BestStart Foxton Beach Kindy

Education institution number:
40251
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
24
Telephone:
Address:

12 Carthew Terrace, Foxton Beach

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ABC Foxton Beach - 13/06/2017

1 Evaluation of ABC Foxton Beach

How well placed is ABC Foxton Beach to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

ABC Foxton Beach provides education and care for 30 children aged over two years, five days a week. At the time of this ERO review, 43 children were enrolled including 10 who identify as Māori.

A business manager and professional services manager oversee the service. Day-to-day operation of the centre is the responsibility of the centre manager, who supports teaching staff. Most teachers are fully qualified. Some staff and leadership changes have occurred since the March 2014 ERO report.

ABC Foxton Beach is owned and operated by BestStart Educare Ltd. BestStart (previously known as Kidicorp Ltd) is a large national organisation that owns early childhood services across New Zealand.

The previous ERO report identified areas requiring improvement. These involved promoting Māori children's culture and identity, and improving assessment, planning and evaluation processes. Further development in these areas is required.

The Review Findings

Children benefit from interactions with motivated, reflective teachers. Staff regularly discuss their strategies. They work alongside children, encouraging their leadership, scientific thinking and creativity. Routines are flexible to individual children's preferences. Environmental sustainability is meaningfully integrated into the curriculum.

Programme planning is based on emergent group interests. These plans support teachers to maintain consistent practices and a varied curriculum of activities and events. Leaders and teachers should now prioritise the development of a clear cycle of assessment, planning and evaluation for individual children. Portfolios should clearly show how:

  • intentional teaching has an impact on the progress of individual children

  • teaching has drawn on learning partnerships with parents

  • teachers respond meaningfully to children's cultures, languages and identities.

Teachers access outside agencies to support the learning of children with diverse needs. The progress of these children should be clearly monitored through assessment documentation.

A thoughtful process is in place for welcoming new children and families into the centre. A range of useful strategies support children's successful transition to school. A strong relationship with the local school has been established, including reciprocal visits from school and centre staff and children.

The teaching team has engaged in professional learning to improve the bicultural curriculum. Te ao Māori is visible in the centre environment, and aspects of tikanga Māori are evident in the programme. A next step is to increase the use of te reo Māori in conversations with children, as well as through assessment documentation.

Leaders acknowledge that targeted strategies to promote the educational success of Māori children should be further developed. Teachers should draw on their positive relationships with whānau Māori, to establish culturally responsive learning partnerships.

Self review is collaborative and appropriately focused on children. A key next step is to make the process more robust. Leaders should support teachers to strengthen the evaluative aspect of reviews through:

  • narrowing the scope of evaluations

  • using a small number of focused indicators

  • gathering a range of evidence to inform judgements

  • evaluating the impact of any changes made, using the indicators

  • monitoring that impact over time.

An appraisal process is in place. A next step is to consistently implement the appraisal practices within the BestStart policy.

Key Next Steps

ERO and leaders agree that the key next steps are to develop:

  • individual children's assessment, planning and evaluation

  • teachers' use of te reo Māori in conversations and in documentation

  • a range of strategies for promoting the educational success of Māori children

  • to further develop appraisal and review/internal evaluation.

BestStart Educare should support staff to give priority to these key next steps and to embed new learning.

Recommendation

Leaders agree with ERO's recommendation that they develop an action plan, clearly outlining how they will address the next steps identified in this report. ERO will monitor the centre's progress against this plan.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of ABC Foxton Beach completed an ERO Centre Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklist. In these documents they attested that they have taken all reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations related to:

  • curriculum
  • premises and facilities
  • health and safety practices
  • governance, management and administration.

During the review, ERO looked at the service’s systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:

  • emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)

  • physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)

  • suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)

  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of ABC Foxton Beach will be in three years.

