We have another trainee teacher, from Denmark, arriving in December for a six month practicum with us.

Daniel Uth will be our fifth Danish student, placed with us through University College – UCC (National Institution of Social Education – Denmark). Only their merit students are offered the opportunity for a foreign teaching placement. We are the only early childhood service in Canterbury that has this international teaching relationship. We are immensely proud that we continue to be asked to participate and support teaching students, in engaging with their teaching pedagogy, in a different educational context.

Daniel will be here between 1 December 2019 – 31 May 2020 (exact arrival and departure to be confirmed). He comes as an unpaid student teacher in training. He is funded on a full study grant provided by the Danish Government. His study grant fully funds his time in New Zealand, and provides him payment for living costs and accommodation.

Our role in this process will be to offer Daniel an opportunity to learn more about our curriculum in the New Zealand context and to facilitate his learning journey as an early years teacher. Daniel is an accomplished gymnast and gymnastic teacher (and parkour enthusiast), speaks fluent English and is his late 20's.

Unfortunately Daniel’s efforts at securing accommodation during his stay have been unsuccessful thus far. Daniel is still looking into options regarding youth hostels, however it would be fantastic if he had a more permanent base in which he had some personal space to study and complete assignment workload.

We are appealing to our Rangi Ruru community for offers of accommodation. Obviously Daniel will be in a position to make payment for board offered, although he will be on a budget for this.

If anyone has a spare room or knows of friends or family willing to host Daniel please get in touch with me, as soon as possible. I can provide you additional information. Daniel’s visa for study relies on him having prearranged accommodation, on arrival in NZ.

Daniel is planning to travel during the Christmas break, so should be accommodating of any plans families might be making for this time.

Linda Scanlan preschool@rangirurupreschool.nz