh Owen, Education Advisor

Leigh has held a number of leadership roles within ECE. Her most recent positions include professional learning facilitation with Massey University, lecturing with UCOL, and managing a large ECE service for Best Start. Leigh is and Education Advisor based in the Palmerston North office and is responsible for supporting licensed ECE services, Te Kohanga Reo and participation projects within the region.

Phone: 06 350 9884
Mobile: 027 839 3559
Email: leigh.owen@education.govt.nz

Ginge (Barbara) Potaka, Education Advisor

Ginge has been involved in education for 15 years, 11 of those working out in the sector in ECE licensed services, and then she joined the early childhood team at the Ministry of Education in 2011.

Ginge supports the establishment of and monitors certificated Playgroups, assists with licensing support and liaises with ECE services and Playgroups occupying either Crown-owned land or buildings to ensure a current lease agreement is in place and is based in the Whanganui office.

Phone: 06 349 6303
Mobile: 027 886 0557
Email: barbara.potaka@education.govt.nz

Ann Cherie Phillips, Education Advisor

Ann Cherie’s responsibility as an Education Advisor is supporting Playgroups across our region.

2017 is a very exciting year for Ann Cherie and whānau, as they are expecting a new addition to their family at the end of February. She will take some time off on parental leave and we look forward to her return later in the year.

Farewell

Deb Rewi, Education Advisor

We are also going to say goodbye to Deb Rewi. Deb has only been with us a short while but she has made a huge contribution to our team. We wish her all the best in her new role. Deb will continue to be available to contact until 17 March 2017.

Phone: 06 757 6426
Mobile: 027 441 8836
Email: deb.rewi@education.govt.nz

Tania Anderson, Education Advisor

It is with sadness that we farewell Tania Anderson who has been in the Ministry since 2007. She is leaving us in early March to take up the challenge of new opportunities and have more time to spend with her mokopuna.  We wish her all the best.

Jann Marshall
Director of Education Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu
Phone: 06 349 6352
Mobile: 021 229 7685
Email: jann.marshall@education.govt.nz

Wellington regional update

Ngā mihi o Te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa. Welcome back everyone.

I hope you all had a great break and some time away. I had 10 fabulous days in Queenstown and while the weather was mixed I still managed to have a great family time.

Like you, I am looking forward to the year ahead. It’s going to be a big year for many of us, with a change of Minister(s) in May and a general election on 23 September from which a new government will be formed. This will bring us both opportunities and challenges as a region.

Like many of you, I like to focus on the opportunity. As Shakespeare said:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and miseries.
On such a full sea we are now afloat,
And we must take the current when it serves
Or lose out ventures.”

Julius Caesar, Act 4

Opportunities of particular interest for you in the coming year will include the Te Whāriki update. More information can be found on our website.

Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako

Many of you will also be interested in the Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako work across our region. Currently we have 18 established Kāhui Ako and we are in discussions with the sector regarding further Kāhui Ako that may form. The 18 that have formed to date represent 169 schools and 49,702 learners.

We are very mindful of how we support early learning services to engage with existing Kāhui Ako and how we might support early inclusion of services in further Kāhui Ako that form. We are committed to working with you to support better outcomes for children and Kāhui Ako are very much the mechanism by which we see this happening.

As you might imagine, established Kāhui Ako across the region are at different stages of engagement with the early learning sector. We have, for instance, a Kāhui Ako where early learning services are represented on both the Steering Group and Kāhui Ako Leadership Group and have been in attendance from the very early stages. Other Kāhui Ako have had initial discussions with early learning services and some are just starting to put their attention to how they might include services.

If you are interested in understanding more about Kāhui Ako in your area, or would like support to engage with Kāhui Ako, please do not hesitate to contact your Senior Advisor who will connect with the appropriate Lead Advisor Kāhui Ako to ensure support.

All the best for the start of the year. Remember: we are here to help!

Feel free to contact me – see details below.

Suze Strowger
Director of Education Wellington
Phone: 04 463 8668
Mobile: 027 229 4009
Email: suze.strowger@education.govt.nz

Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast regional update

Tēnā koutou katoa

A very warm welcome back to everyone for what I am sure will be another great year. The team is looking forward to working with you all again and to meeting those of you who are new to the region. I hope you have enjoyed a relaxing summer holiday (pity about the weather) and taken time out to have fun with your families and loved ones.

