03 September 2025

Te Wharau School - how KickStart Breakfast can support a trauma informed approach to learning

At Te Wharau School, we've been part of KickStart Breakfast for a while and have seen the benefits in growing our tamariki and community. We are a school trying to move with our tamariki. Our aim is to move in different directions to respond to the tamariki and community needs of our kura.

Currently, we are aligning ourselves to be a trauma-informed space. By doing this, we've created new spaces to support our tamariki. These spaces include our Kimiha Room, where we teach mindfulness and understand how our brain works. We also have a space called Manawa Ora, a breakout space filled with support for tamariki who need regulation. This includes weighted blankets, sensory toys, kai, soft mats, and a calm vibe. Additionally, we have a new sensory garden to help children regulate, which features a resting space, drums, and a mauri stone.

How Kickstart is Utilised at Our School

We have waves of kai, thanks to KickStart Breakfast. This occurs through our Breakfast Club, classroom breakfasts, and Whitiora.

Breakfast Club

We offer a traditional "Breakfast Club" daily, run out of a spare class. This is topped up with bread and spreads from a local church, and KidsCan also tops up the marmite and fruit.

Class Supplies

Every class has a supply of Weet-Bix and milk to catch the latecomers if they think they need breakfast too.

Whitiora

We also have another breakfast as part of our Senior Department ‘Whitiora’ on Thursdays, where the children have 10 minutes to choose what they want to do. This could be netball, playground, gardening, breakfast, or interschool training.

Monday Breakfast

In our Year 5 classes, the teachers were struggling with Mondays and getting the children ready for learning. They decided to have what we call a "soft start." As part of this soft start, they all have breakfast together, creating a sense of whakawhanaungatanga. They eat together in the hall and have Weet-Bix and fruit for breakfast.

When asked why they have Monday breakfast together, here are some of the responses:

Anders: I had Weet-Bix.
Kayelyn: It gets our brains ready.
Julian: Because most of us don't have breakfast and we might still be hungry.
Shoney: I think because people didn't have enough time for breakfast and some people can't afford it. Sometimes I didn't get enough time to make my breakfast because I leave at 7:45 am.
Compton: Breakfast is good for you to have energy.
Aria: Breakfast makes you strong.

These are the many ways our school is using the support to create a place that supports tamariki. It is always evolving, and we’re always learning with our students.