In Aotearoa New Zealand the curriculum is provided through Te Whāriki: Early Childhood Curriculum, and The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. These curricula provide the basis for educating all children, including BLENNZ learners who are blind, deafblind or have low vision.
I Aotearoa, ka whakaratohia te marautanga mā Te Whāriki: Te Marautanga Kōhungahunga, me Te Marautanga o Aotearoa me Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Ka whakatakoto ēnei marautanga i te tūāpapa mō te mātauranga o ngā tamariki katoa, tae atu ki ngā ākonga BLENNZ e kapo ana, e tūrehu-kapo ana, e iti ana rānei te kite.
The Expanded Core Curriculum
There is also a body of knowledge and skills specific to blind, deafblind and low vision learners that is not inherently addressed in Te Whāriki or The New Zealand Curriculum. This is known as the Expanded Core Curriculum. The Expanded Core Curriculum is a tool that supports learners who are blind, deafblind and have low vision to access and participate in the regular curriculum, as well as develop independence skills. Adopted internationally, the Expanded Core Curriculum is critical to supporting positive learning outcomes. It is complementary to the regular curricula and does not replace it.
The Expanded Core Curriculum forms the basis of BLENNZ programmes of teaching and learning.
The Expanded Core Curriculum covers the following areas of learning:
- Communication, e.g. concept development, tactile communication (e.g. braille)
- Sensory Efficiency skill
- Physical Abilities
- Developmental Orientation and Mobility
- Social skills
- Life skills
- Assistive Technology
- Career and Future Planning
BLENNZ curricula
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Te Whāriki
Te Whāriki is the early childhood curriculum and is based on four guiding principles, five areas of learning and development, goals and learning outcomes.
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New Zealand Curriculum
Discover how BLENNZ supports blind and low vision students with the New Zealand Curriculum, focusing on key competencies for optimal learning.
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BLENNZ Curriculum
The BLENNZ Curriculum has been compiled in consultation with a wide range of people across the BLENNZ network and encompasses the Expanded Core Curriculum.