STAR & Gateway Programmes in Schools

PORSE ECE Training has established training & education programmes in secondary schools, based on Early Childhood NZQA unit standards designed to encourage students to become more knowledgeable, thoughtful and attuned to a child's emotional wellbeing and developing mind in the early years. These programmes give secondary school students the opportunity to explore a career in early childhood by learning the theory and doing the practise in early childhood settings.

What PORSE can offer your students

Early Childhood Programmes based on Levels 2 - 4 unit standards
Programmes to suit individual school requests eg one unit standard through to the full Level 3 qualification
School/workplace assessment integration
Liaison with school to document training plans for each student
Flexible length of training and start dates throughout year/yet sufficient length to enable real learning to take place
Long distance or tutor directed (regular visits) delivery
Frequent monitoring and assessment of learning progress with regular updates shared with the school
Moderation and assessment
User friendly Learning Guides based on sound accelerated learning principles and positive reinforcement
Pathway into further study.

Tutors

All PORSE tutors are fully qualified Early Childhood teachers with experience in teaching adults. PORSE prides itself in teaching adolescents and adults through:

An interactive approach
Working 1:1 with each student, meeting individual learning needs
Using positive encouragement practises.

Student selection

Students who are keen on a career in Early Childhood or who have a passion for children are most successful. Those wishing to be teachers - early childhood or primary - or have a career in a field working with young children. Boys or girls who are self motivated and keen to achieve with good study and time management skills. A taster/insight for those not sure of future directions. Teen parents.

Workplace component

Incorporated into the student's overall study and assessment programme. Each unit standard has practical application and assessment requirements, to be carried out in a home or centre setting with a child under the age of five, or a child in the first six months of starting school. Family environment, Home Educators, kindergartens, childcare centres and Kohanga Reos may be accessed to fulfil the workplace component. In some instances students may complete the programme when the workplace setting is the New Entrant class at a primary school. PORSE workplace assessments meet Gateway criteria.

Workplace learning is important because it improves the efficiency, effectiveness and pleasure of learning by providing opportunities for contextual and applied learning. The Best of Both Worlds (TEC, 2003, P5)

The Programme

Schools may choose a programme made up of one or more unit standards which meet students' specific needs. From experience it has been noted that it is most beneficial when a group of students is studying, that they all complete the same units at the same time. Peer support is evident and specific timeframes for completion are met. Competent students still have the opportunity to complete more unit standards, and this is encouraged by PORSE.