Get Set for the Hui!
- Kidsfirst
- Jan 30, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 27, 2023
Me Ako Tonu – our Early Years Professional Learning Hui is back, with an action-packed programme again in April, and all going well it will be in-person this year.
It was great that we were able to go ahead with last year’s hui online but there’s nothing like being able to be face-to-face with one another – so get ready to connect!
We will be returning to Cashmere High School this year, with two days of stimulating thinking and exploration, starting on the 12th of April.
Four keynote speakers bring a range of early childhood education perspectives from around Aotearoa. A number of workshops are also planned, including hands-on experiences to enable participants to immerse in the experience.
Know somebody in the sector who would love to come, but doesn’t work for Kidsfirst? No problem – we are always thrilled to welcome educators from across the sector – direct them to https://www.meakotonu.org/tickets, and if you’d like to read more about this year’s programme for yourself, head to https://www.meakotonu.org/.
Featured this year:
Kay-Lee Jones – University of Canterbury.
Kay-Lee works in teacher education at the University, with a focus on the bicultural integration of te reo and te ao Māori into our early childhood spaces. In addition to winning a UC Teaching award in 2020, Kay-Lee has been recognised on a national level with the prestigious Ako Aotearoa Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching award – Kaupapa Māori category.
Kerry Purdue – Open Polytechnic/Te Pūkenga, Early Childhood Academic Staff Member.
Working at understanding and strengthening the policy around disabled learners rights in Aotearoa’s education spaces is Kerry’s passion. She brings thought-provoking discussion about the challenges the sector faces and possible ways forward.
Faupepe Rimoni, Ali Glasgow, Robin Averill – Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, Teachers in Initial Teacher Education.
Collectively, these kaiako have worked and researched projects based around understanding of Pacific learners in Aotearoa’s education system and have published a book on the topic. They bring a wealth of wisdom and experience to share at this year’s Hui.
Sarah Probine – Manukau Institute of Technology/Te Pūkenga, Senior Lecturer of Early Childhood Teaching.
Sarah has worked in initial teacher education for over a decade with a focus on examining children’s learning, and teaching practices involving the visual arts. Her current research is centered on inquiry-based project learning in New Zealand’s educational context.