Kaiako (Years 0-2) Fulltime

Mangaweka School; Manawatū-Whanganui; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Mangaweka School in a rural setting seeks a Certificated teacher to lead the Pōtiki class for Years 1–8. The role focuses on nurturing eager young learners with aroha and warmth within a play-based programme.

The successful applicant will be registered (or provisionally registered) and bring experience in early years or junior schooling, strong literacy/numeracy teaching, and a passion for connecting with tamariki, whānau and the wider community.

Qualifications

• Registered or provisionally registered teacher with NZ teacher certification.
• Experience in early years or junior school settings.
• Understanding of how young children learn with warmth and patience.
• Ability to teach early literacy and numeracy within a play-based program.
• Belief in teaching self-regulation and ability to model it.
• Strong connection to nature and local place; willingness to engage tamariki and whānau.
• Strong partnerships with parents and whānau.
• Willingness to contribute to school life and align with our values.

Responsibilities

• Teach our youngest learners in the Pōtiki class (Years 1–8).
• Plan and deliver literacy and numeracy within a play-based programme.
• Contribute to the wider life of our rural kura and engage whānau.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with parents and whānau.
• Collaborate with staff to plan, problem-solve and celebrate achievements.

Skills

Registered teacher

Early years/junior school experience

Play-based learning

Literacy/numeracy instruction

Patience and warmth

Parent/whānau partnerships

Job description

Primary and intermediate (Years 1–8) / kura tuatahi, Certificated teacher
English, Health and physical education, Learning languages, Mathematics and statistics, Science, Social sciences, Technology, Te reo Māori, The arts, Belonging / Mana Whenua, Contribution / Mana Tangata, Communication / Mana Reo, Exploration / Mana Aotūroa, Well-being / Mana Atua

Our Pōtiki class is a special group of eager young learners. We are looking for the right person to nurture our junior tamariki with aroha and warmth.

What we are looking for:

• 1.0 FTTE, permanent, teaching our youngest learners.
• A registered (or provisionally registered) teacher, ideally with early years or junior school experience.
• A deep understanding of how young children learn and the patience, warmth and humour to match.
• Confidence teaching early literacy and numeracy with intention, within a play-based learning programme.
• A belief that self-regulation is taught, not expected and the skills to teach it.
• A genuine connection to nature and place and a desire to learn alongside our tamariki.
• Strong partnerships with parents and whānau.
• Willingness to contribute to the wider life of our beautiful rural kura.
• Alignment with our vision and values - this is really important to us.

What we offer:

• A beautiful, well resourced and supportive learning environment.
• A team that has your back. We are a close group - we plan, problem-solve and celebrate together.
• We are a passionate Enviro-School. Nature and place-based education shape how we teach and what our tamariki come to care about.
• Support for you to build a transition programme that genuinely meets tamariki and whānau where they are.
• A celebrated local curriculum. Our whenua, community and history are really important to us.
• Room to innovate. Play-based learning, oral language development, wellbeing, music and the arts, if you've got a thoughtful practice or idea you believe in, we'll back you.

Position commences Term 1 2027.