Bright Star Education and Care Centre

Education institution number:
45837
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
43
Telephone:
Address:

1 Batchelor Street, Newlands, Wellington

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Bright Star Education and Care Centre

1 ERO’s Judgements

Akarangi | Quality Evaluation evaluates the extent to which this early childhood service has the learning and organisational conditions to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. Te Ara Poutama Indicators of quality for early childhood education: what matters most are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. Judgements are made in relation to the Outcomes Indicators, Learning and Organisational Conditions. The Evaluation Judgement Rubric derived from the indicators, is used to inform ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence.

ERO’s judgements for Bright Star Education and Care Centre are as follows:

Outcome Indicators

(What the service knows about outcomes for learners)

Whāngai Establishing

Ngā Akatoro Domains

 

Learning Conditions
Organisational Conditions

Whakaū Embedding

Whakaū Embedding

2 Context of the Service

Bright Star Education and Care Centre is collaboratively led by a qualified centre manager and a co-owner. The centre is organised into two rooms for children under two and over two years. A small number of Māori children and those of Pacific heritage attend. Progress against the key next steps identified in the 2019 ERO report relating to internal evaluation and curriculum has been made.

3 Summary of findings

Children experience an inclusive, responsive curriculum that reflects their interests, strengths, and abilities. Teachers have established learning-focused partnerships with whānau and children. Children’s mana is fostered, and they are well supported to take increasing responsibility for their own wellbeing, the wellbeing of others and the immediate environment. Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are strongly evident through daily routines. Children with additional learning needs are well supported to engage in the curriculum.

The learning environment promotes independence, creativity, and challenge. Children are well supported to develop their growing sense of belonging. Younger children experience an environment that is calm and unhurried. Teachers are highly attuned to their communication cues. Care is understood as an integral part of the curriculum.

Assessment records clearly reflect children’s and whānau aspirations. Children’s efforts, challenges, learning, and success are celebrated. Learning progress over time is visible. Individual assessment records for children are yet to strongly evidence:

  • learning outcomes from Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum

  • their cultures, languages and identity incorporated into documentation

  • teaching strategies used to support Māori children to succeed as Māori.

There is relational trust amongst leaders and teachers, who are focused on improvement. Leaders make it a priority to allocate resources in ways that support the realisation of the service’s vision, and goals.

Teachers work collaboratively to develop their professional knowledge. Internal evaluation is relevant and aligned to the service’s learning priorities. Developing clear success indicators for children, and better use of data and research are required to inform the internal evaluation action plan. Leaders and teachers could better identify and record the impact of improvements made in relation to outcomes for priority learners.

4 Improvement actions

Bright Star Education and Care Centre will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:

  • In assessment documentation intentionally use Te Whāriki learning outcomes and show how teachers respond to children’s cultures, languages and identity.

  • Partner with whānau Māori to identify curriculum priorities for their tamariki to succeed as Māori.

  • Continue to build teachers’ capability to do and use internal evaluation, including monitoring the implementation of improvement actions, and evaluating the impact for priority learners.

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Bright Star Education and Care Centre completed an ERO 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; safety checking; teacher registration; ratios)

  • relevant evacuation procedures and practices.

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

6 Actions for Compliance

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:

  • Ensuring suitable human resource management practices are implemented in relation to appointment procedures (GMA7).

  • Ensuring the written procedure for safety checking all children’s workers before employment or engagement of the worker commences meets the safety checking requirements of the Children's Act 2014 (GMA7A).

  • Having an annual plan that shows how key tasks will have regard to the Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) (GMA8).

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

13 November 2023 

7 About the Early Childhood Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Bright Star Education and Care Centre

Profile Number

45837

Location

Newlands, Wellington

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

43 children, including up to 11 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

47

Review team on site

August 2023

Date of this report

13 November 2023

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, October 2019; Education Review, October 2016

Bright Star Education and Care Centre - 18/10/2019

1 Evaluation of Bright Star Education and Care Centre

How well placed is Bright Star Education and Care Centre to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Bright Star Education and Care Centre is very well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

Bright Star Education and Care Centre is a privately-owned multicultural childcare centre in Newlands, Wellington. It is licenced for up to 43 children, including 11 aged under two.