I want to especially acknowledge all of you working in Kaikoura and Marlborough. It has been an ongoing challenge and we will be visiting and supporting you during the term. Please do not hesitate to contact an advisor if you have any issues or concerns.

Changes in our regional office

The start of the early learning year always brings with it a sense of excitement. That is certainly the case in our team this year with the changes we are implementing to how we work.

As part of the update of Learning Support a number of roles were disestablished and new roles created. There are some additional roles in early childhood education (ECE) and the schooling team. A new overall structure has also been established. Once recruitment to the new roles has been completed I will provide an overview of the structure and new staff for you all. In the meantime, I have included contact names and details for key lead personnel in our region.

Support

It is always my intention to provide you with the most helpful and timely service possible. You work immensely hard in your early childhood services and I want to make sure that we are fully supporting you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or issues you want to discuss. 

I look forward to working with you all again in 2017.

Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast staff

	Erika Ross, Director of Education Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast Email: erika.ross@education.govt.nz   Phone: 03 539 1533 Mobile: 027 509 0430
	Patrick McEntyre, Manager Learning Support Email: patrick.mcentyre@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1519 Mobile: 027 289 7672
	Jan Hills, Service Manager  Based in the Greymouth office Email: jan.hills@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 768 2014
	Christine Curnow, Service Manager  Based in the Nelson office Email: christine.curnow@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1518
	Kristen Hammond, Service Manager (Acting) Based in the Motueka office Email: kristen.hammond@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 528 1752
	Rachel Patrick, Service Manager (Acting) Based in the Blenheim office Email: rachel.patrick@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 579 1874
	Deborah Van Dam, Education Advisor Licensing Based in the Nelson office Email: deborah.vandam@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 546 3473 Mobile: 027 248 0208
	Elizabeth Hamilton, Education Advisor Certification Based in the Nelson office Email: elizabeth.hamilton@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1504  Mobile: 027 836 4971
	Joanna Lorimer, Education Advisor Certification Based in the Greymouth office Email: joanna.lorimer@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 768 2018  Mobile: 027 479 8750
	Ryan Holt, Infrastructure Manager Email: ryan.holt@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1520
	Jill Lees, Lead Advisor  Email: jill.lees@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1545
	Graeme Sims, Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako Lead Advisor Email: graeme.sims@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1515
	Ash Crossland, Business Support Manager  Email: ashley.crossland@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 539 1528 Mobile: 027 403 3910

Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako update

In early December 2016 the Minister of Education announced the approval of a further 32 Kāhui Ako. Included in this announcement was approval of Tahunanui school’s expression of interest to join the Ngā Ākonga ki Whakatū Kāhui Ako. This means that 97% of children in Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast attend a school that is part of a Kāhui Ako. The Minister also announced that 6 kindergartens (Grove Street, Nelson South, The Brook, Victory Square, Auckland Point and Hira Rural) have joined the Nelson City Kāhui Ako.

The next opportunity to join a Kāhui Ako is in April. Please contact Graeme Sims (Kāhui Ako Lead Advisor) if you need any further information. He can be contacted at graeme.sims@education.govt.nz or by phone 027 403 3910.

The list of expert partners to work with leaders from Kāhui Ako to build collaborative practices and meet their achievement challenges is now online. Kāhui Ako leaders are able to choose who they want to work with from this list. The list is available on the PLD website Expert Partners. Graeme is available to support you through this process.

Have a great start to the year.

Erika Ross
Director of Education Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast
Phone: 03 539 1533
Email: erika.ross@education.govt.nz

Canterbury regional news

Kia ora

Welcome to 2017. I hope you have had a great holiday break with whānau and friends. This year is promising to bring some big changes to the early learning sector with the Te Whāriki update, funding review decisions, implementing effective learning support for children attending early learning services and increasing early learning involvement in Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako. We will continue to update you on these through this Bulletin.

Could you let all staff know that they can receive He Pānui Kōhungahunga – the Early Learning Bulletin directly by emailing Earlylearning.bulletin@education.govt.nz and asking to be added to the distribution list. It is important that staff have access to the information contained in the Bulletin. You may also be interested in reading the Bulletin for school leaders which is published fortnightly – this can be found on our website.