Patricia Davey

Deputy Chief Review Officer Central (Acting)

13 June 2017

The Purpose of ERO Reports

The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Foxton Beach

Ministry of Education profile number

40251

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, aged over 2 years

Service roll

43

Gender composition

Boys 22, Girls 21

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Other ethnic groups

10

29

4

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Over 2

1:10

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

May 2017

Date of this report

13 June 2017

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Education Review

March 2014

Education Review

February 2011

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:

  • Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
  • Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
  • Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
  • Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.

Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.

ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.

A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.

For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.

ERO’s Overall Judgement and Next Review

The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.

ABC Foxton Beach - 17/03/2014

1 Evaluation of ABC Foxton Beach

How well placed is ABC Foxton Beach to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

ABC Foxton Beach is licensed to cater for 30 children from two years to school age. At the time of this ERO review 39 children were enrolled including 12 who identify as Māori.

Since the February 2011 ERO report, the centre has had a change of owners. It now operates under the umbrella of Kidicorp Inc. The centre is supported by Kidicorp’s policies and procedures and regular visits from an experienced professional services manager.

A new centre manager took up the position from the start of 2013. There have been a number of recent staff changes. The manager has focused on reviewing the philosophy, improving the learning environment, enhancing community relationships and building the teaching team.

The Review Findings

The new centre manager provides effective professional leadership by actively guiding the development of a shared vision and building a collaborative staff working environment. She models high-quality teaching practice for staff.

The recent review of the centre philosophy has strengthened the curriculum. The curriculum is responsive to the children's interests and strengths, and encourages sustained group and individual play.

Literacy and numeracy learning are naturally integrated into the programme. There is growing use of local community resources and contexts. Children’s social learning is encouraged and valued, and they are supported to become capable, active learners.

Children learn in an accepting environment where there are high levels of respect, genuine interest in, and care for their growth and development. There are positive, caring and supportive relationships among children, teachers and parents. Routines are flexible and responsive.

Teachers use a range of effective strategies to engage children in purposeful, challenging and sustained play. They actively involve themselves in children's learning, through meaningful and focused conversations that promote children's thinking, problem solving and exploration.

Teachers recognise the importance of te reo me ngā tikanga Māori and work to continually increase the use of bicultural practices.

There are extensive and growing links with the local and wider community. Close ties with the local primary school involve reciprocal visits, regular contact with staff and the use of school vans for excursions.

Parents are warmly welcomed into the centre. They appreciate the opportunity to interact with teachers, network with other families, and contribute to their children’s learning and progress. Individual portfolios provide a valuable pictorial record of children's learning, participation and development.

The centre manager has introduced a new approach to group planning and assessment. Teachers gather rich information on each child and are developing a common approach to more effectively analyse and use this to support programme evaluation and ongoing planning.

Key Next Steps

ERO’s evaluation supports key next steps identified by centre staff for ongoing review and development. These are to:

  • explicitly include a commitment to promoting Māori children’s culture and identity through documenting this in the centre philosophy
  • continue developing staff understanding, capability and practice in planning, assessment and evaluation.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of ABC Foxton Beach completed an ERO Centre Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklist. In these documents they attested that they have taken all reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations related to:

  • curriculum
  • premises and facilities
  • health and safety practices
  • governance, management and administration.

During the review, ERO looked at the service’s systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:

  • emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)
  • physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)
  • suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of ABC Foxton Beach will be in three years.

Image removed.

Joyce Gebbie National Manager Review Services Central Region (Acting)

17 March 2014

The Purpose of ERO Reports

The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Foxton Beach

Ministry of Education profile number

40251

Licence type

Education and Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children over 2 years of age

Service roll

39

Gender composition

Boys 20,

Girls 19

Ethnic composition

Māori

NZ European/Pākehā

12

27

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%

Based on funding rates

80%

Reported ratios of staff to children

Over 2

1:8

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

January 2014

Date of this report

17 March 2014

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Education Review

February 2011

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:

  • Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
  • Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
  • Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
  • Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.

Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.

ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.

A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.

For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.

ERO’s Overall Judgement and Next Review

The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.