12 Portland School Road, Portland
View on map|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
Portland Kindergarten is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Portland Kindergarten is one of 22 kindergartens governed and managed by the Northland Kindergarten Association (NKA). It is a well-established kindergarten licensed for 29 children over two years of age and operating from 8.30am to 2.30pm. Māori children make up approximately 20 percent of the roll.
The kindergarten's philosophy emphasises the value of manaaki whenua, manaaki tangata, and haere whakamua (care for the land, care for the people, and move forward). The teaching team has had a number of leadership changes. It includes an acting head teacher, two other registered teachers, an administrator, and a lunch-cover staff member.
The centre has a history of positive ERO reports. In 2015, ERO noted that meaningful experiences and respect for people, animals and nature were highly evident in children’s play. They continue to be features. Areas for improvement included programme planning, evaluation and connections with the local community. Some progress has been made in these areas.
This review was part of a cluster of 9 kindergarten reviews in the Northland Kindergarten Association.
Children have formed strong friendships and play cooperatively and collaboratively. Tuakana/teina relationships are evident in children's strong sense of responsibility for their own and others' wellbeing.
Children have access to a wide variety of appropriate experiences and resources, both indoors and outside. The recently developed 'Naturehood' area and programme promote the concept of children becoming kaitiaki and caring for the surrounding environment. Children's knowledge and understanding of the natural world around them is enriched.
Teachers' interactions with children are respectful and inclusive. Transitions into the kindergarten are well managed through teachers' primary caregiving practices. Teachers foster children's independence and are available to support children's play. They could continue to strengthen their planning for extending children's thinking.
Children's individual assessment records highlight their strengths and interests. Teachers' planning focuses on how they will respond to children's interests and abilities. Teachers recognise the value of relationships with whānau and gather parents' aspirations for their children. They have identified the need to improve their recording of, and response to, parent involvement in the programme.
Teachers have increased their shared understandings about current theories and best practice. They have a sound knowledge of children and their whānau, and acknowledge the benefits of continuing to extend their knowledge about children's cultures and the community.
Internal evaluation is improvement focused, well-established and documented regularly. The kindergarten's philosophy is highly evident in practice.
Recent leadership transitions have been well managed to provide continuity for children and families. Professional learning and development (PLD) has supported teachers to effectively implement initiatives such as the 'Naturehood' and 'Enviroschools' programmes.
Professional practice managers (PPM) regularly visit kindergartens to provide leadership and curriculum guidance for teachers. A Pou Whakarewa Tikanga Māori Advisor works closely with teachers to increase their understanding of and focus on authentically threading te ao Māori into learning programmes. There is an organisation-wide emphasis on providing high quality resources and equipment for children. Leaders and teachers value and respect the thoughtful use of natural resources.
The Association provides a comprehensive policy and procedure framework that sets clear expectations and guides teachers’ practice. It has developed relevant appraisal and teacher inquiry processes that reflect the Teaching Council’s guidelines. Each kindergarten’s annual plan aligns to the Association’s strategic vision, values and goals. NKA employs a speech language therapist and seconds a social worker from Family Works to provide targeted support for children, whānau and teachers.
Leaders and teachers agree that they continue to strengthen:
their documentation of children's progress and continuity of learning in assessment records
the evaluation of initiatives such as 'Naturehood' to identify their impact on outcomes for children, whānau and teachers.
Key next steps for Association-wide development include:
further developing assessment, planning and evaluation processes
deepening understanding of evaluative thinking and internal evaluation processes to measure the effectiveness of systems and practices across the Association.
Before the review, the staff and management of Portland Kindergarten 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:
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.
Steve Tanner
Director Review and Improvement Services Northern
Northern Region
14 August 2019
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.
