Nau mai haere mai
o our Welcome t of ition latest ed Poutama
Kevin says...
A word about care The Footsteps philosophy is to demonstrate care in everything we do. It’s not the politically correct type we hear when elections are upon us and every politician suddenly ‘cares’, it’s about a care that is not intended to make us feel good but rather a care that enables every young person we care for to be the best they can be. Care is about an intention to make a difference in children’s lives. A dear friend once told me that care without love is no longer care but just a good deed. I want to honour and thank all of you who are involved with the Footsteps service. The uncomfortable truth is we all have a “one off limited opportunity window for care” for each one of these potential leaders of the future. The footsteps you imprint on the lives of our tamariki during these crucial years, will be ingrained into their whole life. The care you are passing onto these tamariki will not only have an effect now, but will change their future, their whānau and their community and those they meet on their journey. Not one single organisation or person has all the answers, but it is our combined care that is making the difference, not just a couple of good deeds.
Footsteps staff further equipped through FASD training Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a range of developmental defects caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The consequences for children are lifelong and include behavioural and learning difficulties. This is why we felt it was important for all Footsteps staff to have further knowledge in this area and why we have partnered with Alcohol Watch to provide this training. In March, all Footsteps kaiako/teachers nationally had training to understand FASD, the effects for young children, and strategies to support caregivers. The second training session will be
When a mother ingests alcohol it crosses into the blood supply of the fetus. This can cause fetal cell death and disrupt the way cells specialise, grow and migrate.
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KEVIN CHRISTIE Big Boss Man
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held nationally in June for all kaiako. A third training session is scheduled later in the year for trainers. This will provide ongoing internal training so that all new kaiako joining Footsteps will have the opportunity to gain this added skill. At the end of the first training session, Footsteps kaiako Cassandra said, “The most important thing that I took out of the workshop was that when working with children with FASD, we need to work to their ability/stage of development and what is appropriate for them, just like we would with any child.” The estimated prevalence of FASD internationally is 1-4% of live births (Sampson et al, 1998). At that rate New Zealand could expect 632 to 2528 babies born affected in 2014. Only a very small proportion of affected children in NZ have received a diagnosis (Leversha et al, 2000). To date, no prevalence studies have been done on the NZ population.
“The information provided was well researched, specifically pertinent to our New Zealand Culture, and debunked many of the myths that I previously thought concerning FASD. ” - Ruth
Footsteps became aware of the additional skills required by early childhood teachers when they began working alongside vulnerable children and their families. Partnering with Alcohol Watch is one of many collaborations that ensure Footsteps kaiako have the latest knowledge when working with the complexities around children who have experienced adversity. Being aware that drinking alcohol during pregnancy is harmful to the fetus, and seeing the children and how they were affected prompted this latest partnership with Alcohol Watch. We both have the same purpose - ‘bringing awareness and providing positive outcomes for these children’.
“The FASD training provided me with new knowledge on this subject that I was previously unaware of. Taking a step back and seeing each child as an individual, with FASD or not, we can work to their strengths and support each child at their current stage."" - Cassandra It is known that when the mother ingests alcohol it crosses into the blood supply of the fetus. It can cause fetal cell death and
Evidence of the damage that alcohol can cause to the brain. The alcohol damage to the brain on the left resulted in death.
disrupt the way cells specialise, grow and migrate. Alcohol is damaging to brain development. The pattern for each person with FASD is unique, so knowing the child, caregiver and family and building on their strengths can equip them for a positive future. Footsteps kaiako are skilled at building learning in the home for vulnerable children with a strength based focus, so meeting the individual needs of the child and tailoring our programme, is already part of everyday practice. The training provided recognises that structure, supervision, routine and consistency are important factors for children with FASD to be successful. This fitted in well with the Footsteps philosophy and working alongside Te Whāriki, the Early Childhood Curriculum, which is our guiding document. Footsteps continues to invest in professional development to ensure that kaiako have the best possible knowledge and skills when working in the home with young children. This is particularly relevant for children that we work with who are in the care and protection of Child, Youth and Family, as data shows a high prevalence of behavioural and learning difficulties, some of which may be attributed to FASD. We strive to make a difference for these children by building learning in the home that is unique to them. To support the message of FASD, Footsteps are holding workshops to impart knowledge and understanding surrounding this subject. These workshops are open to everyone, so if you would like to find out more or register your interest, please email Sheldine. sheldine@footsteps.co.nz
Some of the telltale effects of FASD include a small head, short nose and underdeveloped jaw.
