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Teen parent units
Teen parent units (TPU) provide wraparound support to pregnant or parenting students by working closely with the affiliated Early Childhood Education (ECE) as well as community groups and government agencies. This wraparound support will enable students to access a range of services and support systems that will minimize barriers and increase engagement in education.
TPUs provide secondary education that will lead to increased engagement and achievement in education and result in successful transitions to further education, training or employment.
A TPU is an educational unit attached to an established state or state integrated secondary school (managing school). TPUs operate as a separate department within the school and may be located on or off the school’s site. The ECE, which caters for the children of teen parents, is either onsite or close by.
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 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:
- they are pregnant or are a parent
- they are a primary caregiver
-
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)
- 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. Staffing and management units are also provided which allows the Board of the managing school to employ registered teachers to staff the TPU at a 1:10 ratio.
Monitoring and reporting
Download a Word version of the TPU Annual and midyear report:
TPU Annual and mid-year 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. The 24 ERO reports are available on the ERO website .
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?
The evaluation report includes what ERO found, and the report is available on the ERO website . ERO also provided recommendations for:
- the Ministries of Education, Social Development, Health and Oranga Tamariki
- the Ministry of Education
- all TPUs.
After the release for the ERO report in June 2018, ERO provided further feedback after completing the national evaluation of Teen Parent Units in July 2018.
Association of Teen Parent Educators New Zealand (ATPENZ)
Association of Teen Parent Educators New Zealand (ATPENZ ) – site covers what you need to know about studying at secondary school as a teen parent.
ATPENZ promotes the provision of ongoing education for young parents and supports the schools and teachers who provide these opportunities.
Teen Parent Schools – you can read more about teen parent schools in your region.
Early Childhood Centres (ECE) – has a list of ECEs that support and are associated with teen parents schools. Page has contact information for each provider, including contact name, physical address, email address, and phone number.
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
teenparent.unit@education.govt.nz
Teen parent units, managing schools and ECE
| Ministry region | Teen parent unit | Managing school | Attached ECE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tai Tokerau | He Matariki School for Teen Parents Email: terric@hematariki.school.nz Phone: 09 438 2602 | Email: admin@mangakahia.school.nz Phone: 09 433 1702 | He Kākano Early Learning Centre Email: hekakano@teorahou.org.nz Phone: 09 438 1840 |
|
Northland College Teen Parent Unit
Email: eleanorb@northlandcollege.school.nz Phone: 09 401 3200 | Email: admin@northlandcollege.school.nz Phone: 09 401 3200 | Kowhai Corner Email: lancewhiu@hotmail.com Phone: 09 401 0114 |
|
| Auckland |
Henderson - Teen Parent Unit
Email: admin@hhs.school.nz Phone: 09 838 9085 | Email: admin@hhs.school.nz Phone: 09 838 9085 | Barnados KidStart Childcare – Henderson Early Learning Centre Phone: 09 838 0419 |
|
Tangaroa College Teen Parent Unit Email: lindam@tangaroa.school.nz Phone: 09 274 5764 | Email: office@tangaroa.school.nz Phone: 09 274 5764 | Haumia Early Childhood Centre
Email:
maxine@ecemanagement.co.nz
|
|
| Email: kdonnelly@aggs.school.nz Phone: 09 638 3412 | Auckland Girls’ Grammar School Email: admin@aggs.school.nz Phone: 09 307 4180 | Eden Campus Early Learning Centre Email: edencampuselc@aggs.school.nz Phone: 09 638 3413 |
|
| Clendon Teen Parent Unit Email: admin@jchs.school.nz Phone: 09 269 2863 | Email: admin@jchs.school.nz Phone: 09 268 3950 | Pōtiki Early Childhood Centre Email: potiki@taonga.org.nz Phone: 09 269 2862 |