At the end of 2016 the Minister approved 6 new Kāhui Ako for the Canterbury region, bringing the total approved in Canterbury to 23. The 23 Kāhui Ako represent 178 schools (68%) and 32 early learning services. This is an exciting development for the region and again thank you for your time and commitment. For further information about Kāhui Ako and how your service might be involved, please contact any of the Education Advisors or education managers in the Christchurch office.

We have information on our web pages related to the recent international PISA results. New Zealand has consolidated its position among the top half of countries in the latest international study into educational achievement. Read more on our website.

The Children’s Action Plan and the Vulnerable Children’s Hub (The Hub) is part of a project in Hamilton, Counties/Manakau and Canterbury. The Hub is a contact point for frontline professionals and practitioners in these regions to raise concerns about vulnerable children.

The Hub enables early identification of vulnerable children and takes proactive, preventative steps to address the needs of the child and their family/whānau. Information is available on the Children’s Action Plan website including how to refer a child, how to hold difficult conversations with parents and other useful tips. Read more on the Children's Action Plan website.

At the Futures Network hui in December 2016, participants mentioned that they sometimes do not know who to contact here. Please find contact details for the Canterbury ECE staff below. If you are in doubt, please email ECE.Canterbury@education.govt.nz and the right person will respond to you.

There have been some changes with both Ruth Fleming and Lima Magele returning to their positions here – welcome back. Julie Gibbons has also left us to take up an opportunity in the sector. We wish her well in her new role and thank her for the contribution she has made to early childhood education during her time with us.

Education Advisors ECE Canterbury

	Barbara Madden Email: barbara.madden@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7341
	Chris Waller Email: chris.waller@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7787
	Lauren Luketina Email: lauren.luketina@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7884
	Lima Magele Email: lima.magele@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7889
	Marilyn Hawkins Email: marilyn.hawkins@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7890
	Paul Habinshuti Email: paul.habinshuti@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7522
	Ruth Fleming Email: ruth.fleming@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7753
	Jo George-Scott, Lead Advisor ECE Email: jo.george-scott@education.govt.nz  Phone: 03 378 7887

Canterbury Management Team

	Coralanne Child, Director of Education for Canterbury Email: coralanne.child@education.govt.nz Phone: 03 378 7345 Mobile: 0274 200 251
	Fuetanoa Kose Seinafo, Manager Education Email: FuetanoaKose.Seinafo@education.govt.nz Phone: 03 378 7380 Mobile: 027 496 9875
	Jill Forgie, Manager Education  Email: jill.forgie@education.govt.nz Phone: 03 378 7780 Mobile: 021 281 9972
	Sean Wheeler, Manager Education  Email: sean.wheeler@education.govt.nz Phone: 03-378 7754 Mobile: 027 435 6271
	Susan Schneideman, Manager Education  Email: susan.schneideman@education.govt.nz Phone: 03 378 7577 Mobile: 021 813 407
	Garry Williams, Manager Education Email: garry.williams@education.govt.nz Phone: 03 378 7320 Mobile: 027 242 7799

Futures Network 2017

Dates and times for the Futures Network have been set for this year. They are Wednesday 1 March, Tuesday 13 June, Tuesday 26 September and Tuesday 14 November. All hui will be held between 9.30am and 11.30am. Please save these dates in your diary now. Details for the 1 March hui are below.

Futures Network Meeting

Wednesday 1 March, 9.30am – 11.30pm
St Augustine’s Church, 5 Cracroft Terrace, Cashmere

Agenda:

1. Welcome, waiata and introductions
2. What’s hot – a round of sharing the most current issues for services (this will also cover the result of the Futures Network survey from the end of 2016)
3. Guest presentation – Juanita Davidson (Ministry of Education Service Manager) will talk about learning support services accessible to early learning services followed by Q & A
4. Community catch up – opportunity to network and collaborate with others.

Tea and coffee provided – please bring something to share for morning tea.

Mā te wā

Coralanne Child
Director of Education for Canterbury
Phone: 03 378 7345
Email: coralanne.child@education.govt.nz

Otago – Southland regional news

New Education Advisors

Kia ora koutou and warm Pasifika greetings.

