[Ratios] do not meet the needs of individual mokopuna and it does not acknowledge their developmental ages.

What does the issue of staff to student ratios mean for you as a teacher, and the tamariki you teach?

My concern relates to the current minimum ratios for under 2s and over 2s which I believe are inequitable in the current model. It does not meet the needs of individual mokopuna and it does not acknowledge their developmental ages.

What will it take to fix staff to student ratios?

This systematic inequity needs to be addressed to remove the barriers for learning outcomes for our mokopuna . The model of calculating ratios for under 2s and over 2s is too narrow and needs to take into consideration the whole child not just the age. Each child arrives at our centre with diverse needs and our ratios do not meet the needs for most. This is an untenable situation that cannot be ignored . Our mokopuna deserve so much better.

When we fix staff to student ratios, what impact will that change have on you as a teacher, and the tamariki you teach?

If this is addressed our kaiako will be able to be the teachers that we all aspire to be. In my centre kaiako often feel that they are spread far too thinly to truly meet the needs of our tamariki and to give them the best start in their learning journey.