At Ahutoetoe we believe that ākonga learn best when they:

·       feel accepted

·       enjoy positive relationships with their fellow learners and teachers, and

·       are able to be active, visible members in their learning community.

Inclusive education means all ākonga are engaged and achieve through being present, participating, learning and belonging. At the heart of Ahutoetoe’s vision (to connect (hono), nurture (poipoi) and inspire (hiringa)) is that education does more than simply instill knowledge in the minds of our ākonga but it nurtures their mental, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing, so that they can grow and reach their potential.

What does this look like at Ahutoetoe?

·       Wellbeing is at the forefront of our thinking, and we have partnered with the Mitey project to support and develop our ākonga’s mental health

·       We are committed to providing a safe and positive environment for all ākonga

·       Intentionally building positive relationships with ākonga, whānau (families) and wider community.

·       Recognising and valuing our diverse learners’ strengths and areas that require extra support through flexible small groups, differentiated and tailored support.

·       ESOL support in class & small groups

·       Supports are based on evidence-informed approaches. 

Ahutoetoe is a school that welcomes open communication and partnership. If you have any information or queries involving your child, please contact the class teacher in the first instance.

Our school SENCo is Sarah Prestidge and she can be contacted via email at sprestidge@ahutoetoe.school.nz

At Ahutoetoe School we embrace a variety of cultures and language backgrounds. English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)  is a Ministry of Education (MOE) funded initiative to support and teach English to learners whose first language is not English but who are living in an English speaking country.

The ESOL staff at Ahutoetoe school echo the school’s vision to connect with our English language learners ( ELLs) and leave a legacy of good, proficient English communication. We nurture new beginnings in language learning by creating a safe and respectful learning environment. We inspire our students to be the best they can be.

The school’s ESOL team conducts an initial assessment that entails short oral language and general vocabulary enquiries. It also includes a short unassisted writing sample and a reading text. We use this assessment to determine each learners next steps.

English language learners are likely to develop receptive skills (listening and reading) first, followed by productive skills (speaking and writing). We take into account how humans acquire the capacity to perceive and comprehend language. We learn a language by first listening, then speaking, followed by reading, and lastly mastering writing (language acquisition).

The ESOL support programme teaches language skills across all New Zealand curriculum topics and prioritises productive skills (speaking and writing) to produce language output.

English language learning is provided both in the classroom setting and in small group withdrawal sessions. We also provide one-one sessions for foundation English users throughout the daily programme. The ESOL staff plays an important role in helping our English learners to move towards independence.