Welcome back to 2017! I know you will have exciting plans ahead to work with the staff, parents, whānau and community to support the learning pathways of the children in your care. We are delighted to welcome Robyn Laidlaw and Maryse Anderson-Kereti to our ECE team. Education Advisors Robyn and Maryse will be working with both schools and playgroups in the Southland area. Both have prior experience in early childhood settings and are excited to be able to support our Southland playgroups. Robyn has already been out to her first playgroup (thanks Little Southern Sparklers) and is relishing this very important work. We all know that high quality early learning sets our children on a positive pathway for life.

Early Learning Curriculum: What’s important and what works – October 2016

The new ERO publication Early Learning Curriculum: What’s important and what works (www.ero.govt.nz) synthesises findings from 17 national reports about curriculum implementation in early learning services. Examples of effective practices in the areas of design, implementation and evaluation are shared and discussed.

They state that in the best examples of practice:

“A mix of deliberate and spontaneous teaching, balanced with child-initiated learning enables teachers to extend children’s developing understandings. Where this is happening children are developing sound foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes along with a repertoire of working theories and dispositions, critical for their success as life-long learners. Pedagogical leadership has featured as a key contributing factor in services with well-aligned curriculum processes and practices” (p.4)

And:

”Internal evaluation (self review) underpins high quality practice. Leaders in services who value and champion internal evaluation coupled with clear expectations about how to inquire into and evaluate practice are essential to services’ effectiveness in improving outcomes for children. Leaders need to engage teachers in discussion about their practices and children’s learning” (p.5)

The specific examples of effective practice cover areas such as Māori learners, Pacific learners, infants and toddlers, social and emotional competence, literacy and mathematics, transition to school, pedagogical leadership and assessment. This publication is well worth exploring with your staff.

Please contact me if you wish to discuss any issues or ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Ngā mihi mahana

Julie Anderson
Director of Education Otago – Southland
Phone: 03 471 5217
Mobile: 027 836 4846
Email: julie.anderson@education.govt.nz

Your board of trustees can apply for a review of the provisional roll we used to calculate your provisional staffing entitlement.

You need to demonstrate that our estimate of your resourcing roll is at least 5% at variance with your prediction. We need clear evidence that supports this variance before we’ll consider approving a change. For example, provide us with your roll trends over time, evidence of any demographic or population changes, and anything that will influence your roll for the next year.

A list of projected enrolments alone is not enough evidence.

Apply for a review of your provisional resourcing roll

The application period for provisional roll reviews falls during September and October each year. We will let schools know the due date for applications in the annual state funding circular . We'll add the provisional roll reviewA form beforewill be available for download during the application period.

If you are a:

• primary school, intermediate school or restricted composite school, submit your review form to your local Ministry office 
• secondary school, composite school or special school, submit your review form to Resourcing Division, Ministry of Education.

• Overview
• Deal with a proposal
• Get Ministry approval for common situations
• Get Ministry approval for specific situations
• Renew an agreement

Overview

As a board of trustees, you can agree to any request to lease or hire out any of your school property. There is no automatic right for third parties to occupy your school property. If you agree, then it must be approved by the Ministry. There are different standard agreements that we provide, depending on the situation.

Your school can be leased or hired out for a variety of reasons such as:

• community groups hiring the school hall
• groups wanting to use your playground for after-school care use or weekend sports
• play groups leasing an empty classroom
• the council building a community gym on land leased from your school.

When people and organisations use parts of the school, it’s called "third party occupancy". There are certain things you have to do before you can lease or hire out any part of your school.

After the board of trustees have agreed to the lease, you need Ministry consent (a legal requirement under  section 70B of the Education Act 1989 ).

Deal with a proposal

If someone who wants to lease or hire part of the school, the board must to discuss it and pass a resolution at the next board meeting.

Before agreeing, consider:

• risks to the school (costs or problems from having people on school property)
• insurances (property may not be covered if leased out)
• the future of the school (classrooms may be needed for roll growth)
• whether you will be committing future boards to long-term agreements (some leases can go for 35 years)
• day-to-day operations, such as extra pressure on services
• whether your school community will consider it an acceptable use
• whether third party staff or employers need to be vetted by the police
• if the benefits to your school will outweigh inconveniences
• special rules around Sleepovers in schools

The board must approve before accepting a proposal. The approval must be documented in minutes or a letter.

