supporting tiriti-based curriculum delivery in mainstream early ...

5.4 Case Study Three
Case Study Three was part of an urban full-day education and care centre
of children under two years old, attached to a large government hospital clinic.
The centre had moved into a new purpose-built structure just before the research
started. Nearby schools were between Deciles 3 and 10, although this was rather
irrelevant as families in the centre were travelling to work at the hospital and were,
therefore not living in the area. The centre was a large two-storey building with the
children‟s space being divided into three large downstairs areas each with access to
outdoor play equipment. Upstairs was allocated to staff facilities (kitchen, staff
room, and offices). The downstairs portion was subdivided into separate areas,
both indoors and out, to enable each age group to have their own space. The
physical space of Area 1, which was where Case Study Three was situated, was
mostly one large room. At one end was a shared kitchen facility which separated
Areas 1 and 2. At the other end of the large space was a wet area for dining and art
activities; and a separate sleep room, bathroom, and office area.
Research was carried out with teachers in Area 1 where the 13 children
who attended were aged between 6 months and 19 months. The children‟s
ethnicities were recorded as Pākehā (46.1 %, n=6), Indian (38.4, n=5), Pasifika
(7.6%, n=1) and Irish/Australian (7.6 %, n=1). In order to attend the centre at least
one parent had to be employed in the hospital clinic to which the centre was
attached.
Table 5.3 Teacher Ethnicity and Qualifications Case Study Three.
Name Ethnicity Qualification
Nilmini Sri Lankan Diploma of Teaching – NZ 3rd year
B.Ed (ECE) student
Peggy Burmese B.Ed (EC E Teaching) – NZ.
Chris H Chinese Diploma of Teaching (ECE) – NZ,
Honours student
Shani Sri Lankan 3rd year Diploma of Teaching student
(ECE).
Margaret Pākehā 1st year Diploma of Teaching student
(ECE).
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