A Supplementary Review is undertaken at the discretion of a National Manager, Review Services in the Education Review Office (ERO).
A supplementary review evaluates the extent and effectiveness of actions a centre has taken towards addressing issues specified in a previous education review and/or any additional areas identified since that review.
This supplementary review is based on an evaluation of the performance of the ABC Epsom governing body and management in relation to areas identified in the June 2011 ERO report or issues identified since that review. The terms of reference for this review are to investigate:
ABC Epsom was last reviewed by ERO in 2011, when ERO identified concerns about aspects of the programme and the management of the centre. Since that time, the ABC organisation has been taken over by Kidicorp Ltd. In October 2012, a new manager was appointed, joining many of the original staff who still remain at the centre.
Kidicorp management and the new centre manager have begun the process of addressing the issues identified for improvement in the 2011 ERO report. There has been ongoing professional development for staff, and a focus on improving resources.
Children and teachers enjoy friendly and respectful relationships. There is a calm tone to the programme and children choose their own activities for the majority of the day. Positive changes made to the environment encourage children’s engagement and stimulate conversations and learning opportunities. Teachers work closely with children to support their play. Ongoing reflection and review processes contribute to teachers’ understanding of effective teaching practice.
Teachers have made significant changes to assessment, planning and evaluation processes. Professional support from Kidicorp management has helped teachers to develop an effective planning cycle. This planning is based on what teachers know about children’s strengths and interests. Teachers are now able to promote more complex and challenging play for children. Learning stories and photographs of events and experiences in the programme are displayed for parent and child interest.
Teachers provide prompts throughout the environment to promote good foundations for children’s early literacy. Story reading is frequent and the environment is used to display examples of print and photographs relevant to children’s learning experiences. Conversation between teachers and children extends children’s vocabulary and encourages their thinking. Numeracy and science are beginning to be appropriately included in play.
Teachers now use te reo Māori naturally in the programme with children. Children are able to count and to sing waiata with fluency and enjoyment.
Kidicorp systems and expectations provide opportunities for teachers to take a proactive role in ensuring the smooth running of the centre. Teachers now show ownership of many aspects of centre operations including the development of their philosophy and the strategic and annual plans. They have also established effective team work. Training by Kidicorp has helped to change teachers’ awareness of the importance of their role with children.
Management of the centre is effective and efficient. Kidicorp personnel have addressed all areas of concern identified in the 2011 review report through professional development, appraisal processes and the expectation that self review will guide the need for improvement. Teachers are enjoying the opportunity to take ownership of their own progress and development.
ERO and centre management agree that the next steps for teachers are to continue to strengthen:
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO will review the service again as part of the regular review cycle.
Dale Bailey
National Manager Review Services
Northern Region
2 August 2013
Location |
Epsom, Auckland |
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
10225 |
|
Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
|
Number licensed for |
50 children, including up to 16 aged under 2 |
|
Service roll |
50 |
|
Gender composition |
Boys 32 Girls 28 |
|
Ethnic composition |
NZ European/Pākehā Chinese Indian South East Asian Other European Persian Other Asian Samoan Tongan |
21 8 5 6 4 3 1 1 1 |
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% |
|
Review team on site |
June 2013 |
|
Date of this report |
2 August 2013 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review (as ABC Newmarket) Education Review (as ABC Newmarket) Education Review (as Strawberry Fields Holdings (Great South)) |
June 2011 June 2008 August 2005 |