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Footsteps approved to work with parents Introducing the Footsteps Parenting and Early Childhood Home Education Programme The launch of our exciting new Parenting Programme enables Footsteps to reach more children and whānau, allowing us to say ‘yes’ to many families that we were previously unable to work with. As many of you know, Footsteps Education is always looking for new ways we can support families, enabling them to become self-sustainable. Footsteps have recently been approved by the Ministry of Social Development to deliver a Parenting and Early Childhood Home Education Programme (Parenting Programme) for families. In addition to our Learn Programme (where we work with caregivers), Footsteps is now able to offer this exciting new service that is tailored to parents and their children. It is now firmly understood from research that the early years are fundamental to a person’s future success in life. The quality of where a child is cared for can be enhanced when early learning is put around the child in their home environment. The benefits are far reaching as the child is recognised as a treasured individual with potential. The family begins to understand the child’s needs, what learning looks like, and learning ripples to the extended whānau and community. Home is an amazing place for a child to learn and grow, and with the added expertise of a qualified early childhood teacher visiting the home, children and whānau are given new pathways that change their future. Millions are spent in the criminal justice system, mental health, addiction services, and other health problems due to the lack of care and education in the early years. There are lifelong consequences for children and society in general if parents lack the knowledge and skills to provide a safe, secure, interactive and loving environment for their children. Early intervention is the most crucial tool for us to change pathways for children and timing is crucial, as the longer you leave it the more costly and harder it is to fix.
The Parenting Programme empowers parents with knowledge and confidence to enjoy parenting* The outcomes of this programme include: Empowering whānau with knowledge and confidence in order to enjoy parenting. Imparting skills needed to support the developmental needs of the child, and encourage the forming of secure attachments. Valuing parents for the important role they play in the lives of their children. How can the Footsteps Parenting Programme support families? Footsteps are able to link whānau to other services and community activities, providing wrap around support and ensuring vulnerable children and their families stay visible in the community. Because Footsteps is nationwide, we are able to continue supporting families should they move to another community. Our unique child centred approach means families are more willing to participate in our service and retention and engagement in the programme remains high. Supporting families early on can stop generational, systemic parenting issues. The home provides a rich learning environment for children so building learning in the home is a simple and effective way to benefit children, families and communities.
The place where a child receives care is critical to their future
Footsteps new Parenting Programme supports parents with their children's learning
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The benefits of building learning in the home in this way include: Potential risks to the child’s safety and health are decreased. The physical environment supports the child’s learning. The child is happy and displays improved emotional wellbeing. The child’s learning is supported and extended. Parents needs are met and their knowledge of positive parenting is extended. The values, beliefs and language of the child’s family are supported.
Parents confidence and self-esteem improves. Children and parents are empowered to learn and grow. Improved relationships between parents and children. Children are equipped with the processes for learning when they enter school. The Footsteps Parenting Programme is now included on a list of approved Parenting and Early Childhood Home Education Programmes with Work and Income New Zealand. This programme can be delivered to families who meet the requirements for a Work and Income New Zealand, Early Learning Payment (ELP) subsidy. Alternatively, the service can be privately funded, or Child, Youth and Family may be able to fund the programme for those families requiring extra support that do not fit the current funding criteria. The ELP subsidy is available to: Children enrolled with selected Family Start or Early Start providers where ELP funding is available Children aged 18 to 30 months may be eligible for up to 20hrs per week
Children aged 30 to 36 months may be eligible for up to 15hrs per week Why is the Parenting Programme so important? Many of the costly and damaging social problems for families can be reduced, even eliminated by giving children and their parents the right support early on. Research shows that early intervention like the Parenting Programme is the key. Currently only 0.1% of GDP is spent on preventative services. Building learning in the home in the early years is the key to building resilience in children. Experiences for the developing child in the early years impact on their cognitive, communication, social and emotional competencies. The early years shape how they will contribute to society in the future. They are our future parents. This is why it is worth investing in our children now.
*A huge thank you to the families pictured on page 3 and on the front cover, for giving their time and story for our Footsteps film about teen parents, and this issue of Poutama.
