Pascals Herne Bay

Education institution number:
10194
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
84
Telephone:
Address:

272 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland

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Pascals Herne Bay - 31/01/2019

1 Evaluation of Pascals Herne Bay

How well placed is Pascals Herne Bay to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Pascals Herne Bay is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

Pascals Herne Bay is licensed for 100 children, including up to 25 aged under two years. It previously operated as Bayfield Early Education Centre. Infants, toddlers and older children have separate indoor and outdoor play spaces, and also have regular opportunities to mingle and explore the wider centre.

The centre manager and three head teachers lead the recently established teaching team. The centre's philosophy places the child at the heart of what teachers do. It focuses on respect for the holistic child, strong relationships, a stimulating environment, acknowledgement of Māori as tangata whenua, and the importance of professional teaching practice.

The 2016 ERO report identified that the centre required professional advice and guidance to enact the centre's vision and philosophy, raise the quality of curriculum and build the capability of teachers and staff new to centre leadership positions. The centre has made significant progress in these areas.

The centre is part of the Evolve Education Group’s Upper North Island region. Evolve provides an overarching governance and management framework. The intent of a recent re-branding of Evolve services has been to build a greater sense of unity across the organisation. It has allowed each centre to identify a preferred philosophical approach.

Recent Evolve initiatives are intended to improve staff retention, promote effective internal evaluation and lift the quality of teaching practices. A new general manager and area managers provide professional support for centre leaders and teachers. Further recruitment is underway for managers to lead a focus on continuing quality improvement across the organisation. There continues to be a period of transition for staff as they adapt to changes in Evolve operational practices.

This review was part of a cluster of six reviews in the Evolve Education Group, Upper North Island region.

The Review Findings

Children have very good opportunities to explore the well-resourced environment and follow their interests. They demonstrate a sense of belonging and wellbeing, happily playing with and alongside their peers. Children benefit from caring, supportive interactions with adults. Well implemented care routines promote their independence. Teachers encourage children to develop respect for the environment, respect and care for each other, and to be responsible. Children can grow as competent and confident learners in this environment.

Centre leadership is focused on improving the quality of teaching and learning across the centre. Recent initiatives promoting positive outcomes for children include:

  • a focus on implementing the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, beginning with Whakamana

  • an inquiry into the impact of transitions into, within and out of the centre in terms of children's sense of wellbeing and belonging, and continuity of their care and learning

  • a deliberate focus on building the capacity of head teachers to lead and support professional practice improvement

  • renovation of the indoor play spaces and purchase of furnishings and resources to create inviting, stimulating learning environments that respond to the changing interests and abilities of infants, toddlers and older children.

Centre leaders are keen to embed meaningful, reciprocal relationships with parents, whānau and the wider community, within the ongoing operations of the centre. They have focused on improving communication with parents/whānau, and provide good opportunities for parents to comment on centre developments and contribute to events. A well-established relationship with the nearby primary school helps build children's confidence about their transition. Centre leaders are now beginning to focus on how they can widen their connections within the local community.

The centre is managed effectively. Leaders have a clear vision for the ongoing development and improvement of the centre. There are cohesive links between this vision, the centre philosophy, and the strategic and annual plans that guide the centre's development. Annual centre audits established by Evolve help managers to ensure legal requirements are being met regarding policies, procedures and curriculum. A robust internal evaluation process results in changes to teaching practices and improved outcomes for children. Leaders and teachers are open to learning, and continue to question and modify their practice.

Key Next Steps

Centre leaders agree their key next steps include continuing to:

  • develop assessment, planning and evaluation practices across the centre to better identify and document children's learning over time, and incorporate and respond to parents' aspirations for their children

  • embed the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in pedagogical practice and curriculum documentation

  • build leadership capacity in the centre in order to create a more cohesive teaching team and strengthen the continuity of education and care across different age groupings.

During ERO’s August 2018 cluster, Evolve Education Group Managers agreed that next steps included:

  • increased integration of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the alignment of strategic goals and annual plans with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum

  • monitoring the roles and responsibilities of leaders at organisation and centre levels

  • the effective implementation of appraisal practices.

