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What a Teen Parent Unit is#
A Teen Parent Unit is part of a state or state-integrated secondary school (managing school). It provides secondary education for ākonga | students so they can successfully transition into further education, training or employment.
The Teen Parent Unit can be located within the school or on another site. An early learning service for the children of teen parents is also located onsite or close by.
To provide wraparound support, Teen Parent Units work closely with:
- early learning services
- community groups
- government agencies.
This access to a range of services and support makes it easier for students to be engaged in their education.
Individual Learning Programmes #
Each student gets an Individual Learning Programme (ILP) when they first enrol. It is created together with the student and/or their whānau | family according to their needs.
An ILP must include at least:
- 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)
- establish regular review and update with the student.
Who is eligible for support#
To enrol at the managing school of a Teen Parent Unit and be on the unit’s roll, students must:
- be pregnant or are a parent
- be a primary caregiver
- be at the right age to get free education (before 1 January following their 19th birthday).
How Teen Parent Units are managed#
Teen Parent Units are run by the board of a managing school. Managing schools have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with us that outline the roles and responsibilities of operating the Teen Parent Unit.
The board is responsible for:
- employment of registered teachers, including a Teacher in Charge (or director)
- reporting
- resourcing to manage the Teen Parent Unit.
As the employer, the board must make sure there are regular quality reviews of the Teen Parent Unit. This includes support for staff to access professional development and continual improvement practices.
Find out more about managing schools’ responsibilities.
Maintaining a Teen Parent Unit
Monitoring and reporting#
The managing school’s charter must reflect the needs of the students enrolled in the Teen Parent Unit. Information on student progress and achievement must be included in the school’s annual report.
As part of the MOU with us, managing schools must report on outcomes and student achievement. This shows accountability for public funds.
The mid-year progress report is due on the fifth working day of Term 3.
The annual report and financial statement are due no later than April of the following year.
Download the Teen Parent Unit mid-year and annual report templates.
Teen Parent Unit mid-year progress reportTen Parent Unit annual progress reportGuidance and framework
The Teen Parent Unit operational guidelines has information on:
- enrolment
- attendance
- resourcing
- property
- early learning services.
Teen Parent Unit operational guidelinesTeen Parent Unit outcome frameworkEducation Review Office (ERO) report on Teen Parent Units#
Read ERO’s summary report on Teen Parent Units, including recommendations.
Find a Teen Parent Unit#
Contact details for Teen Parent Units, managing schools and associated early learning services in your region are listed below.
The Association of Teen Parent Educators New Zealand also provides contact details.
Mōhiohio anō
More information
The Association of Teen Parent Educators New Zealand (ATPENZ) has information about teen parent schools and early learning centres, and a list of Teen Parent Units.
Whakapā
