68 Marshlands Road, Shirley, Christchurch
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Not well placed | Requires further development | Well placed | Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Edukids Marshlands is a purpose-built centre catering for infants to children of school age. The centre has three separate classrooms for different age groups and two outdoor areas. Infants and toddlers share one outdoor area, and the older children the other outdoor play space. Each classroom has direct access to an outdoor area.
Nearly all the teachers have early childhood qualifications and are registered teachers. A newly-appointed manager and two head teachers oversee the day-to-day management of the centre. The centre is part of the BestStart Education Group. A BestStart Professional Services Manager and Business Manager visit regularly and provide effective support for the service.
Since the 2013 ERO review, the managers have made some progress in meeting the recommendations outlined in the ERO report on assessment and programme planning. The philosophy has been reviewed to better reflect the centre's values and beliefs. Strategic goals are more closely linked to centre priorities and internal evaluation has become more regular and useful. However, both these areas and bicultural practice remain areas to continue to strengthen.
The centre is welcoming to all children, their parents and whānau. Teachers value and provide an inclusive environment where children are well supported in their learning. Respectful interactions between teachers and children and among teachers are evident.
Through play, children are provided with opportunities to be creative and imaginative and they appear confident and settled within the environment. Children have easy access to spaces that are well resourced and encourage exploration.
Nursery children benefit from a calm environment, allowing them to have space and time to learn at their own pace. Children benefit from meaningful interactions with each other and their teachers.
Routines are implemented in ways that give children a sense of security and consistency. Children play well together for extended periods and are provided with feedback that acknowledges their effort and success. Responsive caregiving supports infants' and toddlers' need for strong and secure attachments.
Parents and whānau are invited to take an active role in their children's learning. Parents are informed about their children's interests and participation through creative wall displays, learning stories and digital technologies. Centre Leaders and ERO agree that strengthening their connections with parents' views and aspirations is a next step for the centre.
Decisions on transition timeframes are flexible and responsive to the individual needs of each child and their family. Teachers have made good links with the local community to enhance learning experiences and opportunities for children. A shared philosophy of children learning through play is evident within the programme and teaching practices.
Collaborative team work is apparent with a clear focus on accountability and continuous improvement at all levels of the service. Leaders and teachers are well focussed on what they do and are proud of their centre.
The centre benefits from a supportive management structure. BestStart processes and personnel provide high quality support and expertise. There are appropriate systems for empowering and building teachers' and leaders' capability and professional growth.
ERO has identified that the quality of learning and teaching would be improved by:
Before the review, the staff and management of Edukids Marshlands 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 Edukids Marshlands will be in three years.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Deputy Chief Review Officer Southern/Te Waipounamu
24 May 2017
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 | Christchurch | ||
| Ministry of Education profile number | 45826 | ||
| Licence type | Education & Care Service | ||
| Licensed under | Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 | ||
| Number licensed for | 75 children, including up to 25 aged under two | ||
| Service roll | 105 | ||
| Gender composition | Boys 62; Girls 43 | ||
| Ethnic composition | Māori Pākehā Samoan Filipino Chinese Greek British | 16 80 2 3 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 | 1:4 | Better than minimum requirements |
| Over 2 | 1:8 | Better than minimum requirements | |
| Review team on site | February 2017 | ||
| Date of this report | 24 May 2017 | ||
| Most recent ERO report | Education Review | September 2013 | |
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:
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.
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
Edukids Marshlands is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
This new centre has been focused on establishing its systems and welcoming new children and their families. The centre manager is new to the role and many teachers, while qualified, have had little teaching experience. The centre has not received a high level of support from Kidicorp management until recently. Support personnel are now working with the centre manager to put plans in place to improve the quality of learning and teaching.
ERO is confident that with the appropriate support from Kidicorp management, the centre will continue to improve.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Edukids Marshlands is owned and administrated by Kidicorp Education and Care Centres. It is a new purpose-built centre, established in November 2011. The centre provides education and care for children from birth to school age in three separate rooms. The preschool and prep-school share an outdoor space. The nursery has its own adjoining outdoor play area. These outdoor areas are attractively landscaped and include natural plantings. The centre is located in an area where many families have been affected by the Christchurch earthquakes.
Nearly all staff are qualified early childhood teachers or teachers in training.
Since the centre opened, the key focus has been on:
Children experience a good level of care and supervision.
The environment is tidy and well presented. Children have a good range of activities to explore and take part in, including music and group times. Teachers make use of their conversations with children to include some te reo Māori.
The centre manager and teachers regular seek parent feedback. They have set up useful ways to help parents learn about the centre programme and the activities their children are involved in.
The Kidicorp management framework provides clear direction for centre operations. Staff follow centre procedures well and support each other during the programme.
The centre manager is making good use of appraisal to provide useful feedback to staff on teaching practices. This includes recognising teachers’ strengths and providing clear feedback where improvements need to occur.
There has been a recent increase in the leadership and support provided by Kidicorp managers. They are working with the centre manager to make significant changes to improve the quality of self review and the curriculum. This work is being guided by a long-term plan.
ERO has identified that the quality of learning and teaching would be improved by:
The centre manager and teachers have identified, and ERO agrees, that self review, child assessment, programme planning, and bicultural awareness and practice also need improving.
Before the review, the staff and management of Edukids Marshlands 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.
When is ERO likely to review the service again?
The next ERO review of Edukids Marshlands will be in three years.
Graham Randell
National Manager Review Services Southern Region
30 September 2013
|
Location |
Shirley, Christchurch |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
45826 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education and Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
75 children, including up to 25 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
111 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 59% Girls 41% |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori NZ European/Pākehā Pacific Asian Other ethnicities |
13% 63% 7% 9% 8% |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80% Based on funding rates |
50-79% |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:5 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
|
Review team on site |
August 2013 |
||
|
Date of this report |
30 September 2013 |
||
|
Most recent ERO reports
|
New Centre No previous ERO reports |
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:
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.