This current cluster review also identified the need for:

  • a coherent change management strategy, and monitoring the effectiveness of the new structure

  • support for centres through changes of key leaders, including area and centre managers

  • the evaluation of teaching and learning across the organisation, to inform the next steps in PLD and the development of the teaching and learning teams

  • high quality PLD for area managers to help them to evaluate and promote quality provision for children, and to identify priorities for supporting centre managers.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Pascals Herne Bay 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 Pascals Herne Bay will be in three years.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services Northern

Northern Region

31 January 2019

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

Herne Bay, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

10194

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

100 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Service roll

81

Gender composition

Boys 44 Girls 37

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Chinese
Indian
other European
other ethnic groups

5
35
6
5
22
8

Percentage of qualified teachers

50-79%

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

November 2018

Date of this report

31 January 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Previous review as: Bayfield Early Education Centre

Education Review
Education Review

October 2016
September 2013

Previous Review as: Bayfield Preschool and Bayfield Babies and Toddlers

Education Review

November 2010

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.

Bayfield Early Education Centre - 21/10/2016

1 Evaluation of Bayfield Early Education Centre

How well placed is Bayfield Early Education Centre to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Bayfield Early Education Centre requires further professional advice and support to:

  • promote positive learning outcomes for children that are linked to the centre's vision and philosophy

  • raise the quality of the curriculum provided for children by focusing on child-led learning

  • build the capability of teachers and staff new to centre leadership positions.

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

Background

Bayfield Early Education Centre is a well established, full-day centre that provides care and education for 100 children from three months to five years of age in infants, toddlers and preschool areas. The centre is now owned, governed and managed by Evolve Group 3 Ltd.

The Review Findings

Evolve Group 3 Ltd is currently introducing its operational systems to strengthen practices in the centre. A curriculum manager will work with staff to promote the development of high quality early childhood teaching and learning practices.

In recent times, staff changes have had a challenging impact on the centre's operation. Key leadership positions have been vacated and teachers new to leadership roles and responsibilities have been appointed. New managers are aware that teachers require carefully structured induction and support to achieve positive outcomes in their roles.

Children in the centre benefit from the calm atmosphere and show a strong sense of belonging. They are focused and keen to engage in conversations with their peers and with adults when they are available. However, programmes are largely teacher directed and do not offer enough to stimulate and engage these articulate and imaginative children. Routines frequently interrupt children's play.

Leaders and teachers are keen to work in partnership with parents and whānau as well as specialist support to extend opportunities for children's learning. They have recently identified the need for a clear understanding of effective planning practices that include the ideas and aspirations of parents for their children. Professional training and support have very recently been arranged to help teachers develop this practice.

Teachers have begun to explore how to provide a bicultural programme that incorporates te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. Learning waiata is one method being used to introduce new vocabulary and a better understanding of the language for children and staff. Teachers are keen to pursue this new knowledge.

Four teachers have had their practising certificates renewed within the last three years. Newly graduated teachers are not currently exposed to high quality teaching and learning practices. However it is expected that the Evolve Group will help teachers to improve practices and provide better modelling for newly graduating teachers.

Key Next Steps

ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to the quality of the curriculum and the programme. To meet regulatory requirements the service needs to improve its performance in:

  • providing a child-led learning programme

  • aligning programme planning to current practices in early childhood education

  • recognising the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua, in the bicultural curriculum

  • reflecting the cultures of all children in the programme

  • evaluating and enriching the learning environment to provide challenge and complexity to learning.

In addition the quality of self review should be strengthened by:

  • making better use of indicators of high quality practice as identified in Ministry of Education and Education Review Office publications

  • having a stronger focus on teaching and learning outcomes for children

  • using planned self review to evaluate the usefulness of centre systems and practices.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Bayfield Early Education Centre 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

Actions for compliance

ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to the quality of programme planning and provision for children's learning, respect for parents' aspirations, acknowledging Māori as tangata whenua and developing an understanding children's cultural backgrounds.

To meet requirements the service needs to improve its performance by:

  • planning, implementing and evaluating a programme based on identifying and responding to children's interests, strengths and capabilities

  • acknowledging and respecting the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua

  • encouraging children to be confident in their own culture and developing an understanding of and respect for others' cultures

  • reflecting and acknowledging the aspirations of parents, family and whānau

  • developing an understanding of high quality learning that aligns with current research, theories, and practices in early childhood education.

Education (ECS) Regulations 2008, 43 (1a).

Development Plan Recommendation

ERO recommends that the service consult with the Ministry of Education and plan to address the key next steps and actions outlined in this report.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of Bayfield Early Education Centre will be within two years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

21 October 2016

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

Herne Bay, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

10194

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

100 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Service roll

102

Gender composition

Boys 51% Girls 49%

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

European

Chinese

Indian

other

2%

78%

8%

3%

2%

7%

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:6

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

July 2016

Date of this report

21 October 2016

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

September 2013

Previous reviews as:Bayfield Preschool and Bayfield Babies and Toddlers

Education Review

November 2010

Education Review

November 2007

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.