976B State Highway 30, Awakeri
View on mapHow well placed is Awakeri 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.
Awakeri Playcentre is a sessional centre providing education and care for children from birth to six years of age. The centre is open for five sessions per week which include two parent-led general sessions and three independent sessions for children from three years old to six years old. Awakeri Playcentre is a well-established centre located next to Awakeri Primary School. Parents have developed a close relationship with the school.
The centre operates as a parent cooperative under the umbrella of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association (EBOPPA) and is licensed for 25 children, including up to 12 under two years. At the time of this ERO review 19 children were enrolled including two who identify as Māori. Members are committed to providing a fun and friendly place for both children and caregivers.
Since the 2012 ERO review there have been improvements to both the indoor and outside learning environments. An increased number of members actively studying the playcentre courses has resulted in greater parent understanding of early childhood education. There is a continuing focus on child-led play and identifying children’s strengths and interests to meet individual learning needs.
The centre has responded positively to the area of review and development in the 2012 ERO report related to strengthening te reo and tikanga Māori. There is an ongoing challenge to maintain roll numbers.
This review was part of a cluster of eight playcentre reviews in the Eastern Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association.
Positive and affirming interactions between parents and children contribute to a very settled and inclusive environment. Children participate in sustained individual and group learning experiences, and older children play well with their younger peers. The centre provides a wide range of rich and authentic learning opportunities in a very well-presented and resourced natural environment. Children move freely between indoor and outdoor activities that promote active exploration. They are very secure and happy, and demonstrate a sense of wellbeing and belonging.
Children are engaged in meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences. They benefit from a positive and exciting environment with many opportunities to play cooperatively or individually. Suitably planned play areas cater well for children’s interests and physical development. Other aspects of the programme that support children’s learning and contribute to their sense of themselves as capable and confident learners include:
Parents recognise that evaluation of the programme and formalising self-review processes are areas for continued development.
Centre members gather a range of assessment information for individual children which is used to plan and evaluate the programme, and shows children’s progress and learning over time. They now need to use their own words to link learning and identify further learning opportunities.
The centre benefits from the dedication of experienced centre members who work together to effectively lead centre operations and the programme for children. They provide collaborative leadership with clear roles and responsibilities and communicate well with one another and the community.
The New Zealand Playcentre Federation provides overall guidance, support and strategic direction for the local association and centres. The EBOPPA aims to grow and sustain parent membership and is proactive in supporting local events and activities. There are clear policies and procedures and guidelines for self review, assessment, planning and evaluation. Playcentre workshops help parents establish strategies and practices that ensure positive educational outcomes for children.
At the time of this ERO review the national federation was in the process of considering changes to the governance and management structure of the organisation. This is likely to present an opportunity for further review and improvement to communication and support for centres.
Before the review, the staff and management of Awakeri 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:
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 Awakeri Playcentre will be in four years.
Dale Bailey Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern
22 May 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 |
Awakeri, Bay of Plenty |
|
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
40024 |
|
|
Licence type |
Playcentre |
|
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
|
|
Number licensed for |
25 children, including up to 12 aged under 2 |
|
|
Service roll |
19 |
|
|
Gender composition |
Boys 13 Girls 6 |
|
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori NZ European/Pākehā Egyptian |
2 16 1 |
|
Review team on site |
March 2015 |
|
|
Date of this report |
22 May 2015 |
|
|
Most recent ERO report(s) These are available at www.ero.govt.nz |
Education Review |
March 2012 |
|
Education Review |
November 2008 |
|
|
Education Review |
February 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.
Awakeri Playcentre operates under the umbrella of Eastern Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association. It is located near Whakatane and is a close neighbour of Awakeri School. The licence allows 25 children to attend at any one time, including up to 12 children under two years of age. Currently a total of 44 children are attending, of whom 18 are under two. Approximately one-quarter of the children are of Māori descent.
The centre has a record of positive reviews, and has made further progress since the last ERO review in 2008. Parents are maintaining a high level of playcentre training, and there is a strong focus on planning, assessment and self review. Professional development has enhanced members understanding of ways to extend the provision for babies and toddlers. The committed team of parents has maintained and improved the property and purchased new resources.