Leadership includes the owner, who is the manager, and a supervisor who has day-to-day management of the centre. Two educational leaders have responsibility for defined age-related areas. Seven staff are qualified. All staff are long serving.

The centre’s philosophy emphasises honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and relationships with people and the community. Manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and empowerment underpin the emphasis on lifelong learning, active exploration and a sense of connectedness to family, whānau and the community.

The centre is a member of the Newlands Community Network for schools and early learning services.

ERO’s October 2016 report identified that leaders should continue to strengthen assessment practices, use of internal evaluation and cultural knowledge and understanding. Significant progress in these areas is evident.

The Review Findings

Children confidently engage in activities and play experiences for sustained periods. The inclusive learning environment promotes genuine interactions based on respect, trust and a willingness to learn. Teachers' interactions with children are warm and highly responsive. Close and trusting relationships are strongly evident. Teachers effectively allow children the space and time to develop and test their working theories with the use of natural and open-ended resources. Literacy, science, mathematics, and social sciences are very well integrated into the programme.

Infants experience an unhurried pace which supports their sense of wellbeing and belonging. Care routines are maximised as valuable relationship-building opportunities. Interactions are warm, calm and peaceful. Teachers are responsive to children’s personal rhythms and cues.

Māori and Pacific learners are identified and effectively supported by teachers. Their cultures are strongly reflected throughout the environment with displays of items of significance evident throughout the learning environment. This successfully promotes a sense of belonging for these learners.

Strong partnerships enable parents, whānau and teachers to set meaningful individual learning goals for children. Children with diverse learning needs are well supported to fully engage in the programme. External support is accessed as appropriate.

Te ao Māori is highly valued and strongly evident in the environment and curriculum. Teachers enrich children’s learning through well-considered kaupapa Māori based concepts. Children are familiar with and participate in karakia and waiata. The cultural expertise of whānau is actively sought by teachers to enrich the curriculum.

Transitions into, through and out of the centre are sensitively managed with a key teacher responsible for developing plans in consultation with parents. A transition to school pack, developed with primary school teachers, informs parents of how the centre is supporting children to prepare for primary school.

The recently reviewed philosophy underpins the service's values and beliefs and reflects the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa. The valued learning outcomes described in the philosophy are highly evident in practice. Children are engaged and self-motivated. Environmental sustainability is effectively practiced, and children are actively involved in this.

The centre has a well-considered planning for learning framework. Group planning is child driven and informed by their emerging interests and parent aspirations. Purposeful planned learning experiences effectively support, guide and extend children’s knowledge. Assessment records consistently capture the learning that is taking place over time. These are regularly shared with parents through documentation and at yearly parent/teacher interviews. Leaders agree that making clear the expected learning outcomes will add value to the process.

The centre has a sound framework to support relevant and meaningful internal evaluation. This leads to positive learning outcomes for children. Continuing to embed and refine the framework will further enhance evaluation practice.

A useful appraisal system promotes teachers' and leaders' professional growth and development. Regular meetings and observations of practice offer opportunities to reflect on goals, receive feedback and set agreed next steps. Provisionally certificated teachers are well supported to develop their practice to achieve full certification.

A clear strategic plan guides the direction of the service. Leaders and teachers show a strong commitment to the philosophy, vision and goals. There is an established culture where whānau are valued and celebrated for who they are and what they bring to the centre. Teachers have opportunities to lead aspects of the curriculum.

Key Next Steps

Leaders and teachers agree that aspects of the curriculum and internal evaluation require strengthening.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Bright Star Education and Care 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.

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Te Tai Tini

Southern Region

18 October 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

Wellington

Ministry of Education profile number

45837

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

43 children, including up to 11 aged under 2

Service roll

51

Gender composition

Boys 26, Girls 25

Ethnic composition

Māori
NZ European/Pākehā
Indian
Chinese
Other ethnic groups

4
20
14
8
5

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

August 2019

Date of this report

18 October 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

October 2016

Education Review

September 2013

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

The overall judgement that ERO makes will depend on how well the service promotes positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed

  • Well placed

  • Requires further development

  • Not well placed

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.