Get Ministry approval for common situations

Examples of common situations

• one-off hall hire
• polling centre on election day
• emergency relief centre
• after-school care
• early childhood education
• night classes
• using the school pool
• playgroups
• council libraries and sports facilities.

Apply for approval

• Approval in Principle form

Send it to your local Ministry office .

Ministry considerations

Before approving an application, the Ministry will consider:

• if your school needs the land and buildings during the term of the agreement
• if your school needs the property at all (if you’re considering a long-term lease it may be better to dispose of the property )
• benefits to your school, including any educational benefits (there doesn’t have to be an educational benefit but if the agreement will disadvantage the school it won't be approved)
• day-to-day operation (for example, administrative support to run a community facility)
• health and safety issues 
• ownership (we won’t approve Ministry-owned land or buildings being transferred to a third party)
• if you can afford to commit some of your own funding if this is proposed (for example, sharing the costs of building a sports facility with your council will need separate approval, see Board funding )
• if the agreement would commit the Ministry to pay for buildings and facilities we wouldn’t otherwise provide
• if the agreement is in the public interest and won’t affect the welfare of the general public (if this is a concern, you should consider consulting with your community before applying for consent from the Ministry)
• that the board has approved the occupation (supplied board minutes or letter approving occupancy).

For some situations your local council will need to grant a resource content or a specific licence (in addition to Ministry consent) for the proposed activity (for example, a vegetable market). It is your responsibility to ensure that all council requirements are met.

Sign the agreement

If we approve the proposal, we will send you an agreement to complete with the third party.

You must use our agreement and cannot make changes to it, other than to complete the schedule with details like the names, term and rent.

There are 3 types of agreements:

1. Land lease – where the third party provides their own building on the school grounds.
2. Building lease – where a third party has the sole use of a school building.
3. Shared use licence – where a school and a third party share a building, for example, the school pool.

We have specific agreements for some uses (such as early childhood services) . We will send you the one that suits.

You and the third party must sign 3 copies and return them to us. We will sign our consent (we are not a party to the agreement) and send you back a fully signed copy.

The agreement is recorded by the Ministry.

2. Get approval for specific situations

There are 3 specific lease situations that have different approval processes and agreements:

1. Casual use agreement

Casual use agreements are for occasional use (for example, the local rugby club uses the school field once a week for practice,practice or someone wants to hire your hall for an event, or your school will be used as a polling centre on election day).event).

• Casual Use Agreement Letter

You don’t need Ministry consent to enter into a casual use situation (but contact us if you’re unsure if it is such a situation).

It’s important you have the right agreement as they have different terms for things like insurance and costs.

2. Internet access agreements

Internet access agreements let an internet service provider (ISP) use the school’s ultrafast broadband to provide community access.

• Approval in Principle form (download above)
• Information required with application form

The annexures are technical and must be fully completed. You will need your ISP to fill this out. Our Technology in Schools team will review it.

If the ISP wants to set up equipment at your school:

• Licence to locate ICT and internet equipment on a school site

3. Dental clinic agreements

A separate process and several different agreements apply when District Health Boards run oral health services at your school.

• Dental clinics on school sites

Renew an agreement

To renew an agreement, submit the following to your local Ministry office:

• completed Approval in Principle form (remember to tick "renewal") (download above)
• board minutes (or letter approving occupancy)

• Te Whāriki update 
• Application of 1:50 person responsible ratio for home-based ECE services 
• Early learning services and the new food safety law

Te Whāriki update

The Ministry of Education commissioned an update of TeWhāriki following the recommendation from the Advisory Group on Early Learning (AGEL) that an update would support a stronger implementation of the curriculum. The Ministry worked with a group of sector experts, including practitioners and academics, to write a draft for people for wide consultation.

Consultation began on a draft version of Te Whāriki on 4 November and ran for 6 weeks, closing on 16 December 2016.

The consultation period provided multiple opportunities for engagement with the early learning sector, schools, parents and whānau to attend one of 36 face-to-face hui nationwide and engage with an online survey. The nationwide hui were attended by more than 1400 people who all provided feedback.

The online survey received 774 responses. The majority of responses were from the early childhood sector. All feedback was carefully considered and has informed the update.