Children are playing in a rich learning environment that offers them a free choice of meaningful activities. Parents’ careful supervision supports children’s safety and well-being, while encouraging active, sustained and challenging exploration and play. The attractively planted vegetable garden provides experiences of nature, and fruit and vegetables are harvested for healthy eating. Trips and excursions expand children’s knowledge of the wider environment.
The centre’s family-friendly setting encourages children and their parents to develop positive and respectful relationships. Children display important social skills, and responsible and caring attitudes. Parents and adults are focused on children’s play and learning. They integrate a Māori dimension into the programme, and aspects of literacy and mathematics are also included. Children’s participation, learning and progress is recorded in valuable individual profile books.
Leadership is shared, and parents participate actively in the life of the centre. They freely contribute their strengths and skills to support its objectives. Formal and informal self-review is developing and guiding centre direction. Development goals are formulated after thorough consultation, and progress towards achieving them is monitored. The centre is in a strong position to continue to provide high-quality education and care.
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.
Before the review, the management of Awakeri Playcentre was invited to consider its priorities for review using guidelines and resources provided by ERO. ERO also used documentation provided by the centre to contribute to the scope of the review.
The detailed priorities for review were then determined following a discussion between the ERO review team and the management and staff. This discussion focused on existing information held by the centre (including self-review information) and the extent to which potential issues for review contributed to positive outcomes for children atAwakeri Playcentre.
All ERO education reviews in early childhood focus on the quality of education. For ERO this includes the quality of:
ERO’s findings in these areas are set out below.
Awakeri Playcentre designs its programme and centre operation to reflect the philosophy of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association. As a family-based cooperative it caters for the varying seasonal commitments of rural families and respects the needs of individual members. The centre affirms its intention of continually improving its facilities and services for the benefit of the children’s early childhood education.
The association supports the centre through its parent education and training programme and the advice and guidance provided by its officers.
Environment: Parents work hard to design and prepare a rich learning environment for children between birth and school age. The learning environment includes many important features such as:
Children are purposefully engaged in meaningful learning as they freely and actively play in the high-quality environment.
Relationships: The Awakeri Playcentre community has established and is maintaining a safe, warm and inclusive social environment for their children and families. In this family-friendly setting, parents know one another, and each other’s children, well. This knowledge enables them to respond effectively to children’s learning and care needs, and to support a calm, relaxed atmosphere. Children know what is expected of them and where the boundaries are. They form strong friendships, and interact responsively with babies and toddlers. Children are displaying important social skills evident in their responsible attitudes and high levels of empathy.
The programme in action: Parents are designing and delivering a programme that is highly effective in promoting children’s learning and development. They demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles and philosophy that underpin the Te Whāriki curriculum, and implement it through a play-based approach. The daily programme is planned flexibly to respond to children’ emerging interests and incorporates routines that reflect children’s needs and preferences. Children are able to play for sustained periods and return to earlier learning.
Children’s learning journey is made visible in valuable and detailed individual profiles that show children’s participation and progress during their time at playcentre.
Parents and adults are focused on children’s play and consistently engage in rich and purposeful conversations. Children are developing good communication skills and show confidence that adults will support their play and protect their well-being. Care is taken to integrate a Māori dimension, and aspects of literacy and mathematics as natural parts of the programme. The playcentre is laying a sound foundation for children’s ongoing learning.
Leadership and participation: Awakeri Playcentre functions as a strong parent cooperative, with responsibilities delegated among a wide group of parents. Leadership is shared, and the inclusive approach motivates parents to participate actively in the life of the centre, contributing their strengths and skills to support its objectives. Formal and informal self review is developing and guiding centre direction. Action plans are developed after thorough consultation, and progress in implementing decisions is openly monitored.
The centre now has a high proportion of parents who have completed playcentre courses, with a good number reaching higher levels. A variety of strategies is supporting members to sustain this level of achievement, which is making an important contribution to the quality of the learning programme for children.
Sustaining and embedding practice: The centre is in a good position to refine and embed the strategies that support the high quality programme. It operates successfully as a parent cooperative centre that reflects the core values adopted by the Eastern Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association. It is appropriate for the centre to maintain its focus on the following areas:
ERO provides information about the education system as a whole through its national reports. This information will be used as the basis for long term and systemic educational improvement.
