Kōwhiti Whakapae is built upon four foundations: Te Tiriti o Waitangi, identity, language and culture, inclusion, and the principles of Te Whāriki. Together these foundations task kaiako with providing equitable opportunities for all mokopuna to thrive within individually and culturally responsive learning environments.
This includes:
- promoting equitable outcomes for Māori and weaving te reo Māori and tikanga Māori meaningfully into the everyday curriculum.
- valuing children’s home languages and cultures and being responsive to their cultural ways of knowing and being.
- working with families, whānau and community to identify and dismantle barriers to participation and learning, including adapting environments, teaching approaches and challenging beliefs that limit children’s potential.
- weaving the four principles of Te Whāriki through all curriculum decision making and using them to guide every aspect of pedagogy and practice.