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Location |
Portland, Whangarei |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
5016 |
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Licence type |
Free Kindergarten |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
29 children aged over two years |
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Service roll |
44 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 23 Girls 21 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
8 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% + |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
June 2019 |
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Date of this report |
14 August 2019 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
September 2015 |
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|
Education Review |
April 2012 |
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Education Review |
February 2009 |
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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.
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.
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.
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Portland Kindergarten services a wide rural area to the south and west of Whangarei. Session hours were extended in 2014 and the kindergarten now provides a six hour programme for up to 29 children between two and five years of age. Twenty percent of children currently enrolled have Māori heritage.
A relatively new teaching team is building a positive team culture. The kindergarten’s philosophy focuses on building positive relationships with children and their families and making meaningful connections with the natural environment. The ‘Enviroschools’ initiative supports the kindergarten’s commitment to providing a nature-based programme. This includes regular outdoor sessions in the local bush area.
Positive features identified in ERO’s 2012 report have been sustained. Responsive teaching practices support children to explore and investigate. Teachers have developed their use of self review as a tool to guide ongoing improvement in the programme.
The kindergarten operates as part of the Northland Kindergarten Association. The Association provides governance, leadership and policy frameworks to meet operational management expectations. Association personnel assist teachers to maintain good standards of health, safety and to improve the quality of educational programmes. The Associations’ Pumanawatanga Plan reflects a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and support for the development of bicultural practices across the organisation.
This review was part of a cluster of 10 kindergarten reviews in the Northland Kindergarten Association.
Children are self-motivated learners who enthusiastically participate in a stimulating nature-based programme. They demonstrate a sense of themselves as kaitiaki (nature guardians) who care for the environment. A respect for people, animals and nature and knowledge about their local area is highly evident in children’s play. Meaningful programme experiences empower children to develop their thinking and talk confidently about their learning. Children are knowledgeable about basic Māori protocols and participate confidently in mihi whakatau, karakia and waiata.
Teachers are responsive to children’s ideas and work alongside children to support their play. They guide children to effectively manage their relationships with others. Teachers are growing in their confidence to increasingly use te reo Māori in the programme. They agree they could review how well the programme provides for younger children.
The programme is underpinned by a commitment to environmental sustainability. It is guided by
Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and values the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. A nature-based focus has resulted in increased family engagement in the programme and a greater sharing of families’ skills and expertise at the kindergarten. Strong connections with local schools and involvement of the wider community in the programme are also evident.
Children’s learning is highly visible in wall displays. Individual learning records celebrate children’s positive relationships with others and the natural environment. Māori children’s identity is celebrated through sharing information about their Māori heritage. Teachers’ could strengthen assessment practices by making more regular links in learning records to clearly show individual children’s progress over time.
The teaching team values opportunities to grow their leadership and utilise individual strengths. Appraisal systems are well used to improve teacher’s practice. Teachers are developing a shared understanding about effective teaching and team approaches. Ongoing professional learning is likely to further contribute to improved teacher practices. The kindergarten’s long-term and annual goals have been reviewed to reflect teachers’ vision for ongoing development.
The Northland Kindergarten Association provides effective governance for kindergartens. Its
long-term direction focuses on making decisions to improve learning outcomes for children. Positive strategies include:
Association leaders are considering ways to enhance teacher appraisal processes and systems for self review. ERO suggests that the Association strengthens systems to ensure that all health and safety requirements are being implemented.
To build on existing good practices teachers agree they could:
Before the review, the staff and management of Portland Kindergarten 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:
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:
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
The next ERO review of Portland Kindergarten will be in three years.
Graham Randell
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern (Acting)
9 September 2015
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.
|
Location |
Portland, Whangarei |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
5016 |
||
|
Licence type |
Free Kindergarten |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
29 children, including up to 0 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
41 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 26 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori |
8 |
|
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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 |
June 2015 |
||
|
Date of this report |
9 September 2015 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
April 2012 |
|
|
Education Review |
February 2009 |
||
|
Education Review |
March 2006 |
||
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.
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:
ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.
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.