As part of this review ERO evaluated the extent to which:
Although there are no children with moderate to severe special needs currently enrolled in this service, the playcentre is well-placed to provide appropriate education and care for a child with special needs and support for family members. Contributing factors are:
Before the review, the staff of Awakeri Playcentre completed an ERO Centre Management 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 documentation, including policies, procedures and records of recent use of procedures. ERO also checked elements of the following areas that have a potentially high impact on outcomes for children:
ERO and the centre members agree that:
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.
Makere Smith
National Manager Review Services
Northern Region (Acting)
|
Type |
Playcentre, Sessional |
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998 |
|
Number licensed for |
25 children, including up to 12 aged under 2 |
|
Roll number |
44 |
|
Gender composition |
Girls 24 Boys 20 |
|
Ethnic composition |
New Zealand European/Pākehā 33 New Zealand European/Māori 9 Samoan 2 |
|
Review team on site |
November 2011 |
|
Date of this report |
09 March 2012 |
|
Previous three ERO reports |
Education Review November 2008 Education Review February 2006 Accountability Review February 2002 |
09 March 2012
To the Parents and Community of Awakeri Playcentre
These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Awakeri Playcentre.
Awakeri Playcentre operates under the umbrella of Eastern Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association. It is located near Whakatane and is a close neighbour of Awakeri School. The licence allows 25 children to attend at any one time, including up to 12 children under two years of age. Currently a total of 44 children are attending, of whom 18 are under two. Approximately one-quarter of the children are of Māori descent.
The centre has a record of positive reviews, and has made further progress since the last ERO review in 2008. Parents are maintaining a high level of playcentre training, and there is a strong focus on planning, assessment and self review. Professional development has enhanced members understanding of ways to extend the provision for babies and toddlers. The committed team of parents has maintained and improved the property and purchased new resources.
Children are playing in a rich learning environment that offers them a free choice of meaningful activities. Parents’ careful supervision supports children’s safety and well-being, while encouraging active, sustained and challenging exploration and play. The attractively planted vegetable garden provides experiences of nature, and fruit and vegetables are harvested for healthy eating. Trips and excursions expand children’s knowledge of the wider environment.
The centre’s family-friendly setting encourages children and their parents to develop positive and respectful relationships. Children display important social skills, and responsible and caring attitudes. Parents and adults are focused on children’s play and learning. They integrate a Māori dimension into the programme, and aspects of literacy and mathematics are also included. Children’s participation, learning and progress is recorded in valuable individual profile books.
Leadership is shared, and parents participate actively in the life of the centre. They freely contribute their strengths and skills to support its objectives. Formal and informal self-review is developing and guiding centre direction. Development goals are formulated after thorough consultation, and progress towards achieving them is monitored. The centre is in a strong position to continue to provide high-quality education and care.
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.
When ERO has reviewed an early childhood centre we encourage management to inform their community of any follow up action they plan to take. You should talk to the management or contact person if you have any questions about this evaluation, the full ERO report or their future intentions.
If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the centre or see the ERO website, http://www.ero.govt.nz.
Makere Smith
National Manager Review Services
Northern Region (Acting)
ERO is an independent, external evaluation agency that undertakes reviews of schools and early childhood services throughout New Zealand.
ERO follows a set of standard procedures to conduct reviews. The purpose of each review is to:
Reviews are intended to focus on outcomes for children and build on each centre’s self review.
ERO’s framework for reviewing and reporting is based on four review strands.
Quality of Education – including the quality of the programme provided for children, the quality of the learning environment and the quality of the interactions between staff and children and how these impact on outcomes for children.
Additional Review Priorities – other aspects of the operation of a centre, may be included in the review. ERO will not include this strand in all reviews.
National Evaluation Topics – This strand contributes to the development of education policies and their effective implementation. The information from this strand is aggregated by ERO for its national evaluation reports. Topics for investigation are changed regularly to provide up-to-date information.
Compliance with Legal Requirements – assurance that this centre has taken all reasonable steps to meet legal requirements.
ERO reviews do not cover every aspect of centre performance and each ERO report may cover different issues. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to this centre.
Most ERO reports include recommendations for improvement. A recommendation on a particular issue does not necessarily mean that a centre is performing poorly in relation to that issue. There is no direct link between the number of recommendations in this report and the overall performance of this centre.