48 Worcester Street, Ashhurst
View on mapNot well placed | Requires further development | Well placed | Very well placed |
Ashhurst Kindergarten is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Ashhurst Kindergarten is located in Ashhurst, Manawatū. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am until 2:30pm. Full-day places are available for children from two to six years old. At the time of this review, 39 children were enrolled and 10 identify as Māori.
The kindergarten philosophy emphasises togetherness, whanaungatanga and collaborative learning where children are kaitiaki of their environment.
The kindergarten is administered by the Ruahine Kindergarten Association (the association). The governing board is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction for the organisation. The day-to-day running of the association is the role of the chief executive officer who is responsible to the board. An operations manager supports the service's compliance and policy development. Two senior teachers provide educational leadership across the teaching teams.
The February 2016 ERO report identified that planning for learning, internal evaluation, developing the bicultural curriculum and success for Māori as Māori, required further development. Good progress has been made to address these areas.
The kindergarten is part of the Palmerston North East Kāhui Ako.
This review was part of a cluster of twelve kindergartens and one early learning service reviews in the Ruahine Kindergarten Association.
The kindergarten philosophy is highly evident in practice. Respectful, reciprocal and collaborative relationships underpin kindergarten practice. Children are engaged, curious and confident. Older children are able to take on leadership roles. Tuakana teina relationships are evident. Respectful relationships are promoted across the kindergarten community. A calm, settled environment fosters children's sense of belonging.
Intentional teaching builds on children's skills and knowledge. A strength of the programme is its emphasis on sustainability and the natural world where children understand their role as kaitiaki. Literacy and science experiences align to the focus on sustainability. The learning environment is thoughtfully resourced to invite children’s exploration and engagement, challenge, and discovery. The child-centred curriculum is responsive to children's interests and promotes successful outcomes.
Teachers have a focus on supporting independence, wellbeing and social competence within an inclusive environment. They work in collaboration with parents and external agencies to help children who require additional learning support progress towards their individual goals and achieve positive outcomes.
Bicultural practice is integral to the curriculum and fosters children's understanding of te ao Māori. A commitment to implementing culturally responsive practice that reflects te ao Māori as part of daily experiences is evident. Tikanga practices are well understood by children. Teachers use te reo Māori in meaningful conversations.
Teachers recognise that continuing to strengthen their knowledge and understanding of te ao Māori that promotes educational success for Māori children is an ongoing focus. In addition, teachers should explore how links to children's culture, language and identity can be better promoted through assessment and planning. As teachers continue to develop learning partnerships with whānau Māori, this should enhance their responsiveness to children and their families.
Since the previous ERO review, teachers have strengthened the way they plan for each child and extend their learning. Individual goals to inform planning and extension of children's emerging interests have been developed. Parents' aspirations are gathered as part of this process. Their contributions are valued and links are made between home and kindergarten.
Assessment information pays attention to children's strengths, interests and dispositions and document their learning journey over time. Children's portfolios are regularly shared with families. Further evaluation of the impact of teaching strategies, curriculum decisions and progress in relation to goals developed for children's learning, should enrich outcomes for children.
Transitions in to the service promote children's sense of belonging. Responsive teaching practices support the needs of younger children. Continuing to develop relationships with local schools is an ongoing focus to support children's transition pathways.
Leaders and teachers are improvement-focused. There is a collaborative approach to ongoing improvement. Senior teachers work collaboratively to build teacher and leadership capability. There is a strong commitment to growing staff knowledge and skills through ongoing professional learning, research opportunities and the sharing of good practice.
A range of collaboratively undertaken reviews aligned to kindergarten and association priorities for ongoing improvement, emphasise children's learning. A focus of development is strengthening teachers' knowledge and understanding of internal evaluation to support them to know the impact of their actions on children's outcomes.
Association leaders have a well-considered approach to progressing strategic objectives. Robust systems and processes are in place for monitoring, reporting and evaluating the quality of operations. Information is used to inform decision making and to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
At kindergarten level, priorities are to continue to strengthen:
At governance level, the Ruahine Kindergarten Association have identified that their priorities are to continue to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Ashhurst 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.
To improve compliance practice:
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services Central
Central Region
11 October 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.
| Location | Ashhurst | |
| Ministry of Education profile number | 5249 | |
| Licence type | Free Kindergarten | |
| Licensed under | Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 | |
| Number licensed for | 40 children aged over 2 | |
| Service roll | 39 | |
| Gender composition | Female 20, Male 19 | |
| Ethnic composition | Māori NZ European/Pākehā Other ethnic groups | 10 21 8 |
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates | 80% + | |
| Reported ratios of staff to children | 1:10 | Meets minimum requirements |
| Review team on site | August 2019 | |
| Date of this report | 11 October 2019 | |
Most recent ERO report(s)
| Education Review | February 2016 |
| Education Review | October 2012 | |
| Education Review | May 2009 | |
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:
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.
