- ERO evaluates and reports on the education and care of children and young people in early childhood services and schools.
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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.
Otahuhu Kindergarten operates as a Kindergarten Day Model (KDM) which enables children to attend up to seven hours each day, similar to school hours. The kindergarten is licensed for up to 40 children over two years of age. It is located in a culturally diverse area with many children having English as an additional language.
Since the 2014 ERO review the kindergarten has undergone significant changes to the teaching team and the outside learning environment. It is staffed by a head teacher and three other registered teachers, a teaching assistant, a teacher aide and an administrator. At the time of this review there were two long-term relievers.
Teachers continue to provide the good quality teaching practices noted in ERO’s 2014 report and maintain their focus on environmentally sustainable practices. They have engaged in the Whakamanawa programme to strengthen bicultural practices. Teachers are a part of the Otahuhu Library Outreach programme and have ongoing connections with local health, education and social service agencies.
Respectful relationships and a focus on children's language, culture and identity are integral to the kindergarten’s kaupapa/philosophy. Respect for Māori as tangata whenua and Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, underpin the programme provided for children.
The kindergarten is part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA), which provides a governance and management framework. Professional support personnel assist teachers with curriculum, management and property matters.
This review was part of a cluster of nine reviews in the Auckland Kindergarten Association.
Children have a strong sense of cultural identity and belonging. They share and respect each other's languages and cultures. Teachers engage children in sustained conversations, often using their home languages.
Children learn in a vibrant and welcoming environment that proudly reflects children's diverse cultures. Resources, displays and equipment value children’s languages, cultural backgrounds and identity. Teachers organise the environment in ways that respond to children's interests and support their sustained engagement in play. Children have good opportunities to explore and learn about the natural world, and are physically active in the spacious outdoor area. They have fun, make choices and learn though purposeful play.
Curriculum planning and implementation are highly responsive to children's cultures, strengths and ideas. The curriculum is based on Te Whāriki and promotes Māori language and culture. The programme is inclusive of all children. Pacific children and families are well supported and their languages and cultures are valued. Children enthusiastically engage in Pacific celebrations, art, music and dance.
Programme documentation shows how children’s interests, strengths and parent aspirations guide the programme. Portfolios are good records of their children's engagement in the programmes and include children’s and family comments. Online e-portfolios provides another way for whānau to contribute to their children's learning. Teachers recognise they could strengthen planning for individual children, and make the progress of learning over time more visible in learning stories.
Teachers know children well, and build on their interests in relevant learning experiences. They support children to learn about literacy, mathematics, science and technology concepts in meaningful ways. They encourage problem solving, investigation and creativity. Children are becoming self-managing learners.
Te ao Māori is valued and promoted in the kindergarten, and Māori children’s cultural identity affirmed. Teachers work collaboratively with whānau and the community to deepen their understanding of te reo and tikanga Māori. Teachers use words and phrases in te reo Māori in routines and conversations, as well as in waiata and dance. The Association's Whakamanawa programme is having a positive impact on teachers' bicultural practices.
Teachers have respectful and reciprocal relationships with children and their families, and connections with the local community. There is a strong sense of community and shared purpose in the kindergarten. Teachers foster whānau involvement and encourage them to share their knowledge and skills. Children are well supported as they transition to school.
Teachers foster equity and inclusion in culturally responsive and successful ways. They are good advocates for children, and focus on promoting children’s physical and emotional wellbeing. The head teacher's professional leadership encourages all staff to have leadership roles. The positive team culture is based on strategies to encourage teachers' professional growth.
Kindergarten operations are guided by a comprehensive strategic plan and a shared vision that are linked to the AKA’s strategic goals. A Quality Improvement Process (QIP) also aligns with AKA and kindergarten strategic plans. It enables the AKA and teachers to monitor quality and promote ongoing improvement. The AKA continues to review its management and leadership structure. It has begun a process of internal evaluation to establish how effectively the four pillars of its strategic plan are resulting in more positive outcomes for children, their families, and the organisation.
The teaching team has identified some useful next steps. These include:
ensuring records more clearly reflect the depth of children’s thinking and continuity of learning
deepening teachers' shared understandings about, and increasing the rigour of, internal evaluation
enriching partnerships with parents/whānau and relationships with community groups including schools
continuing to build on the Enviroschools programme.
The AKA has useful processes for supporting teachers' ongoing professional development. This process could be strengthened by ensuring that teachers' individual goals are measurable and based on the evaluation of teaching practices and impact on children's learning.
Before the review, the staff and management of Otahuhu Kindergarten 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:
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.
The next ERO review of Otahuhu Kindergarten will be in three years.
Graham Randell
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern
Te Tai Raki - Northern Region
27 October 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.
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Location |
Otahuhu, Auckland |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
5086 |
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Licence type |
Free Kindergarten |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
40 children over 2 years of age |
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Service roll |
59 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 30 Girls 29 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
10 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
August 2017 |
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Date of this report |
27 October 2017 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
September 2014 |
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Education Review |
April 2011 |
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Education Review |
April 2008 |
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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.