Kindercare Learning Centres - Auckland CBD (Babies & Toddlers)

Education institution number:
10317
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
62
Telephone:
Address:

29 Customs Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland

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Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West - 03/11/2017

1 Evaluation of Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West

How well placed is Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West 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

Kindercare Learning Centre (20) Custom Street West operates in a high rise central Auckland building and caters for up to 119 children. Many families commute from outer suburbs to work in the inner city. Children attending the centre have diverse cultural backgrounds.

The philosophy and vision of “safe, loved, learning” underpins all practices and developments in the centre. The teaching team has a strong commitment to building learning partnerships with families and meeting their needs.

A centre director manages the staff and centre operations. She is supported by a Kindercare area manager. The centre manager leads a large team of qualified teachers.

Managers and teachers have responded positively to areas of development identified in ERO’s 2014 report. They have strengthened practices including transition to school programmes, self-review and respectful care.

The Kindercare Learning Centres' governance and management organisation has a wide range of systems that underpin centre operations. These include policies, professional development and mentoring programmes for teachers and support programmes for parents.

This review was part of a cluster of three reviews of Kindercare centres.

The Review Findings

Infants and toddlers play in a calm, well-resourced and attractive environment. They are well cared for and enjoy warm interactions with the adults in the centre. Teachers are responsive to their body language and verbal communications. Teachers nurture toddlers’ self-help skills and foster their curiosity and language. Children enjoy a variety of activities and opportunities to make their own choices in a play based environment.

Older children explore their attractive environments confidently and are supported by teachers who allow them to lead their own learning. Children play independently or join small groups. A variety of quality resources are available that invite imaginative play and creativity. Teachers offer learning experiences and provocations that encourage children to inquire, collaborate and develop their knowledge.

Teachers work well as a collaborative team, communicating well with each other and responding to children’s immediate needs. Recent professional learning opportunities for teachers have had a positive influence on respectful care practices and children’s learning.

Parents have good opportunities to communicate with teachers and be informed about what is happening in the centre. Teachers work together to ensure smooth and successful transitions between home and centre and within the centre. Transitions between rooms are tailored in consultation with parents, to suit each child. A specific programme for older children promotes independence, resilience and children’s self-management skills.

The programme aligns with the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Programme planning and assessment practices focus on responding to children’s individual interests. Planning and evaluation could be strengthened by teams sharing planning to support consistency across the centre. An online tool records and informs parents about their children’s learning progress. Parents can access and contribute to their children’s learning experiences and share them with wider family.

Aspects of biculturalism are evident in centre practices. Leaders have a commitment to building bicultural practice within the diverse and multicultural centre. Teachers are encouraged to use te reo Māori and to incorporate tikanga during sessions. Teachers respond to the multicultural community by sharing their languages and cultures with the children.

The Kindercare “safe, loved, learning” philosophy is evident throughout the centre. The current teacher performance management system contributes to the centre’s goal for high quality practice. While professional learning programmes are impacting positively on many teachers’ practices, leaders and teachers continue to work towards greater consistency.

Internal evaluation has been effective in promoting change. There is a clear focus on continual improvement. Focusing evaluation questions on teaching practice and outcomes for children should help to provide a more strategic approach.

Leaders support the development of teachers’ leadership. A leadership programme that promotes confidence and capability within the teams is impacting positively on teachers’ and leaders’ professional growth.

Key Next Steps

Managers agree that next key steps include:

  • strengthening teachers’ use of te reo and the integration of tikanga Māori

  • considering ways to increase challenges for children within the programme

  • growing teachers’ leadership capacity

  • focusing internal evaluation more clearly on learning outcomes for children.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West 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 Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West will be in three years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

Te Tai Raki - Northern Region

3 November 2017

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

Auckland CBD

Ministry of Education profile number

10317

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

119 children, including up to 47 aged under 2

Service roll

144

Gender composition

Boys 53% Girls 47%

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Indian
Chinese
Southeast Asian
Middle Eastern
Latin American
other European
other Asian
other

5%
45%
10%
9%
5%
2%
2%
14%
7%
1%

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

September 2017

Date of this report

3 November 2017

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

May 2014

Education Review

March 2011

Education Review

March 2008

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.

Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West - 15/05/2014

1 Evaluation of Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West

How well placed is Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West 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

Kindercare Learning Centre (20) Custom St West provides education and care for families who work in the inner city. The centre has been established for a long time and provides half and full day sessions for up to 119 children from birth to five years of age. The centre’s philosophy encompasses the values of children learning in a ‘safe and loving’ environment. Over 80% of teachers are registered.

The Kindercare Learning Centres governance and management organisation provides a wide range of systems to underpin centre operations. These include professional guidance, curriculum advice and a mentoring programme for provisionally registered teachers. A centre director manages the operation of the staff and the centre. Team Leaders have recently been appointed to provide additional support for the day-to-day running of the centre.

Children attending the centre are representative of the diverse ethnic groups in the local community. Staff work at providing special events at times when working families are best placed to attend. These events also provide good opportunities for parents and teachers to discuss children’s progress.

Since the 2010 ERO review, the three learning centres in the complex have merged into one centre under the one licence. Managers report that this has had positive impact on the centre and on outcomes for children. The use of learning environments and routines has become more flexible and has allowed children to participate in a broader range of activities.

The Review Findings

Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

Babies and toddlers are well cared for and have formed strong emotional bonds with their teachers. As a result they explore the environment confidently and enjoy their play. Teachers show skills in working with these very young children. They are responsive to children’s body language and attempts at verbal communication. Children benefit from a calm, supportive and unrushed environment in which to play and learn.

Older children are settled, confident and friendly. They enjoy interacting with their peers and with teachers. They are curious and enjoy exploring the centre’s different learning environments, making choices and engaging in the range of activities. High levels of affection and trust are evident between children and their teachers. As they grow and develop, children learn to take responsibility and to show leadership by the example they provide for their younger peers during routines and at mat times.

Parents are viewed by teachers as essential partners in supporting children’s learning. Some parents and teachers work together on specific goals to support children. Parent/teacher partnerships are trusting, respectful, collaborative and inclusive.

Play areas provided offer a good scope for learning that caters for the development of babies, toddlers, preschoolers and children who are transitioning to school. Good support is provided for children with special learning needs and for their families. Bicultural perspectives and a better understanding of Māori values are becoming more evident in the programme. Teachers are building an understanding of children’s diverse cultural backgrounds. This knowledge is helping teachers to plan more relevant programmes for children.

The centre’s curriculum planning is aligned to Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers are increasingly noticing, recognising and responding to children’s emerging interests. There has been a positive shift from group learning to planning more frequently for children’s individual learning opportunities.

Teachers are given support to develop their professional knowledge and leadership skills. Appraisal systems are appropriately linked to the Registered Teacher Criteria. Teachers set goals and strategise ways to achieve them. The organisation recognises that a next step is to strengthen the implementation of the performance appraisal system to help teachers achieve higher quality learning outcomes for children.

Self review is used to evaluate the effectiveness of centre practices and is gradually bringing about improved learning outcomes for children.

Key Next Steps

Kindercare Learning Centre managers and ERO agree that the quality of centre practices could now be raised through:

  • the use of high quality practice indicators to monitor children’s learning progress
  • the development of an effective transition to school programme
  • the strengthening of centre self-review practices.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West 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 Kindercare Learning Centres (20) Custom St West will be in three years.

Dale Bailey

National Manager Review Services Northern Region

15 May 2014

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

Auckland CBD, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

10317

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

119 children, including up to 47 aged under 2

Service roll

128

Gender composition

Boys 50% Girls 50%

Ethnic composition

Māori

NZ European/Pākehā

Indian

Chinese

Cook Island Māori

Samoan

South East Asian

Tokelauan

Tongan

other

3%

72%

8%

7%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

5%

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

1:10

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

March 2014

Date of this report

15 May 2014

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

March 2011

 

Education Review

March 2008

 

Education Review

April 2005

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.