BestStart Claudelands

Education institution number:
30063
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
36
Telephone:
Address:

2 E Brooklyn Road, Claudelands, Hamilton

View on map

BestStart Claudelands - 19/06/2020

1 Evaluation of BestStart Claudelands

How well placed is BestStart Claudelands to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

BestStart Claudelands is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

BestStart Claudelands is an early childhood service that provides all-day education and care for children from three months old to school age. It is licensed for 34 children, including up to 11 under the age of two years. The current roll of 41, includes 25 children Māori children and a small number from other ethnicities.

Through their philosophy teachers aim to embrace relationships, valuing the principle of whanaungatanga. They place priority on fostering a sense of belonging within an inclusive environment and honouring the unique place of Māori as Treaty partners. The philosophy places emphasis on children investigating and researching to develop working theories of the world around them.

The service is operated by BestStart, a charitable organisation owned by the Wright Family Foundation. Regional and local professional service and business managers oversee the Central North Island BestStart centres. Their vision is to work in partnership with families, whānau, teachers and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.

This review was part of a cluster of four reviews in the BestStart North Island region.

The Review Findings

A rich, localised curriculum engages children in learning. Māori children and all others benefit from learning about local areas of significance. Te ao Māori is visible in the environment. Pacific learners are well supported by knowledgeable leaders sharing their culture, resources and artworks to reflect Pacific nations.

Literacy, mathematics and science are well integrated throughout the programme. Technology is used to encourage children to research and explore areas of interest. Infants and toddlers have their care needs well met. Opportunities for tuakana teina relationships are provided for the youngest and eldest children to learn from one another. ERO observed calm, unhurried routines with children settled and learning through play.

Children benefit from caring and respectful relationships that promote a culture of trust. The learning environment is well resourced and planned for intentionally. Teachers use positive guidance strategies to foster social competence. Friendships between children are highly evident. Oral language development is well supported by knowledgeable teachers. Children and their families develop a sense of belonging at the centre supported by inclusive teaching practices. Transition processes in to and within the centre are individualised. Leaders and teachers provide information about local schools and have identified that they would like to continue to build relationships and processes to further support school transitions.

The assessment, planning and evaluation of individual children's learning requires strengthening. The new teaching team have developed their understanding of culturally responsive practice by evaluating relevant key documents. Leaders have now identified the need to continue embedding this knowledge into teaching practice and documentation, including children's portfolios.

Highly effective leadership builds capability within the service and promotes positive learning outcomes for all children. A cohesive team culture has been established and a shared leadership approach is developing. Emergent leadership amongst the teaching team is identified and supported with mentoring and coaching. Leaders engage with professional networking groups, including the Maōri roopu to strengthen centre practice. Leaders advocate for children and families, including those with additional learning needs and work with external agencies where required. Children are at the heart of decision making.

Strong systems and processes guide centre operation. Internal evaluation is improvement focused and includes ongoing consultation with families and whānau. There is clear alignment between regional strategic direction and centre annual plans. The appraisal process assists teachers to inquire into and strengthen their practice. This process is supported by regular and ongoing coaching and mentoring. Several initiatives to remove barriers to education and support children's wellness, promotes equity in learning opportunities. The organisation's philosophy, vision and goals promote positive learning outcomes for all children.

Key Next Steps

The next step for BestStart Claudelands is to continue to strengthen the individual assessment, planning and evaluation for each child's learning. This should include:

  • responding to the language, culture and identity of individual children

  • strengthening individual planning, in response to goals and aspirations, to support continuity of learning and to evaluate progress over time.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of BestStart Claudelands 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.

Darcy Te Hau

Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)

Central Region - Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

19 June 2020

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

Claudelands, Hamilton

Ministry of Education profile number

30063

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

34 children, including up to 11 aged under 2

Service roll

41

Gender composition

Male 25 Female 16

Ethnic composition

Māori
NZ European/Pākehā
Pacific
Other ethnic groups

25
5
6
5

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:5

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:10

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

February 2020

Date of this report

19 June 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

March 2016

Education Review

March 2013

Education Review

March 2010

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 <em>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.

ABC Claudelands - 30/03/2016

1 Evaluation of ABC Claudelands

ABC Claudelands How well placed isto 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.

Background

ABC Claudelands is located in the suburb of Claudelands, east of central Hamilton. This centre has renamed its learning spaces to represent the cultural heritage of the local hapū, Ngāti Wairere. ABC Claudelands provides education and care for children from 3 months to school age in two age-based learning environments. The centre provides a transport service to assist parents and whānau to access the centre. At the time of this ERO review, 47 children were enrolled, including 29 tamariki of Māori descent. The roll for this centre includes a wide range of ethnicities, including Pacific children.

