Working in partnership with Educators and families

Working in partnership with Educators and families

12 February 2014

Last year the Ministry of Education released a document called Ka Hikitia – The Māori Education Strategy for 2013-2017.  This document notes two critical factors that must exist for Māori children to excel and reach their full potential.  Firstly, “Quality provision, leadership, teaching and learning, supported by effective governance.” and secondly, “Strong engagement and contribution from parents, whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori organisations, communities and businesses.”

Providing care and education within a homebased setting, Nurtured at Home is well positioned to ensure these factors are actually embedded into our practice for all children.  In a homebased setting, educators, families and whānau have regular and unhurried opportunities to form true partnerships so that children can learn and grow within a nurturing and fun environment.  Our leadership and management team are passionate, qualified early childhood teachers who work with community groups and provide professional learning and development to early childhood educators, and therefore are constantly researching Ministry of Education initiatives and interpreting how best to put these into practice for the benefit of children and their families.

Our commitment to quality care and education, along with our philosophy of building partnerships with families and whānau will ensure we achieve the two goals set out by the Ministry of Education in Ka Hikitia – those being 1. In 2016 98% of Māori children starting school will have participated in quality early childhood education, and 2. By 2017, 85% of early childhood education services reviewed by ERO will be working to some extent or to a high extent in partnership with Māori whānau.