Teen parent units

Establishing a TPU

The establishment of a TPU is driven by the interest of the managing school and is subject to the school having:

• links with an early learning service, preferably onsite or adjacent to the school
• the space available (on or offsite) to accommodate a TPU
• identified the local need for a TPU
• demonstrated the ability to sustain the TPU roll.

 

Target student group

A student is eligible to enrol at the managing school of a TPU and be included on the TPU roll if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. they are pregnant or are a parent
2. they are a primary caregiver
3. they are of an eligible age to receive free education (that is, before 1 January following their 19th birthday in accordance with Section 3 of the Education Act 1989).

 

Programme

By developing an Individual Learning Programme (ILP) based on each student's individual needs, registered teachers support students to improve their academic achievement, literacy, numeracy, and career competencies.

An ILP is developed in collaboration with each student and/or whānau when they first enrol in the TPU. The ILP includes educational, wellbeing and transition goals for the student and is used to develop a tailored learning programme that is responsive to the individual needs of the student.

The minimum criterion for an ILP includes:

• numeracy and literacy goals at a level appropriate for the student
• wellbeing goals (health, social, behaviour, parenting)
• career competencies and/or transition goals (either within the ILP or a separate transition plan)
• a measure to ensure a regular review and update (at least once per term).

 

Funding and operation

The board of trustees of the managing school (the Board) is responsible for managing all aspects of the TPU including employment, reporting, and resourcing to manage the TPU. The Board has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry that outlines the roles and responsibilities of all parties in operating a TPU. 

The Board is responsible for employing registered teachers to staff the TPU and a Teacher in Charge (or Director) who oversees the unit. The Board will act as a good employer following accepted appointment and performance management processes. This includes supporting staff to access professional development that will support continuous improvement and lead to increased outcomes for students.

The TPU is an important part of the wider school, and as such the Board will develop its school charter to reflect the needs of the learners attending the TPU and include information on their progress and achievement in its Annual Report.

Operational funding for the TPU is paid directly to the managing school. The amount of funding provided is based on the approved maximum roll of the TPU, at a Decile 1A rate. TPUs are also provided with staffing and management units which allows the Board of the managing school to employ registered teachers at a 1:10 ratio.

 

Monitoring and reporting

Download Word versions of the TPU Annual and midyear report:

TPU midyear report (Word 2007 36 KB)

TPU annual report (Word 2007 36 KB)

There is a requirement under the TPU MoU to report on outcomes and student achievement to ensure accountability for public funds. The midyear report is due on the 5th working day following the start of school term 3. The annual report is due no later than April of the following year.

 

Guidance and framework

The TPU operational guidelines provide practical information on the Ministry’s policies related to running a TPU, including information on enrolment, attendance, resourcing, property, and the ECE service.

Download the guidelines:

TPU Operational Guidelines (PDF 421 KB)

The TPU outcome framework is a tool for TPU teachers and leadership staff that sets out the key outcomes and indicators of best practice in TPUs.

Download the framework:

TPU Outcome Framework (PDF 822 KB)

 

Education Review Office (ERO) reports 2017 and 2018

In 2017 ERO reviewed each of the 24 TPUs to investigate the quality of education provided and the extent to which they supported positive outcomes for TPU students and their children. Each report included specific recommendations for the TPUs. 

In July 2018, ERO released the evaluation report on Teen Parent Units. The report was a summary report of the 24 TPUs individual reports that were released in 2017. ERO wanted to know how effective are TPUs in supporting and promoting positive outcomes for students. They looked at:

• what are the important features of TPUs that have an impact on student outcomes?
• how effective is the leadership, management, and organisations of the TPU?
• what do the TPUs know about outcomes for individual students?
• how well do the TPUs’ processes promote and support student engagement and success?
• what is the quality of teaching and learning at the TPUs?
• how well do TPUs work with their educational and community providers to promote outcomes?

ERO also provided recommendations for:

• the Ministries of Education, Social Development, Health and Oranga Tamariki
• the Ministry of Education
• all TPUs.

The report is available on the ERO website - Teen Parent Units - July 2018 .

The links to the individual reports are on Appendix 3, page 33, of the report.

 

Association of Teen Parent Educators New Zealand (ATPENZ)

Further information

Learning Support services
For information on Learning Support services and regional office, visit Learning Support  on the Ministry of Education's website. 

Ministry regional office
To contact your Ministry regional office, go to Learning Support Services  on the Ministry's website.