|
| Waikato |
Fraser High School TPU Email: office@fraser.school.nz Phone: 07 847 9044 | Email: office@fraser.school.nz Phone: 07 847 9044 | Campus Creche at Fraser Email: creche@campuscreche.co.nz Phone: 07 847 4696 |
| Email: info@tokoroahigh.school.nz Phone: 07 886 6109 | Email: info@tokoroahigh.school.nz Phone: 07 886 6109 | Tokoroa Childcare Centre Email: tok.ark@xtra.co.nz Phone: 07 886 8605 |
|
| Bay of Plenty, Waiariki |
Rotorua School for Young Parents
Email: office@rsfyp.school.nz Phone: 07 348 6836 | Email: principal@rghs.school.nz Phone: 07 348 0156 | |
| Te Whakatipuranga (Ōtumoetai TPU) Email: robyn.merritt@boppoly.ac.nz Phone: 07 557 8808 | Email: office@otc.school.nz Phone: 07 576 2316 | Bay Of Plenty Polytechnic Early Childhood Education Centre Email: irene.osbaldiston@toiohomai.ac.nz Phone: 07 557 8737 |
|
| Email: principal@whakatanehigh.school.nz Phone: 07 929 5010 | Email: admin@whakatanehigh.school.nz Phone: 07 308 8251 | ||
|
Kawerau Teen Parent Unit Email: tpec@tarawera.school.nz Phone: 07 323 8400 | Email: office@tarawera.school.nz Phone: 07 323 6553 | Ngā Ririki Early Learning Centre Email: ngaririki@centralkids.org.nz Phone: 07 323 9324 |
|
| Hawke's Bay, Tairāwhiti | Hawke's Bay School for Teenage Parents Email: biff.waddel@colenso.school.nz Phone: 06 833 6758 | Email: postmaster@colenso.school.nz Phone: 06 831 0180 | Colenso Early Childhood Centre Email: jo.mcmillan@colenso.school.nz Phone: 06 833 6757 |
| Te Whare Whai Hua Young Parents Centre Email: kelly@lyttonhigh.net Phone: 06-833 6757 | Email: info@lyttonhigh.net Phone: 06 868 5193 | Te Whare Whai Hua Email: Manager@ora.org.nz Phone: 06 868 7722 |
|
| Te Tipu Whenua o Pā Harakeke Flaxmere Teen Parent Unit Email: melanief@flaxcol.co.nz Phone: 06 650 0679 | Email: office@flaxcol.co.nz Phone: 06 879 9833 | Te Tipu Whenua Early Childhood Centre Email: ttw.flaxmere@gmail.com Phone: 06 650 0713 |
|
| Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatū |
Stratford High School Teen Parent Unit
Email:
tjones@stratfordhigh.school.nz
| Email: mail@stratfordhigh.school.nz Phone: 06 765 6039 | Koru Kindergarten Email: koru@kindergartentaranaki.co.nz Phone: 06 765 6051 |
| Email: johansonj@freyberg.ac.nz Phone: 06 353 5690 | Email: office@freyberg.ac.nz Phone: 06 358 4971 | Ngā Rito o Te Pūawaitanga Early Childhood Centre Email: ngarito@xtra.co.nz Phone: 06 357 5526 |
|
| Wellington |
Titiro Whakamua
Email: whiteleyd@heretaunga.school.nz Phone: 04 528 8977 | Email: info@heretaunga.school.nz Phone: 04 939 9370 | Titiro Whakamua – Looking Forward Early Childhood Centre Email: titiroecec@xtra.co.nz Phone: 04 529 8355 |
| Email: info@hht.school.nz Phone: 04 232 0956 | Wellington East Girls' College Email: wegc@wegc.school.nz Phone: 04 385 8514 | Kids Count Tawa - The Griffin School Email: lisa@kidscount.co.nz Phone: 04 232 0920 |
|
| Email: prue.smith@wairarapatpu.school.nz Phone: 06 377 3491 | Email: office@mc.school.nz Phone: 06 378 6074 | Makoura Community Early C-Hood Centre Email: mcecc@xtra.co.nz Phone: 06 377 0224 |
|
|
Levin Teen Parent Unit Email: fleurnet@waiopehu.ac.nz Phone: 06 368 1073 | Email: secretary@waiopehu.ac.nz Phone: 06 368 8303 | Email: office@wmkindergartens.org.nz Phone: 06 368 7429 |
|
| Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast |
Nelson Teen Parent Unit
Email: philippa.trewavas@ncg.school.nz Phone: 03 548 7970 | Email: admin@ncg.school.nz Phone: 03 548 3104 | Auckland Point Kindergarten Email: aucklandpointkindergarten@ntk.org.nz Phone: 03 546 3383 |
| Canterbury, Chatham Islands | Karanga Mai Young Parents College Email: ypc@kaiapoi.school.nz Phone: 03 327 8386 | Email: learn@kaiapoi.school.nz Phone: 03 375 5004 | Karanga Mai Early Learning Centre Email: karangamai@wellbeingnc.org.nz Phone: 03 327 8315 |
| Email: diane.atkins@klc.school.nz Phone: 03 982 0100 | Te Aratai College (formerly Linwood College) Email: secretary@linwoodcollege.school.nz Phone: 03 982 0100 | Email: nan.caldwell@klc.school.nz Phone: 03 389 1800 |
|
| Otago, Southland | Murihiku Young Parents’ Learning Centre Email: office@myplc.school.nz Phone: 03 217 9659 | Email: office@jameshargest.school.nz Phone: 03 217 6129 | Ngā Tamariki @ MYPLC – Surrey Park ELC Inc Email: admin@childcareInvercargill.co.nz Phone: 03 217 3477 |