Kindergarten Head Teachers' Sabbatical

A Kindergarten Head Teachers' Sabbatical provides 10 weeks' paid leave for you to undertake research, study, and/or reflection.  Applications, which must be made in consultation with the employer, should identify the purpose(s) and the likely benefits of the sabbatical.  20 sabbatical leave places are available annually. 

Applications for the 2024 Kindergarten Head Teachers' Sabbaticals are now closed. Notifications will be sent on Tuesday 21 November 2023.

Am I eligible for a Kindergarten Head Teachers' Sabbatical?

• Be employed permanently in a New Zealand Kindergarten as a Kaiako Matua (head teacher)
• Have over 2 years' service as a kindergarten Kaiako Matua
• Have not held a TeachNZ Sabbatical or Study Award within the last 5 years
• Have a full and current Tiwhikete Whakaakoranga | Full Practising Certificate (Category One)
• Not currently be under any form of action listed in the KTCA competency clause 6.3.

Purpose of your Sabbatical

Your Sabbatical should be focused on one or more of the below priority areas, these are derived from Te Ara Poutama, and the Educational Leadership Capability Framework.

Te Ara Poutama:

• He Whāriki Motuhake: The learner and their learning
• Whakangungu Ngaio: Collaborative professional learning and development builds knowledge and capability
• Ngā Aronga Whai Hua: Evaluation for Improvement
• Kaihautū: Leadership fosters collaboration and Improvement

Educational Leadership Capability Framework:

• Building and sustaining high trust relationships
• Ensuring culturally responsive practice and understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand’s cultural heritage, using Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the foundation.
• Building and sustaining collective leadership and professional community.
• Strategically thinking and planning.
• Evaluating practices in relation to outcomes.
• Adept management of resources to achieve vision and goals.
• Attending to their own learning as leaders and their own wellbeing.
• Embodying the organisation’s values and showing moral purpose, optimism, agency, and resilience.
• Contributing to the development and wellbeing of education beyond their organisation.