Cockle Bay Playcentre

Education institution number:
25226
Service type:
Playcentre
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
33
Telephone:
Address:

17 Pah Road, Cockle Bay, Auckland

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Cockle Bay Playcentre - 29/08/2018

1 Evaluation of Cockle Bay Playcentre

How well placed is Cockle Bay Playcentre 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

Cockle Bay Playcentre is a parent-led cooperative and is licensed for 30 children, including 15 children up to two years of age. Centre practices are based on the Playcentre philosophy of whānau and children learning and growing together.

The centre offers five morning sessions each week. Increasing the roll is a current strategic goal for the centre. A Monday afternoon SPACE (Supporting Parents Alongside Children's Education) programme provides an introduction to Playcentre for parents with babies under one year of age. Parents also receive useful information on early learning and development. Some parents from the SPACE programme enrol their children in Playcentre sessions.

The 2015 ERO report found that children were confident learners in inclusive mixed-age play settings. These features continue to be evident. Areas for development included strategic planning, evaluating the effectiveness of planning and assessment, and extending older children's learning. Building the capacity of members to use te reo Māori was a further area for development. The centre continues to make good progress in these areas.

Playcentre Aotearoa is in the process of restructuring, moving from 32 Associations to six regional offices. The Auckland region includes 45 centres from the former Auckland, Tamaki and Counties Playcentre Associations. A regional manager oversees governance, management and administration and has a team of staff to support individual centres. Centre whānau and regional staff are in a period of transition. Regional staff are helping whānau as they adapt to new systems and responsibilities.

This review was part of a cluster of six Playcentre reviews in the Auckland region.

The Review Findings

Children are secure, settled and happy. A welcoming atmosphere is created for children, parents and visitors through respectful and responsive interactions. The strong relationships at this centre provide opportunities for families to connect and form friendships and a sense of community. Effective centre leadership and a recently developed induction process help new members to settle into the centre.

Adults work collaboratively, ensuring that children can make choices and enjoy uninterrupted play and learning opportunities. Thoughtfully provided resources and well arranged indoor and outdoor environments support children's sustained exploration. Centre members have ensured that a separate calm area with appropriate resources is available for infants. Parents have access to comfortable spaces to feed infants as needed.

The centre has deliberately formed a close connection with the natural environment in the adjacent domain, and participates in community restoration initiatives. This connection provides children and families with an opportunity to experience a sense of kaitiakitanga.

Centre members have developed a shared understanding of bicultural practices through a recent internal evaluation. They are aware of and appreciate the importance of incorporating te reo Māori me ngā tikanga Māori in centre practices. To improve consistency, members should continue to support each other with the daily inclusion of bicultural practices.

The centre celebrates events that are significant to families' diverse cultures, with all families having an opportunity to take leadership roles. Families report that they feel confident in their own cultural identity within the centre community.

Parents/whānau are interested in and engage with children's play and learning. They notice what children are doing and saying, and document some of the learning and discussions in well-presented individual portfolios. The quality of these assessment records varies depending on the adult's level of experience. To achieve consistency of practice, members should develop a shared understanding about using learning stories to record children's progress and learning over time.

Centre members meet regularly to plan the programme. Planning discussions occur in daily session evaluations and a termly LEAP (learning, evaluation, assessment, and planning) meeting. Planning would be improved by members reflecting on how effectively they have contributed to children's learning and what else they could do to support and extend learning. They should also consider incorporating children's ideas and contribution in planning future extensions to learning.

Internal evaluation uses a sound framework and is improvement focused, regular, and linked to the strategic plan. Developing ways to revisit and sustain improved practices would help to maximise the positive impact of internal evaluation.

Collaborative leadership enables opportunities for all members to extend and share their knowledge and skills. Newly appointed regional personnel are making progress building on existing systems and establishing regional management structures for supporting centres. Centre support workers are guided by regional centre support coordinators. Systems are being developed for monitoring the quality of programmes for children, adult education levels, and health and safety requirements.

The regional management team takes responsibility for specific tasks relating to effective operations of individual Playcentres. The team is aware of the unique strengths and needs of each centre and provides professional leadership to sustain improvement, growth and the focus on fostering positive learning outcomes for children.

Key Next Steps

Centre members agree that to improve the quality of programmes for children, they should continue to:

  • reflect on their practices to help them identify ways to better support and extend children's learning

  • develop understanding about and build capability in recording learning stories

  • strengthen the quality of planning and evaluation.

In order to improve and strengthen practice, the regional leaders should continue to:

  • revisit the commitment to Te Tiriti partnership, and to increase bicultural understandings and the integration of te reo me ōna tikanga Māori in centre practices

  • clarify and upskill centre support roles

  • build regional office capability to embed new adult education programmes and qualifications

  • improve the understanding and use of internal evaluation as a tool to guide practices

  • develop, evaluate and report against regional long-term and annual action plans that align with goals for improvement at national and regional levels

  • embed the new Playcentre structure and systems and evaluate how effectively they support all children, including Pacific children and children with additional needs.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Cockle Bay Playcentre 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.