The centre operates under the umbrella of Best Start Educare limited that provides strategic direction, and policy guidelines and management services. Best Start Educare provide a professional services manager (PSM) and a business manager (BM) to support the centre team.

ERO's 2013 report identified bicultural development, improvements to the environment and planning and assessment practice as key next steps for the centre. The centre has responded positively and made good progress to these areas of development.

Since the previous ERO review a new centre manager, second in charge, and new teaching staff have been appointed. The majority of staff are qualified and registered teachers.

The centre has recently updated its philosophy. It is now based on the principles of whanaungatanga to reflect the value and significance of relationship building by teachers with tamariki, whānau, and their community.

The Review Findings

Children at this centre have many opportunities to explore in a safe, caring and increasingly natural and well-resourced environment. They benefit from tuakana-teina relationships that provide good opportunities for older and younger children to play and learn alongside each other. A special feature of this centre is the calm and settled atmosphere. 

Teachers have close and trusting bonds with tamariki and their whānau. They are highly responsive to the needs, strengths, interests and passions of tamariki. This results in children being very involved in sustained and meaningful play and learning. Children benefit from supportive and respectful relationships by teachers.

Teachers are highly reflective. They understand the importance of self review and the impact this has on teaching and learning. Teacher capabilities and skills are well used. The opportunity to take responsibility and undertake leadership roles is provided. A wide range of effective and learning strategies are implemented. Children's growth and development is strengthened.

The centre's curriculum is responsive to whānau aspirations. Particular strengths of the programme are:

  • the inclusion of tikanga Māori and kawa that reflects the uniqueness of the centre and the area
  • the implementation of a project-approach that allows children to follow their interests and extend on these
  • the development of rich, spacious, play areas that reflect New Zealand's natural environment
  • effective integration of information and communication technologies within the programme
  • connections promoted through regular trips and visits into the local and wider community
  • transition into and out of the centre.

Literacy and Mathematics are effectively integrated throughout the environment and in teachers' interactions with children. There is a strong focus on the development of children's oral language skills through conversations, storytelling, waiata, and small group experiences. Children are confident and communicate well with one another.

Centre leaders and teachers implement very effective assessment, planning and evaluation practices. These practices are well used to inform teaching and enable teachers to provide a programme that is responsive to children's emerging interests. Whānau and tamariki have access to comprehensive individual portfolios that capture children's learning and development within the wide range of programmes provided. A recent initiative has been the development of online eLearning portfolios that support extended whānau to be involved in the learning of their tamariki and mokopuna.

The education and care needs of babies and toddlers are well met by knowledgeable and nurturing teachers. Children's individual care routines are sensitively managed. Close relationships are developed with whānau. Strong links are maintained between the centre and home. Young children develop friendships, experience challenges and opportunities to learn alongside their older siblings and peers.

The centre successfully reflects the philosophy in its practices. Whanau and staff reflect a good understanding of whanaungatanga and how this impacts on teaching, learning and the community. The programme is inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities. Regular visits to Hukanui marae occur and children participate in local kapahaka events. These are major features of the centre programme.

Self review is systematic, comprehensive and integrated across all areas of centre operations. Relevant professional learning and development is provided. Teacher capability is strengthened. Governance practice is effective and includes strong personnel management procedures and staff support. The centre is focussed on continuous improvement.

Key Next Steps

ERO acknowledges the progress the centre has made in relation to implementing an effective bicultural curriculum into the programme. To further develop and embed these values and principles the professional services manager, centre manager and teachers should continue to:

  • strengthen their understandings of key concepts from Ministry of Education (MOE) documents: Ka Hikitia, Tātaiako, and Te Whatu Pōkeka. This should support staff to develop their knowledge and capability to continue to grow authentic cultural practices within the centre
  • increase the use of te reo and tikanga Māori practices throughout the programme
  • include clear links to Tātaiako in staff appraisals and performance management systems.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of ABC Claudelands 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. 

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of ABC Claudelands will be in four years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer

30 March 

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

Hamilton

Ministry of Education profile number

30063

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

44 children, including up to 11 aged under 2

Service roll

47

Gender composition

Girls    22
Boys    25

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Middle Eastern
Cook Island
Fijian
Samoan
African
Indian
Other

29
  5
  3
  2
  2
  2
  2
  1
  1

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49%       50-79%       80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:5

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:10

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

January 2016

Date of this report

30 March 2016

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

March 2013

Education Review

March 2010

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 and Next Review

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:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

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.