A launch date for the final version of Te Whāriki has yet to be confirmed.

A summary of the consultation feedback received, along with corresponding changes the Ministry has made, will be made public at the time of the launch.

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback. We are preparing our youngest children for the future, and this begins with quality early learning and an empowering curriculum.

More information on the Te Whāriki update can be found at Education.govt.nz/updating-te-whariki. 

Application of 1:50 person responsible ratio for home-based ECE services

We are aware there has been some misunderstanding about regulation 44(1)(d)(ii) of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 and whether or not it applies to home-based ECE services.

Regulation 44(1)(d)(ii) outlines the requirements for services to have one person responsible (also known as a coordinator) for every 50 children attending the service.

This notice confirms that regulation 44(1)(d)(ii) applies to all home-based ECE services.

The 1:50 person responsible ratio helps encourage quality education, and support health and safety requirements through the supervision of educators and children by the person responsible.

Our expectation is that all licence applications will demonstrate compliance with this condition as part of the assessment process. If you are not currently operating at a 1:50 ratio, you will need to make sure you meet this regulation as soon as possible.

If you have any queries regarding the 1:50 person responsible requirement, please contact you regional licensing advisor in the first instance.

For more information about person responsible requirements can be found on our website. 

Early learning services and the new food safety law

Does your early learning centre serve food? If so, you may need to register under the new Food Act by 31 March 2017.

What’s the new Food Act?

The Food Act 2014 is a new law which aims to improve food safety, including in schools and early childhood centres. It applies to childcare centres that sell food or provide food as part of a paid service. There are different rules for different businesses, depending on what they do.

What do you need to do?

All ECE services must ensure the food they serve is safe and suitable to eat. ECE centres or kōhanga reo that cook meals, or prepare food like sandwiches or salads, need to register and meet some requirements. Most ECE centres and kōhanga reo that provide meals and food to children will operate under national programme 2, a set of rules for those serving medium to lower risk foods.

You’ll need to:

• register with your local council – if you have centres in more than one council area you can choose to register with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) instead
• meet food safety requirements and keep some records
• get checked by a food safety verifier to ensure you are doing everything right.

New centres need to register under the Food Act as soon as they open. Existing centres must apply to register by 31 March 2017.

By 30 June 2017, existing ECE centres and kōhanga reo on national programme 2 must be registered and meeting requirements.

What are the costs?

You will need to pay for registration and verification (being checked). Verification agencies set their own fees and hourly rates vary from $115 to $210. We expect verification to take around 2 to 3 hours in most ECE centres and kōhanga reo if there are no food safety issues. Registration is once every 2 years and each council sets their own fees. You will be verified once every 3 years if you are managing food safety well.

Organising a verifier

Agencies that can verify you are listed on the MPI website. You need to contact one before you register, but you won’t be verified straight away. Existing centres have up to a year after they’ve registered to have their first verification.

A few ECE centres have experienced problems finding a verifier in their area. MPI is currently putting in place an action plan that will increase the number of verifiers across the country and ensure consistent, affordable pricing. If you cannot find a verifier in the price range above please contact MPI at info@mpi.govt.nz.

More information and useful resources

Speak to your local council about registering or visit the MPI website for more information at www.mpi.govt.nz/foodact.

Useful resources include:

• Follow steps to a national programme 2 on the MPI website
• Read the guidance for early childhood centres and kōhanga reo [PDF; 249KB]
• There’s also a template for keeping records [DOC; 60KB]
• See the top 5 food safety factors [PDF; 1.97MB] for early childhood centres

If you’re not sure whether you need to register use the Where do I fit? tool on the MPI website.

The key areas of focus for the tool were based on feedback provided by Communities of Learning | Kāhui Ako about issues they were facing, as well as factors that are known to strongly influence learning.

Issues raised included:

• how to develop shared expectations among members of a Community of Learning | Kāhui Ako atCoL at key transition points to enable learners to move more seamlessly though their education journey
• support for undertaking and sharing collaborative inquiry projects
• how to recognise and spread great teaching practice across their communities so that students learn in better and more powerful ways

Factors that influence learning include:

• having a clear direction for learning
• effective and adaptive teaching practices
• collaboration with parents/whānau and community
• rich opportunities to learn
• formative assessment, feedback and action.