Bringing change to pupils’ lives
‘‘We are very fortunate in Nelson to have people like Emma Hunter and her team at Bronte House who provide wrap-around support that aligns closely with the NZ Police focus on crime prevention’’.
Hunter says she’s excited about the change in attitude in the community with the reliance they have on community level responding in order to support and help their students.
She says the support they get from the likes of Ministry of Education, Resource teachers: Learning and Behaviour, the police, Oranga Tamariki, the DHB, volunteers and sponsors is amazing. But family support takes time. Hunter says with year nines they’re starting to engage, year 10 is daily contact and by year 11 ‘‘its just a natural thing’’.
For her the biggest thing is belonging.
‘‘They’ve never belonged anywhere before and if the parents feel they belong and they can support the students on their learning pathway.
‘‘It’s not a full academic pathway but education looks like many things even basic life skills. Like filling in a form.’’
Hunter says she has heard of other alternative education models but nothing like this that provides uniform and food for the students.
‘‘New Zealand has a growing class division, and we need to respond to that and support our young people to help break the cycle.
‘‘But the more we scratch below the surface the more we recognise there is a need.
For the future Hunter says if The Bronte House concept was done properly and taken seriously on a government level then it could make a tangible difference for the future of NZ.
The next step now is breathing, taking step back getting the model and resourcing right.
‘‘It’s important that we are not just a dumping ground. It can’t be if teachers are having a hard time they just send kids my way.
‘‘It needs a referral system, clearly identified needs, with the most skilled teachers, the most skilled teacher aides. These are our most vulnerable learners and they deserve the best.
‘‘Because it’s new we’re all going wow this is working but how do we make it sustainable? Sustainability is key.’’
She says it’s not the Emma Hunter show, it’s a team effort created with support from many people.
Hunter wants to drive the model but her real vision is building capacity among teachers, social workers, educators and community groups so it can be spread throughout the country.
And reach down to primary school level.
‘‘I’m a firm believer in early intervention. Sometimes it’s too late, you can’t save everyone but if schools had intervened earlier then the wheels possibly wouldn’t have fallen off as badly as they can do by the time a student gets to secondary school.’’