Support office goes around the world in 365 days Island dancing, Indian curries and gift giving is not your typical day in the office - unless you work for Footsteps! This year, the 2014 Footsteps calendar features a wonderful array of cultures from around the world, celebrating the diversity that we see represented in our own country and Footsteps families. To make the most of this fun resource, the Footsteps team were assigned the mission of exploring and sharing these cultures, bringing them to life; what resulted was a whole heap of fun! Everyone in the office was given free reign to celebrate their month in whatever way they chose. Jenny and Kevin started with the month of April, and transported us all to the exotic country of India. What resulted was a Footsteps version of Holi Day! Authentic food, colourful decorations, and gift giving were all important components of the day. Jenny said that “one of the best things about organising the day was talking to the local Indian community and hearing their excitement as they told me all about how they celebrate Holi with their own families.” March moved us across the ocean to the tropical country of Niue. Gabrielle and Marina enjoyed planning a Niuean celebration, complete with Niuean style musical chairs, island dancing, national anthem and pop quiz. What they found particularly interesting was learning about what differentiates Niue from its Pacific neighbours. Continuing on our world tour landed us in May - Cultural Diversity month. Everyday, Roimata highlighted a different country in the world where someone in the office was from, revealing our own family history. It was fantastic learning about just how diverse our whānau is, not to mention the fun facts we learnt along the way, such as the amount of pizza that is consumed in America each day (100 acres for those of you who were wondering). In a workplace that strives to bring learning and fun to children, Footsteps have adopted this same culture in their office. Next month features the little Pacific nation of Tonga, so why not take this opportunity to “unpack children’s potential through play” and plan a celebration with your family or friends, Tongan style?
Above: The ladies perform their Niuean dance moves. Left and right: Support office celebrate Holi Day.
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Home based education proves itself in the later years The Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki, is based on the principles of Whakamana (Empowerment), Kotahitanga (Holistic Development), Whānau Tangata (Family and Community), and Ngā Hononga (Relationships). The strands and goals of Te Whāriki; belonging, well being, contribution, communication and exploration, all arise from these four principles and reflect the diversity within each early childhood service. What better place to find these principles and strands in action than in the Haast community. Haast is a small but vibrant community on the West Coast of New Zealand. Visiting kaiako/teacher Angela Cartlidge, recently caught up with six of the children that she taught on the Footsteps Learn Programme who are now in school. Tessa and Scott aged seven, Lily aged six, Billy and Belinda aged five, and Harry aged eight, all attend Haast school in Hannahs Clearing. Angela talked with some of the parents, caregivers and children to find out what their favourite memories of the Footsteps Learn Programme were. She met with the children at school on a very wet day when the children were all inside enjoying spending time Lily and kaiako Angela on Lily’s last with their friends at break Footsteps visit before school time. Billie remembered the visits from her kaiako and talked about the book “Gerald the Dancing Giraffe” that was brought along to help extend her interest in books and in having stories read to her. Providing a selection of storybooks relevant to the child’s interests, are a great way to help extend learning and build literacy skills. “It was inspiring to see Billie in the library at school, now able to read the words of the storybooks for herself. Billie’s ability to learn words started with having stories read to her both by her Mum and her caregiver,” says Angela.
Lily was with Footsteps from the age of two until she started school. Mum, Myreen, valued the Footsteps service and had nothing but praise about the positive outcomes for her daughter.
Lily loved... The various resources that were handpicked to match her interests Looking through her own personalised Learning Journal and photo stories That the visits from her kaiako were just for her Now Lily is thriving at school and enthusiastically exploring a range of activities. She has developed the confidence to interact with other children and adults and is able to share her ideas and take an interest in her own learning. The focus on Lily’s education in the early years has set Lily up to be a lifelong learner.
Lily enjoys spending time on the computer at her new school The benefits of Footsteps’ service flow on through the school years. Karyn Gamble, a teacher at the Haast school and parent of Cora, shared that Cora, aged four, had been getting ready to go to school, and had benefited greatly from the input that her caregiver Rachel had provided. Cora had become more confident in her social interactions and had learnt life skills such as following instructions, taking turns and taking other people’s thoughts, ideas and feelings into consideration. Cora will be transitioning into school at the end of the year, and Mum said that the education that she has received in her early years has been setting her up to continue to enjoy learning and to feel confident about going to school. Harry and Belinda Hope and Tessa and Scott Norton, are two sets of siblings who have also benefited from the Footsteps Learn Programme.
