The Ridge Childcare

Education institution number:
45727
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
37
Telephone:
Address:

322 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri

View on map

The Ridge Childcare

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 The Ridge Childcare are as follows:

Outcome Indicators

(What the service knows about outcomes for learners)

Whakaū Embedding

Ngā Akatoro Domains

 

Learning Conditions
Organisational Conditions

Whakaū Embedding

Whakaū Embedding

2 Context of the Service

The Ridge Childcare is a privately owned and well-established service. An experienced leader is supported by a dedicated team, most of whom are qualified teachers (kaiako). A manager is responsible for daily operations. The centre’s philosophy is guided by te ao Māori values. A small number of children enrolled are Māori.

3 Summary of findings

Children experience gentle and respectful relationships in a calm, purposeful environment. A strong focus on children selecting and managing their own play increases their independence. A well-resourced, accessible learning environment supports children to direct their own learning.

Kaiako provide an environment that is inclusive and accepting for all children and their families. Consistent caregivers for infants and young children respond well to children’s individual needs. Kaiako interact sensitively and respectfully with children. They have knowledge of te ao Māori perspectives to support the care of Māori infants and young children.

Kaiako skilfully plan a curriculum that responds to children’s interests and capabilities. They are culturally responsive and intentionally extend children’s interests and learning dispositions. Kaiako support children’s learning to enable them to be creative and to use early literacy and numeracy knowledge for a range of purposes. Children’s learning is displayed throughout the environment.

Kaiako understand parent/whānau aspirations and expectations, and they work collaboratively and responsively to foster learning partnerships with parents. Children’s cultures, and languages are embedded within the curriculum, including celebrations of special festivals and events.

Aspects of tikanga Māori are visible in the service’s curriculum and teaching practices, which align with the service’s philosophy. Leaders and kaiako are committed to respecting and enacting te ao Māori as a fundamental part of the service’s values. Kaiako skilfully include te reo and tikanga Māori in the curriculum. Their culturally responsive practices contribute to children’s growing understanding, and confident use of te reo Māori.

A high level of relational trust is evident between leaders and teachers. Teaching practices are guided by purposeful professional development. Internal evaluation processes are developing well and are contributing to positive learning outcomes for children. Service operations are guided by a framework of relevant policies and procedures.

4 Improvement actions

The Ridge Childcare will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:

  • Continue to strengthen internal evaluation systems by monitoring the implementation of improvement actions and evaluating their impact on outcomes for children.

  • Further develop the localised curriculum to reflect the history of the community, whānau and a connection to the natural world.

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of The Ridge Childcare 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.

Filivaifale Jason Swann
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

3 March 2023

6 About the Early Childhood Service

Early Childhood Service Name

The Ridge Childcare

Profile Number

45727

Location

Kerikeri, Northland

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

70 children, including up to 14 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

44

Review team on site

November 2022

Date of this report

3 March 2023

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, July 2019; Education Review, March 2017

The Ridge Childcare - 18/07/2019

1 Evaluation of The Ridge Childcare

How well placed is The Ridge Childcare to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

The Ridge Childcare is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

The Ridge Childcare is a privately-owned service that is licensed for 70 children, including 14 aged under two years. Approximately 10 percent of the children enrolled have Māori heritage.

ERO's 2017 report identified that governance systems, curriculum and teaching practices required further development. The Ministry of Education has provided support to build leaders' and teachers' ability and understanding in these areas.

There have been staffing changes, and considerable property development and refurbishment over the past two years. A new head teacher was employed in 2018 and works alongside the centre manager. Most of the teachers are qualified and registered. The staff also includes an administrator and a chef.

The Review Findings

The head teacher provides good professional leadership. Teachers are developing shared understandings and working together to improve the curriculum. Children have opportunities to explore resources, make decisions, and to be involved in experiences alongside their friends. Teachers know children and support their play well. Infants and toddlers are settled and have positive relationships with adults. Good networks have been established with local schools to help children transition into a new setting.

Wall displays show that the curriculum includes opportunities for children to learn about the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. There is some inclusion of te reo Māori in routines such as kai time and group time. Some teachers have participated in professional development to improve their understanding of te ao Māori. Teachers now need to ensure that this new learning is evident in their ongoing daily teaching practice.

Teachers document children's learning and experiences at the centre as individuals and in groups. They could strengthen assessment records by writing clear next steps that show how they plan to extend learning for each child over time. Regularly inviting parents/whānau to share their knowledge and aspirations for their children will enhance current processes.

Through external support and guidance, a review of governance practices has contributed to improved systems. A long-term plan and a teacher appraisal process have been established. These developments are relatively new. Managers and teachers should continue to build on these positive changes. This should include the head teacher documenting feedback to teachers about their practice. Appraising the performance of the centre manager and head teacher should be a priority.

Key Next Steps

The key next steps are to consolidate new curriculum practices and governance systems. These include:

  • teachers reviewing how well the curriculum and teaching practices for all age groups reflect the service's philosophy and align with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum

  • teachers improving their understanding of tikanga Māori and integration of te reo Māori to support children's learning

  • teachers continuing to improve assessment and planning processes, and evaluating how well teaching practices contribute to children's learning

  • all staff evaluating how well long-term and annual goals are being progressed

  • all staff monitoring health and safety systems to ensure licensing requirements are met.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of The Ridge Childcare 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.

ERO identified non-compliance relating to teacher appraisal as well as some health and safety practices. To address these, the service provider should ensure that:

  • all staff undertake a system of regular appraisal

  • the evaluation of emergency drills informs the annual review of the service's emergency plan

  • accident records are analysed to identify hazards and appropriate action is taken.
    Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008; GMA7, HS8,12.

Recommendation

ERO requested the service provider developed an action plan to show how the priorities for improvement identified in this report, will be addressed. ERO will request progress updates against the action plan.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services Northern

Northern Region

18 July 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

Kerikeri, Northland

Ministry of Education profile number

45727

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

70 children, including up to 14 aged under 2

Service roll

48

Gender composition

Boys 28 Girls 20

Ethnic composition

Māori
NZ European/Pākehā
other ethnic groups

6
36
6

Percentage of qualified teachers

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

May 2019

Date of this report

18 July 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Education Review

March 2017

Education Review

August 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.