Becoming a host school
Find out about Becoming the host school for a Teen Parent Unit

Further queries
For further queries, email the Ministry at [email protected]

 

Teen parent units, managing schools and ECE centres

Ministry region	Teen parent unit	Managing school	Attached ECE centre
Tai Tokerau	He Matariki Teen Parent School Whangārei Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 438 2602	Mangakahia Area School Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 433 1702	He Kaakano ECE Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 438 5556
	Hiwa-i-te-rangi Teen Parent Unit Kaikohe Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 401 3200	Northland College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 401 3200	Kowhai Corner Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 401 0114
Auckland	He Wero School for Young Parents Henderson Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 838 9085	Henderson High School   Email:  [email protected] Phone: 09 838 9085	Barnados KidStart Childcare – Henderson Early Learning Centre Phone: 09 838 0419 Email:  [email protected]
	Connected Learning Centre   Otara Email:  [email protected] Phone: 09 274 5764	Tangaroa College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 274 5764	Haumia Early Childhood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 377 8700
	Eden Campus Mt Eden. Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 638 3412	Auckland Girls’ Grammar School Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 307 4180	Eden Campus Early Learning Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 638 3413
	Taonga Education Centre Manurewa Email:  [email protected] Phone: 09 269 2863	James Cook High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 268 3950	Pōtiki Early Childhood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 09 269 2862
Waikato	He Puaawai Teen Parent Unit Hamilton Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 847 9044	Fraser High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 847 9044	Campus Creche at Fraser Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 847 4696
	Pa Harakeke (Teen Parent Unit) Tokoroa. Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 886 6109	Tokoroa High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 886 6109	Tokoroa Childcare Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 886 8605
Bay of Plenty, Waiariki	Te Āhuru Mōwai Rotorua School for Young Parents Rotorua Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 348 6836	Rotorua Girls' High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 348 0156
	Te Whakatipuranga - School for Young Parents Tauranga Email:  [email protected] Phone: 07 557 8808	Ōtumoetai College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 576 2316	Bay Of Plenty Polytechnic Early Childhood Education Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 557 8737
	Whakatāne School for Young Parents Awakeri Email:  [email protected]   Phone: 07 929 5010	Whakatāne High School  Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 308 8251
	Te Tari Ako Matua Taiohi Education Centre Kawerau Email:  [email protected] Phone: 07 323 8400	Tarawera High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 323 6553	Ngā Ririki Early Learning Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 323 9324
Hawke's Bay, Tairāwhiti	Hawke's Bay School for Teen Parents   Napier Email:  [email protected] Phone: 06 833 6758	William Colenso College   Email:  [email protected] Phone: 06 831 0180	Colenso Early Childhood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 833 6757
	Te Whare Whai Hua Young Parents Centre   Gisborne Email: [email protected] Phone: 06-833 6757	Lytton High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 868 5193	Te Whare Whai Hua Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 868 7722
	Te Tipu Whenua o Pā Harakeke   Flaxmere. Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 650 0679	Flaxmere College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 879 9833	Te Tipu Whenua Early Childhood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 650 0713
Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū	Stratford High School Teen Parent Unit   Stratford Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 765 0402	Stratford High School Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 765 6039	Koru Kindergarten Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 765 6051
	Whakatipuria Teen Parent Unit   Palmerston North Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 353 5690	Freyberg High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 358 4971	Ngā Rito o Te Pūawaitanga Early Childhood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 357 5526
Wellington	Titiro Whakamua Teen Parent Programme   Upper Hutt Email: [email protected] Phone: 04 528 8977	Heretaunga College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 04 939 9370	Titiro Whakamua – Looking Forward Early Childhood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 04 529 8355
	He Huarahi Tamariki   Linden Email: [email protected] Phone: 04 232 0956	Wellington East Girls' College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 04 385 8514	Kids Count Tawa - The Griffin School Email: [email protected] Phone: 04 232 0920
	Puawānanga Wairarapa Young Parents   Masterton Email:  [email protected] Phone: 06 377 3491	Makoura College   Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 378 6074	Makoura Community Early C-Hood Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 377 0224
	He Whare Manaaki Tangata   Levin Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 368 1073	Waiopehu College   Email:  [email protected] Phone: 06 368 8303	Arohanui Kindergarten Email:  [email protected] Phone: 06 368 7429
Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast	Nelson Young Parents School   Nelson Email:  [email protected]  Phone: 03 548 7970	Nelson College for Girls   Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 548 3104	Auckland Point Kindergarten Email:  [email protected] Phone: 03 546 3383
Canterbury, Chatham Islands	Karanga Mai Young Parents College   Kaiapoi Email:  [email protected] Phone: 03 327 8386	Kaiapoi High School   Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 375 5004	Karanga Mai Early Learning Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 327 8315
	Kimihia Parents' College   Woolston, Christchurch. Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 982 0100	Te Aratai College  (formerly Linwood College) Email:  [email protected] Phone: 03 982 0100	Kimihia Early Learning Centre Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 389 1800
Otago, Southland	Murihiku Young Parents’ Learning Centre   Invercargill Email:  [email protected] Phone: 03 217 9659	James Hargest College   Email:  [email protected] Phone: 03 217 6129	Ngā Tamariki @ MYPLC – Surrey Park ELC Inc Email:  [email protected] Phone: 03 217 3477