Billie loves reading in the school library
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Harry remembered... He was interested in the world so his kaiako and caregiver gave him maps and globes which he loved exploring
her ideas and thoughts with others and to enjoy the social interactions that she has with other children. ‘Granny’ Faye, Tessa and Scott’s caregiver for almost two years, talked fondly about her Footsteps visits. She said that she really appreciated the regular monthly visits and the opportunities to chat about Scott and Tessa’s learning and development. Faye said that she could see the benefit of early childhood education in the home setting and how it has been instrumental in preparing the children for school.
Harry is now at school and able to source information through books and computers by himself, with the help and support of his parents and teachers.
Children are more able to learn when they have formed reciprocal relationships with the people around them. Tessa and Scott certainly bonded with Faye and had some great adventures both inside and outside the home. Faye took them for walks into the community and used lots of natural resources to teach the children about the outdoors, using the things that they saw to help cement learning about literacy and numeracy. This learning along with the time and commitment that Mum and Dad made to Scott and Tessa’s learning and development, helped to set them up to be lifelong learners and communicators.
Belinda, Harry’s younger sister was eager to have her say too. “I liked the puzzles”, she said. Belinda’s enjoyment of completing puzzles started at an early age as she begun to grasp the concept of how a puzzle fitted together. She developed a strength for problem solving which she has taken on into her school years.
Footsteps has been privileged to be part of these children’s, caregivers and families lives, working alongside each child as an individual to enable them to reach their full potential. At Footsteps we wish the following from Te Whāriki for every child; that they grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.
Focusing on Belinda’s developing interests and abilities in her early years, has helped her to develop the confidence to share
Thank you to the wonderful Haast parents, caregivers and children who have contributed to this article.
Ara Poutama - Korero mai!
The best way to become confident in te reo is to practice using it as often as you can! A good way to do this is to use it in everyday situations. Here are some easy commands to use around the office, home or when you’re out and about. ‘E’, is used to command an action in Māori, the desired action when using ‘E’ must only consist of one long vowel or two short ones. For example: E inu! – Drink up! E tū! – Stand up or to stop! E noho! – Sit down! E moe! – Sleep! E kai! – Eat up! 21 - 27 July 2014 Your mission, should you choose to accept it: The theme for Māori Language Week 2014 Provide one short passage using three of these commands. is ‘Te Kupu o te wiki’, the word of the week. Here’s a tauira, an example: www.korero.maori.nz Pāpā: Pēpe, e moe! Get amongst it whānau! Pēpe: No! I’m hungry. Pāpā: Ok, let’s go to the kitchen. E noho! Pēpe: Yummm…. Pāpā: E kai! Have a go whānau, check the online dictionary to look up some kupu, some words, you can use. Help with pronunciation can be found here, www.korero.maori.nz. Kia kaha, kōrero mai, say it loud and proud!
Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori
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ket e
Unpacking children’s potential through play
It's the cooler months - leaves can be fun! Instructions
You will need:
1. Allow children to discover and explore using all their senses. 2. Allow children to explore in their own way and take your lead from the children’s play. 3. Discuss with children shapes, patterns, colours, feel, and sound. Use proper names and terms. Use open-ended questions. 4. Use books, photos and other media (DVD, internet) to find the answers to some questions the children may ask. 5. Introduce science concepts like how leaves are formed, when they fall, properties of the leaves, do they change colour? 6. Use leaves in sinking/floating experiments. 7. Use leaves for drawing, absorbing colour, threading and stacking. 8. 9.
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Collection of leaves – different shapes and sizes Plastic seal - optional if you wish to display leaves up on windows
Introduce maths concepts, like weight quantity, size, matching, pattern making. Go on a walk in your local environment and find and collect other leaves and natural resources.
How to extend learning • • • •
Using natural resources, such as shells or stones, for maths learning, like weight, matching, sorting, counting, size, shape. Learning how to take a closer look at the wonders of the natural world. Allowing the child to explore and discover using all their senses. Learning how books, pictures and other media can help us discover more, answer our questions, and find out about rocks in Māori culture and legends.
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One small step for your child, one giant leap for their education
Want to know more about the Footsteps ‘Learn’ or ‘Parenting Programme’? Looking for a Caregiver? Call 0800 366 878 and speak with one of our team.
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