Kaiako are stretched to provide quality, authentic and meaningful teaching

What is the issue that is most important for you? What does your issue mean for you as a teacher, and the tamariki you teach?

Kaiako are stretched to provide quality, authentic and meaningful teaching and learning programmes while supporting our mokopuna who are increasingly presenting with diverse social and emotional needs which require additional support. We find our workload increasing as we support whānau without recognition of the well-being impacts of this on our kaiako. We aim to be meaningfully involved in our Kāhui ako but our ECE leads do not receive the same release time as our Primary colleagues to meet the requirements of the mahi, meaning this work has to be done in kaiako’s own personal time, impacting on our own hauora and ability to provide the very highest level of education for these mokopuna and their whānau.

What will it take to fix the issue you have identified?

Better ratios, increased support for learners with additional needs, pay that reflects the rigours of the workload, pay that recognises those who take on additional responsibility.

When we fix your issue, what impact will that change have on you as a teacher, and the tamariki you teach?

I hope to be able to return to the kaiako I have always aspired to be, proactive rather than reactive. Available physically, mentally and emotionally for these mokopuna and their whānau rather than exhausted.