Educators travel abroad to learn about bicultural curriculum
Educators with Ehrlo Early Learning Centre (EELC) recently travelled to New Zealand to explore new ways of creating culturally inclusive and engaging learning environments.
Director of Early Learning Karin Duff, along with Tamsen Tomkinson, operations supervisor, visited New Zealand last month to learn how the country’s early learning centres are using the bicultural curriculum, Te Whāriki, to support the learning and development of young children.
The visit was part of the New Zealand 2025 Study Tour presented by the World Forum for Childcare. This year's study tour took place from March 9 to 15 and brought together educators from around the globe, including Karin and Tamsen from EELC, and three people from Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
“We couldn’t have experienced the magnitude of what New Zealand is doing in early childhood education over a Zoom call or a presentation; when you’re immersed in the environment and experience the culture it takes the learning to a much higher level,” explained Karin.
A key focus of the trip was understanding New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki, which translates to "a woven mat." This concept symbolizes the weaving together of core values and two cultures—Māori and Pākehā— to build a stronger, more unified community. Karin and Tamsen hope to borrow elements from this bicultural framework and incorporate them into EELC’s own programming, aligning with the centre’s existing Play and Exploration curriculum and the mission and values of Ranch Ehrlo Society.
While the educators found many similarities between the cultural environments of New Zealand and Canada, Karin acknowledged that a multicultural approach would be more attuned to meeting the needs of the EELC community, honouring the diversity of families in Regina and surrounding area.
“The Te Whāriki curriculum was created to address a lack of cultural representation because people were seeing the loss of culture and the effects on the children…and so that is where my interest in the curriculum first started.”
The study tour visited various centres across New Zealand and participated in cultural ceremonies to deepen their understanding of the country's bicultural connections. One of the visits was to a Māori school, where they observed children playing by the water – fully immersed in the natural surroundings. The indoor and outdoor spaces flowed seamlessly, divided not by walls but by an open breezeway, fostering a strong connection with the environment.
The group continued their journey, saving the best for last. Their final stop was a unique centre called Childspace Early Learning, which operates from a family home and neighbouring house. Karin described it as a place where every design element had been mindfully considered and tailored to meet the developmental needs of children.
“It was the crème de la crème of childcare,” said Karin. “Every aspect of the environment was so thoughtfully crafted with the child’s experience in mind. It made us realize what’s possible, not only for our centres but for Ranch programs like Fraser House.”
The greatest takeaways were the standard of care in New Zealand and the bicultural and organic approach to early learning. The respect for the culture of both the Māori and Pākehā people was incredibly woven into early childhood education, supporting a society that thrives and embraces cultural diversity, representation, and acceptance. The childcare centres embodied this spirit holistically — honouring the land, the language, the community, and the families in an interconnected and authentic way, said Tamsen.
“This experience will help guide and enhance everything that we’re doing,” concluded Karin. “The fact that educators from around the world are looking at this model is a powerful affirmation that we’re on the right path. It’s very validating to see that what we’re working towards here is possible and successful in other parts of the world.”