Bright Star Education and Care Centre - 13/10/2016

1 Evaluation of Bright Star Education and Care Centre

How well placed is Bright Star Education and Care Centre 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

Bright Star Education and Care Centre is a privately owned centre located in Newlands, Wellington that caters for children from multi cultures. It is licenced for up to 43 children, including 11 aged up to the age of two. Of the 46 children enrolled three are Maori.

Leadership includes a manager for the whole centre and supervisor who oversees the centre. There is an educational leader for children up to two years, and also one for children over two years. Six staff are qualified. Two are completing certification and two staff will access teacher training.

The September 2013 ERO report identified self-review practices and the implementation of a plan for success for Māori, as Māori as areas needing development. There has been positive progress in these areas. This is the centre's second ERO review.

The Review Findings

Programmes for children are underpinned by Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The philosophy incorporates values that aim to support children to be life-long learners within a nurturing, safe and stimulating environment. Te ao Māori is fostered, valuing whanaungatanga and relationships are integral to centre practices.

The well-resourced environment and centre programme encourage children to actively engage in a range of learning experiences. Children confidently communicate with peers and adults, explore independently and show perseverance in self-challenging learning situations.

Educators are responsive to learners' interests. Literacy, mathematics, science, arts and creative opportunities progress children's language, knowledge and understanding. Child and adultled learning experiences encourage sustained dialogue and participation.

Infants' and toddlers' programmes are based on respectful and responsive care giving. Children are confident communicators who dialogue and share learning experiences with educators. Learning through play affirms children's ideas and inventiveness.

The planned programme incorporates children's interests, strengths and skills. Individual and group learning needs are supported. Planning boards inform and invite parents' contributions. Children experience opportunities to deepen their learning.

Profile books are useful records of children's participation, friendships, interests and learning journeys. These are attractively presented and include children's learning outcomes and links to parent and whānau aspirations. There is variation across narratives in profile books. Educators agree there is a need to continue to develop shared understanding of assessment, planning and evaluation.

Whanaungatanga and respectful relationships are highly valued between educators, children parents and whānau. A warm, inclusive atmosphere is supportive of children's wellbeing and learning.

Well-developed relationships with the Pacific community are supported through the 'Learning Journey' yearly interviews, relevant resources that affirm language and use of symbols and celebrations.

Te reo me ngā tikanga Māori are strongly promoted, valued and well established in centre practices. Te reo Māori is heard and used in conversations between educators and children. A curriculum, with considered te ao Māori content, is implemented across the centre. Waiata Māori and pakiwaitara are popular with children. Values of manaakitanga, tautoko and tuakana teina are practised. ERO's evaluation affirms the direction identified by the centre, to further develop knowledge of culture and context to contribute to the curriculum.

A well-considered transition approach is responsive to individual children's needs. Flexible time frames are in place and children are assisted by a key educator. To support the transitioning of older children to school, a planned Koru group occurs daily and a specialised Koru group occurs weekly. Leaders have taken the initiative of inviting local school teachers to the centre to discuss school transitioning and continuity of learning. Improved knowledge and understanding of transition between centre staff, parents and school personnel is being nurtured.

Leaders and educators are improvement focused. Relevant internal and external professional learning for staff has improved responsive teaching practice, the bicultural curriculum and ongoing, systematic internal evaluation.

Teachers are well supported by leaders to sustain good quality practice and improve outcomes for children. The centre supervisor leads internal evaluation well. A review framework that aligns with strategic plan objectives is being implemented. Educators agree there is a need to build individual educator's capability and shared understanding of internal evaluation to progress and maintain best practice.

Key Next Steps

ERO and leaders agree that educators should be supported to continue to strengthen:

  • assessment, planning, evaluation for consistency of practice

  • understanding and use of internal evaluation to enhance teaching and learning for children

  • cultural knowledge and understandings.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Bright Star Education and Care 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.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of Bright Star Education and Care Centre will be in three years.

Joyce Gebbie

Deputy Chief Review Officer Central

13 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

Wellington

Ministry of Education profile number

45837

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

43 children, including up to 11 aged under 2

Service roll

46

Gender composition

Girls 24, Boys 22

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Chinese

Indian

Southeast Asian

Pacific

3

22

8

8

3

2

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

August 2016

Date of this report

13 October 2016

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

September 2013

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.