I burnt out. On reflection I had been on the road to burnout for sometime.

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?

At the beginning of the year I was a head teacher at a kindergarten. I burnt out. On reflection I had been on the road to burnout for sometime.

Contributing factors to burn out included unsafe but regulatory ratios, increased children and whanau needs, increasingly low levels of staff wellbeing.

The effect this had on my family and I is financial as I took a significant pay decrease to allow for a reduced role and hours; my emotional wellbeing has been severely impacted as my confidence has left me.

The above conditions see tamariki missing out on having their learning needs met as kaiako juggle multiple roles for multiple children; tamariki being unsafe in their learning environments from their peers with multiple needs and the peers with multiple needs missing out on adequate funding and teaching to support their learning journey.

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

Better ratios including an acknowledgment that 2 year olds require more teachers than current ratios. More funding for children with additional needs. Kaiako wellbeing to acknowledged through increased sick leave. Increase in pay to fairly reflect the ongoing increase in workload and pressures.

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

It would see fewer kaiako burnout and retain kaiako who may leave the field. Children would be better served and provided for. Their educational and wellbeing met through safer environments and supervision and relationships with higher ratios.