Kaiako Conversations
- Kidsfirst
- Sep 21, 2021
- 1 min read
Welcome to Kaiako Conversations, an occasional series where teachers and head teachers open up about what's on their mind right now, as they battle with the day-to-day complexities of kindergarten life.
In the first of our series, Tania Batley, Head Teacher at Kidsfirst Isleworth, talks about the role of a Head Teacher, establishing links with the community, and raising profile.
“One of the most frustrating things as a kaiako matua can be a lack of engagement, low enrolment numbers in a community, or the prospect of having to grow your presence in the area,” Tania says. “It's always been important, but now, with so much competition, it can also be daunting, and scary – especially when families move on as tamariki reach school-age. It’s not easy to put yourself out there when all you want to do is focus on the tamariki already in the door,” she says.
Tania says that you have to embrace the challenges that everyday kindergarten life brings, "It's about engaging families, putting yourself out into your community, and adapting your programme so that it can suit that community you're a part of," Tania says.
“The truth is, without the numbers, ECE services are not viable. Periods of fluctuation are normal, but these periods are not the time to be complacent, and hard work is vital to success – in the minds of tamariki, their whānau, and the community around you.”
As Tania explains, with these challenges comes the opportunity for hard work, which in turn brings reward – and the time to step up is often when you feel the least motivated to do so.
Hear what else Tania has to say below: