Glen Eden Playcentre

Education institution number:
22003
Service type:
Playcentre
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
38
Telephone:
Address:

Glen Eden Playcentre - 26/08/2019

1 Evaluation of Glen Eden Playcentre

How well placed is Glen Eden Playcentre to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Glen Eden Playcentre is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

Glen Eden Playcentre provides early childhood education for children up to six years of age in four family sessions each week. It also offers two SPACE (Supporting Parents Alongside Children's Education) sessions per week for mothers and their babies. The centre operates as a parent cooperative and is part of the Playcentre Aotearoa national organisation.

Centre practices are based on Playcentre philosophy of families playing, learning and growing together, with parents as valued and best educators of their children. Centre members are committed to the principles inherent in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Experienced members support those who are new to the playcentre.

The 2015 ERO report identified strengths that have been maintained well. Areas for review and development included leadership, internal evaluation, philosophy and strategic planning. Centre members have responded positively to these recommendations.

A new regional structure for Playcentre Aotearoa came into effect in June 2019. Regional staff are responsible for establishing effective management systems to support each centre. Support personnel visit centres regularly to carry out administrative tasks and model effective teaching, programme planning and evaluation practices for centre members.

This review was part of a cluster of six reviews in the Playcentre Aotearoa, Northern North Island Region.

The Review Findings

Children settle quickly and demonstrate a strong sense of belonging. They are confident to approach adults and have positive social skills. Children play together for extended periods of time with their friends.

Children benefit from mixed-age play which allows them to mentor, support and learn from each other as they confidently choose resources and places to play. Adults follow children's lead and are responsive to their needs and their interests.

Genuine, friendly, inclusive practices support children to respect and value others. Children with additional learning needs are warmly included and the diversity of the multicultural community is acknowledged and celebrated. Parents/whānau incorporate waiata, te reo and tikanga Māori. Their commitment to strengthening bicultural practices is growing as their understanding deepens.

Shared leadership roles across centre members is continuing to build their knowledge and capability. Individual skills and a willingness to be involved ensures the centre is set up well for children to explore and play. Centre members regularly review and evaluate their philosophy statement to sustain the focus on their core purpose of children and parents learning alongside each other.

Centre members have developed a strategic plan that highlights their vision and goals and provides long-term guidance and direction for the centre. The development of an annual plan allows members to map progress towards achieving bigger goals while ensuring all requirements for centre operations are met. Members can now evaluate what children are learning as they review what children enjoy at the end of each session.

Key Next Steps

To enhance existing practices, members agree that next steps are to:

  • continue developing programme planning and assessment practices, using assessment to plan for the extension of children's learning and recording children's learning progress over time

  • document how the curriculum recognises and responds to children's languages and cultures

  • plan for and implement next steps in growing bicultural learning.

The regional manager and support personnel agree that next steps for the region include:

  • providing targeted support for centre members to establish effective strategic and annual planning, with links to the long-term goals of Playcentre Aotearoa

  • implementing and embedding the revised Playcentre adult education programme

  • evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the personnel who are employed to support centres

  • establishing effective programme planning and evaluation processes that support and extend the learning of all children.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Glen Eden 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:

  • 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.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services Northern

Northern Region

26 August 2019

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

Glen Eden, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

22003

Licence type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 15 aged under 2

Service roll

83

Gender composition

Boys 45 Girls 38

Ethnic composition

Māori
NZ European/Pākehā
other European
other ethnic groups

8
61
7
7

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:3

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

June 2019

Date of this report

26 August 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

October 2015

Education Review

August 2012

Education Review

May 2009

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

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.

Glen Eden Playcentre - 30/10/2015

1 Evaluation of Glen Eden Playcentre

How well placed is Glen Eden 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.

Background

Glen Eden Playcentre is a family cooperative and is licensed for 30 children, including 15 up to the age of two years. It is a spacious purpose-built centre in a residential setting. The Playcentre philosophy of whānau and children learning together guides centre operations. Centre whānau value the way that Playcentre promotes social opportunities for children and families.

The centre is part of Te Akoranga Playcentre Association, which provides Playcentre’s adult education programme, frameworks of policies and procedures, and support personnel. The centre’s representatives at Association level support and guide the centre’s bicultural practices. Currently the national Playcentre organisation is in the process of a comprehensive restructure. This is likely to change the current structure of Te Akoranga Playcentre Association.

The centre offers three-hour, parent-led sessions four days a week. The centre is used for adult education sessions attended by trainees from centres in the Association. It hosts two SPACE (Supporting Parents Alongside Children's Education) sessions for first time parents, run by the Association.

Since the 2012 ERO report progress has been made to improve policy reviews and programme planning. Centre members need to address other areas identified in ERO’s 2012 report. These include self-review, bicultural practices and responding to cultural diversity.

This review was part of a cluster of five playcentre reviews in the Te Akoranga Playcentre Association.

The Review Findings

Children enjoy playing in mixed aged groups and with their siblings. They are busy and engaged in activities, and role play home experiences in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. They benefit from play opportunities that include creativity, messy play, music and art. The Association is supporting adults to interact and play more with their children and focus on their learning.

The environment has been upgraded and it supports children’s exploration and their learning through play. Good storage areas provide easy access to resources for adults and children. Displays support parents to extend children’s individual and group learning. Children’s comments about their learning and their work are valued and displayed.

Parents/whānau are well informed through the centre’s focus on planning, assessing and evaluating children’s learning. Parents, grandparents and great grandparents enjoy being involved in children’s play. Parents/whānau are well supported by resources that guide planning for their children’s learning. They enjoy learning from each other and sharing ideas, forming a strong community of learners. Whānau could consider ways for the curriculum to reflect and respond to families’ diverse cultures and languages.

Programmes identify and support children’s interests and strengths. Parents/whānau are knowledgeable about Kei Tua o Te Pae assessment processes. They evaluate the programme after each session and build on this information in the next sessions. Term planning appropriately focuses on individual child’s learning. Trips are planned to extend children’s learning.

There are some good systems for managing the centre. Leadership from the Association continues to support centre processes and systems. Centre members have identified the need to clarify leadership roles and responsibilities in the centre.

Key Next Steps

The Association leaders and centre members agree that key next steps include:

  • continuing to strengthen effective leadership
  • reviewing the centre’s vision and establishing a strategic plan that documents this centre’s strategic priorities as a guide for future centre members.
  • continuing to build centre members’ knowledge about Auckland’s diverse cultures and increase their capacity to respond to this diversity
  • further developing the quality of self-review processes and documentation.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Glen Eden 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:

  • 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 Glen Eden Playcentre will be in three years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

30 October 2015

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

Glen Eden, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

22003

Licence type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 15 aged under 2

Service roll

64

Gender composition

Boys 32

Girls 32

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Taiwanese

Indian

Chinese

other Asian

other

4

49

3

2

1

3

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:2

Better than minimum requirements

 

Over 2

1:2

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

August 2015

Date of this report

30 October 2015

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

August 2012

 

Education Review

May 2009

 

Education Review

March 2006

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.