Repairing the asphalt in the outdoor playground would improve provision for children's safety.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of Cockle Bay Playcentre will be in three years.

Julie Foley

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern (Acting)

Te Tai Raki - Northern Region

29 August 2018

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

Cockle Bay, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

25226

Licence type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 15 aged under 2

Service roll

30

Gender composition

Girls 15 Boys 15

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
other

2
19
9

Percentage of qualified teachers

Parent Led

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:1

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

June 2018

Date of this report

29 August 2018

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

February 2015

Education Review

November 2010

Education Review

September 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.

Cockle Bay Playcentre - 11/02/2015

1 Evaluation of Cockle Bay Playcentre

How well placed is Cockle Bay Playcentre 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

Cockle Bay Playcentre in Howick, Auckland, is a parent cooperative. It is one of 16 centres operating under the umbrella of the Tamaki Playcentre Association. The centre is governed by the Association which provides a management and policy framework to guide centre operations. Liaison officers and other Association staff provide support for centres, including adult education programmes to encourage children’s learning.

A key feature of playcentre is that children and parents learn alongside one another and promote the philosophy of the parents as first teachers of their children. The centre is licensed for 30 children, including 16 up to two years. It offers five sessions for children of mixed ages each week. The centre is well established and currently caters for up to 27 families. Sessions are well attended.

The Playcentre Association is currently undergoing a structural review to streamline its systems, policies and practices and promote the long-term sustainability of the organisation. A key priority is to encourage and support Playcentre members to take an active role in the governance of the organisation at the Association level.

The 2011 ERO report found the centre to be well managed. It identified some areas for development, including communication and self-review. Progress has been made in these areas.

This review was part of a cluster of eight playcentre reviews in the Tamaki Playcentre Association.

The Review Findings

Children have a strong sense of belonging in the centre. It is their place and they look forward to the days they attend sessions. Children play together well and, as a result, the centre has a very settled and harmonious tone. Children are confident and articulate when talking about their play and sharing their ideas.

Children have good access to resources. This helps them to fulfil the plans they have for their play. Children use their imaginations well to play independently and with others. The good organisation of indoor and outdoor areas promotes children’s uninterrupted play. Children have the lead role in directing own their play. Adults provide appropriate prompts and suggestions to help children sustain their play for long periods.

Relationships are a strength of the centre. Adults know children well. Children benefit from warm and supportive interactions with adults. They trust adults to nurture and encourage them in their learning.

Narratives are written to capture children’s learning moments and experiences. Experienced centre members provide good examples of narratives and help new members to build their confidence and knowledge in this area. They identify children’s learning and development and value each other’s perspective of their child’s learning. This information is used to plan opportunities that will build on the interests of, and promote learning for, individual children.

Centre office holders manage the centre well. They bring expertise and experience to their roles. Strategic directions are taken from the Association’s strategic plan. This plan currently focuses on the development of self-review practices and managing the ongoing sustainability of the centre.

Office holders are aware of the strong sense of community that the centre offers to families. The Playcentre philosophy is well enacted through the learning opportunities created for children and the function it plays in supporting families. At times when families require additional support, the centre is well organised to provide this.

The Association has confidence in the management of the centre and has been responsive when the centre has required support in specific areas.

Association management practices are well established. Heightening awareness of the playcentre within the community so that centres are well attended is an ongoing focus for the Association. Members report that the Association is very responsive to requests for support and guidance to manage the centre. The Association could now consider how staff can better support centres to provide quality programmes for children and also promote improvement in effective centres.

Key Next Steps

Centre office holders and ERO agree that, while the centre is effective in supporting families, some areas could be further developed to promote learning for their children. These include:

  • strategic planning to focus on long-term goals and directions
  • using formal self-review processes to evaluate the effectiveness of programmes and initiatives
  • building the capacity of parents/whānau to use te reo Māori and promote bicultural practice
  • reviewing the effectiveness of planning and assessment in promoting the interests of individual children and in challenging and extending older children.

The cluster review has identified areas of governance and management for the Association to address. These include:

  • strengthening strategic planning and self-review practices
  • re-establishing performance management systems for all employed staff
  • ensuring liaison officers and licensing support workers contribute to more effectively improving the quality of programmes in centres.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Cockle Bay Playcentre 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 Cockle Bay Playcentre will be in three years.

Dale Bailey

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

11 February 2015

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

Cockle Bay, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

25226

Licence type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 16 aged under 2

Service roll

47

Gender composition

Girls 24

Boys 23

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Chinese

Cook Island

2

43

1

1

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:2

Better than minimum requirements

 

Over 2

1:2

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

September 2014

Date of this report

11 February 2015

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

November 2010

 

Education Review

September 2007

 

Education Review

June 2004

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.