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Our School
A Learning Journey from ECE
to Junior College
Our school welcomes children from Early Childhood Education (ECE) through to Year 9, supporting their learning journey from their first experiences of school through to the foundations they need for secondary education.
At Api’i Te Uki Ou, learning is built on steady relationships, a quality approach to education and community connection. Our teaching team is New Zealand-qualified, bringing valuable experience in delivering the New Zealand Curriculum in a way that helps children discover their natural strengths and grow at their own pace into capable young people.
To support our students during key developmental milestones, we offer dedicated pathways at both ends of the learning journey:
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The Early Years Bridge (Karavia): Between Kura (ECE) and Kuriri (Year 1) sits Karavia (Year 0), our transition class. Karavia provides a gentle bridge into "big school," helping young children naturally develop the routines, independence, and comfort they need for this next step.
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Junior College: For our older students in Years 7, 8, and 9, our Junior College system provides a practical stepping stone. This environment focuses on fostering leadership qualities, building creative, critical and independent thinking and personal responsibility, helping seniors prepare for life in secondary education.
Grounded in Our Identity: Reo and Peu Māori
A defining feature of our school is the vital place that Cook Islands reo (language) and peu Māori (culture and customs) hold in our daily life. Whether our students are born and raised here or joining us from around the world, we want every child to feel a meaningful connection to the language, heritage and mana (power and sacred essence) of this nation. For our Cook Islands learners, this grounds them in their own identity; for those joining us from other places, it offers a welcoming home away from home.
Upholding cultural protocol across all facets of school life is central to how we operate, creating a shared sense of belonging for our diverse student body. We are grateful to have Aunty Sai, our longest-serving staff member, guiding our entire school community. Aunty Sai passionately teaches peu Māori, ensuring our traditions, protocols and values remain a steady, living part of the daily Api'i Te Uki Ou experience for every child.
Inclusive Education
Every Childs Learning Matters
Our Philosophy in Action
We believe inclusive education means that every child’s needs matter. Following our core philosophy, all students learn together in our regular classrooms while receiving the specific, individual support they need to succeed. We work hard every day to unlock the potential of every child.
Our Approach & Environment
To give our children the best opportunities possible with the resources available, we use a structured, supportive approach that includes:
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Individual assessments to understand each learner's unique strengths.
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Dedicated, targeted learning opportunities tailored to different learning styles.
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Safe, welcoming environments, including our learning support and regulation spaces.
Funding & Ministry Partnerships
We work in partnership with the Ministry of Education to assess our higher-needs students. This collaborative process helps us qualify for essential funding for Learning Support Assistants (Teacher Aides), ensuring that students who require one-to-one support throughout their school day receive it.
Questions about Learning Support?
If you have any questions about Inclusive Education or learning support at Api'i Te Uki Ou, please contact our school office on office@teukiou.com.
Individual Assessments
Our children are regularly assessed for their unique needs, allowing us to clearly identify and know our priority learners.
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Learning Support Assistants
Students identified by the Ministry of Education as requiring one-to-one assistance are allocated a Learning Support Assistant to help them thrive alongside their peers.
Targeted Extension and Remedial Learning
Students who require more tailored, one-to-one learning, have sessions for extension or remedial learning with specialised staff.