The 1:10 ratio gives very little one on one time for [learning support] tamariki.

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

We have eight children with learning support and other children that need [learning] support but don’t met criteria. We have no Education Support Workers (ESWs), which we need. The 1:10 ratio gives very little one on one time for these tamariki, where we need to use quite specific strategies to support their learning and social skills.

The kaiako are tired, some days it feels like we are just putting out fires. All children miss out as other parts of our programme are hard to maintain when we are constantly chasing our tails.

What will it take to fix staff to student ratios?

More funding to lower ratios. Better access to learning support and ESWs.

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

There will be more time to provide responsive teaching and learning programmes. More time to go deeper with children in their learning. More time to work with children that require a bit of extra one-on-one time.