Ashhurst Kindergarten is one of 24 administered by the Ruahine Kindergarten Association Incorporated (the association). It is licensed for 40 children aged over two years. Of the 37 children enrolled, 10 are Māori. All five teachers are qualified and registered. The community is diverse.
The philosophy emphasises the importance of play, social and emotional wellbeing and relationships in promoting children’s learning. Teachers value the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the basis of the learning programme.
The October 2012 ERO review identified that planning for children’s learning and use of self review to guide improvement needed strengthening. Improved management support for implementation of the teacher appraisal process was also needed. Good progress is evident.
A governing board is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction for the association. Day-to-day management of the association’s affairs is the responsibility of the general manager. The senior teacher provides professional leadership for teaching and learning. An operations manager supports kindergartens’ compliance, policy development and leadership. A management restructure has been undertaken since the previous ERO reviews.
This review is one of a cluster of five reviews of Ruahine Kindergartens.
The kindergarten is suitably resourced to support children’s participation in a range of learning experiences. A developing focus on whanaungatanga, connecting as one people, is celebrated in the environment. The outdoor area provides children with good opportunities for physical challenge and investigation of natural materials and nature.
For much of the day children have free choice about the level and timing of their participation. They are cooperative and confident and well engaged in the opportunities provided. Teachers are working towards giving children increasing responsibility for directing their own learning and setting their own learning goals. It would be timely to review the programme in relation to support for these priorities and the reflection of agreed philosophical values in teaching and learning.
Teachers are responsive, positive and encouraging. They work together well to settle children and families and support engagement in learning. Some good strategies are used to encourage children’s ideas and perseverance in play.
The programme is responsive to individual children’s interests and needs. There is an emphasis on sustaining and improving social competence. Teachers are inclusive and show commitment to becoming more culturally responsive.
Literacy, mathematics, science and creativity are well integrated into the programme in the context of everyday experiences. Teachers are aware of the need to monitor aspects of the curriculum to ensure the needs of the increasing number of younger children are being met.
As a result of a comprehensive review, teachers have redefined their approach to planning for learning. There is now a stronger focus on individual children’s interests, strengths and needs. Planning includes reference to learning dispositions, goal setting, and intentional teaching strategies.
Children show strong ownership of their portfolios. Best examples illustrate their progress over time, revisiting of earlier interests and parents’ input. An online programme has the potential to improve teachers and whānau/parents’ communication about children’s learning programmes, progress and achievements.
An individualised and flexible approach supports children and their families’ smooth transition into the kindergarten. The head teacher agrees she needs to continue to focus on developing relationships with local primary schools to strengthen the transition process and sharing of information about children, school and early childhood programmes.
Teachers are reflective and regularly meet to share ideas about teaching and learning. The head teacher has implemented a comprehensive review process which results in improved outcomes for children. Further consideration should be given to strengthening the evaluative component to better inform decisions about next development steps.
The kindergarten’s annual plan outlines priorities for the year linked to the association’s strategic goals of having high quality staff, coordinated services, effective partnerships and operations. Progress is recorded and reflected upon in collaboration with the senior teacher and operations manager. Quality outcomes linked to agreed ‘wise practice’ should be a useful addition to the annual plan. This should enable more effective monitoring of progress in relation to learning, teaching and outcomes for children.
Some progress has been made in integrating a bicultural perspective into the programme. Association leaders agree, implementation of bicultural curriculum and promotion of success for Māori as Māori need further development. The recently revised Te Tiriti o Waitangi policy, the ‘Wise Practice’ document, and the establishment of enduring connections with mana whenua should support these aspects of practice.
The association provides effective governance and management support for this service. This includes:
Developing and implementing appraisal for the senior teacher and operations manager is a priority.
ERO and association leaders agree, teachers should be supported to continue to develop:
Before the review, the staff and management of Ashhurst 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 Ashhurst Kindergarten will be in three years.
Joyce Gebbie
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central
9 February 2016
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 |
Ashhurst |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
5249 |
||
|
Licence type |
Free Kindergarten |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
40 children aged over 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
37 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 19, Girls 18 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori Pākehā Tongan |
10 26 1 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
Review team on site |
December 2015 |
||
|
Date of this report |
9 February 2016 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
October 2012 |
|
|
Education Review |
May 2009 |
||
|
Education Review |
December 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.