About me

Kia ora 你好Ni Hao, my name is 宋瑜Song Yu. I am originally from China and moved to New Zealand in 2014. I am living in Auckland with my husband and our 3-year-old son.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in teaching (Early Childhood Education) and currently work at a not-for-profit early childhood centre, working with infants and toddlers. My decision to pursue this specialist teaching study is to better support tamariki with additional learning needs. I am committed to helping these children achieve their best learning outcomes and ensuring that children and their whānau feel supported and valued within their learning environment.

Since graduating from university, I have been working with infants and toddlers, and I have thoroughly enjoyed building meaningful relationships with the children and their wonderful families that I’ve encountered throughout my career. I truly cherish every moment I’ve shared with them and take great joy in supporting them on their learning journey. It is such a privilege to be part of their early experiences in early childhood education. Over the past few years, I have worked with children and families who have additional learning needs, and it deeply saddens me to see these families feeling unsupported within our learning environment. I too have felt a lack of confidence and teaching strategies when engaging with children with special needs, particularly as they grow older. I am eager to further develop my skills in supporting these families, many of whom are first-time parents, and I am committed to using my professional knowledge to ensure they feel supported, included, and empowered throughout their journey.

I am fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and I consider these languages to be a treasure (taonga) that I can bring into the field. I look forward to using my language skills to work closely with children and families from these ethnic groups in the future.

I also hope to share the knowledge and experience I have gained in New Zealand with teachers in China in the future, supporting those working in the education field, and hopefully will be able to, support Chinese families and children with additional learning needs after my study.

This study journey is also a personal growth opportunity for me, particularly after having my son, recovering from postpartum, adjusting to my new role as a mother, and gradually rediscovering myself. The journey has required significant time management, but it has been fulfilling, as I am now working towards a goal that I am truly passionate about.

PLP: Professional Learning Pathways 2025

Add your comment

Reply to:

Confirm copying