Otumoetai Playcentre

Education institution number:
40016
Service type:
Playcentre
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
91
Telephone:
Address:

Bellevue Park Windsor Road, Bellevue, Tauranga

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Otumoetai Playcentre - 31/03/2015

1. Evaluation of Otumoetai Playcentre

How well placed is Otumoetai 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

Otumoetai Playcentre is a well-established, parent-led education and care service located in the Tauranga suburb of Otumoetai. It is adjacent to a large secondary school, park and local sports facilities. The centre is attractive and well maintained, and shares facilities with the umbrella organisation. The centre is licensed for 30 children, including 18 aged up to two years. The current roll of 78 includes two children who identify as Māori. Sessions operates five mornings each week.

The centre is undergoing changes in leadership. However, there is a well-coordinated approach to building leadership in the service, succession planning and maintaining continuity for parents and children.

The playcentre operates under the umbrella of the Western Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association (WBOPPA). Parents benefit from the support and guidance of a centre liaison officer and a centre administration officer provided by the association. WBOPPA also provides useful documentation and frameworks to guide centre operations. These guidelines are underpinned by the association’s philosophy that is highly evident in practice.

This review was part of a cluster of five reviews in the Western Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association.

The Review Findings

Parent members, well supported by the association, are providing high-quality, individualised education and care for children. A core group of experienced and knowledgeable playcentre parents attend multiple sessions and are enthusiastic about promoting training and workshops for newer members. Relationships throughout the service are respectful, welcoming and supportive.

The programme of education and care is planned in response to children’s ideas and interests. Children choose from a wide range of high-quality, well-maintained resources and activities, and are well supported by parents who notice and extend their learning and play. The learning environment is thoughtfully planned and attractively presented to invite children’s interest and exploration. Literacy and mathematical learning is purposefully incorporated into all areas of play. Children have many opportunities to measure and count, read and write, and engage in conversations with parents that challenge and extend their ideas. ERO observed many examples of children involved in sustained play and making decisions about the direction of their learning.

A feature of the centre is the well-developed outdoor area that provides opportunities for active play, creativity, science and investigation. A recent review of the carpentry area has resulted in guidelines for parents and high-quality opportunities for children to develop skills in an authentic working environment. Babies and toddlers are able to explore in a safe, comfortable and closely monitored play area. Resources are appropriate for these young children and their parents.

The conversations and interactions observed by ERO were highly effective in promoting and extending children’s learning. Parents use open-ended questions to challenge children and assist them to acquire new knowledge and skills. Interactions amongst children include older children supporting younger peers and playing cooperatively in small groups.

There are examples of high-quality assessment practice in children’s individual portfolios where parents notice and document children’s learning and show their progress over time. New members are encouraged and supported to recognise and record their child’s learning.

A planned and collaborative approach to centre leadership is highly evident. This approach is ensuring that leadership capacity is sustained and there is a smooth transition for office holders in taking up new roles and responsibilities. In addition to playcentre course work, parents are encouraged to attend external professional development and training workshops. Centre leaders work closely with the WBOPPA liaison officer who provides valuable feedback and guidance which contributes to ongoing improvements to the quality of education and care.

Positive and proactive parent members are enthusiastic about centre improvement, maintaining a quality service and promoting further playcentre education for parents. Good practices are in place to evaluate each session and plan enhancements to the programme for children.

Key Next Steps

ERO, parents and WBOPPA agree that useful next steps for the centre are to continue to:

  • build parent confidence in the use of te reo Māori as a functional language
  • establish and embed a planned approach to self review, including the systematic review of areas of play.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Otumoetai 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 Otumoetai Playcentre will be in four years.

Dale Bailey

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

31 March 2015

2. Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Tauranga

Ministry of Education profile number

40016

Licence type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 18 aged under 2

Service roll

78

Gender composition

Boys 40

Girls 38

Ethnic composition

Māori

NZ European/Pākehā

Other European

Other

Samoan

2

66

5

4

1

Review team on site

February 2015

Date of this report

31 March 2015

Most recent ERO report(s)

These are available at www.ero.govt.nz

Education Review

February 2012

 

Education Review

November 2008

 

Education Review

August 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.

Otumoetai Playcentre - 22/02/2012

1. The Education Review Office (ERO) Evaluation

Otumoetai Playcentre caters for children from birth to school age and is situated in the Tauranga suburb of Otumoetai. The centre is a parent-led cooperative and operates under the umbrella of the Western Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association. At the time of this ERO review there were 95 children enrolled of whom 17 identified as Māori.

Otumoetai Playcentre has recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary and there is a new team of office holders including two co-presidents, two vice-presidents and a personnel officer. In July the centre was relicensed under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. The centre also operates a programme for first-time parents and babies.

Since the last ERO review centre members have made some progress in relation to the recommendations identified in the 2005 report, particularly in regard to session evaluations and strategic planning. Over the past year, the centre has benefited from administrative support and professional development provided by the association and facilitated by the New Zealand Playcentre federation.

Parents ask open-ended questions and use rich learning conversations to extend children’s thinking. Support for children’s developing literacy and numeracy skills is an important part of daily experiences and is successfully encouraged through a range of play contexts. Children’s individual profiles provide parents with information about learning and the activities children were involved in during their time at the playcentre. Children are engaged in meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences.

Positive and affirming interactions between parents and children contribute to a settled inclusive environment. Children participate in sustained individual and group learning experiences. The mixed-age group plays harmoniously together. Children are secure and happy, and demonstrate a sense of well-being and belonging.

Centre members work collaboratively to successfully operate the centre. Centre office holders recognise that formalising self-review processes and further strengthening the Māori dimension are areas for continued development.

An appropriate range of policies and procedures contributes to the emotional and physical well-being of children.

Future Action

ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.

2. Review Priorities

The Focus of the Review

Before the review, the management of Otumoetai Playcentre was invited to consider its priorities for review using guidelines and resources provided by ERO. ERO also used documentation provided by the centre to contribute to the scope of the review.

The detailed priorities for review were then determined following a discussion between the ERO review team and the management and staff. This discussion focused on existing information held by the centre (including self-review information) and the extent to which potential issues for review contributed to positive outcomes for children at Otumoetai Playcentre.

All ERO education reviews in early childhood focus on the quality of education. For ERO this includes the quality of:

  • the programme provided for children;
  • the learning environment; and
  • the interactions between children and adults.

ERO’s findings in these areas are set out below.

The Quality of Education

Background

Otumoetai Playcentre has recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary and there is a new team of office holders, including two co-presidents, two vice-presidents and a personnel officer. The smooth operation of the playcentre, and the quality of the programme have been sustained through these changes.

The playcentre aims to provide children with a high-interest self-choice programme that incorporates the sixteen playcentre areas of play. The centre has benefited from the centre administration support worker over the past year and the professional development provided by the playcentre federation.

Areas of strength

Programme provision: The programme is a good balance of free-choice play and structured group times and routines. Parents ask open-ended questions and use rich learning conversations to extend children’s thinking. They communicate well with one another during sessions and children are well supervised. Support for children’s developing literacy and numeracy skills is an important part of daily experiences and is successfully encouraged through a range of play contexts. Children’s individual profiles provide parents with information about learning and the activities children were involved in during their time at the playcentre. Children are engaged in meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences.

Learning environment: The environment successfully promotes children’s learning and development. Inviting play spaces and an appropriate range of high-quality equipment and materials are easily accessible to children. Resources cater for the mixed-age group and are used in open-ended and creative ways. Well-organised areas facilitate children’s ongoing learning. Children have a variety of opportunities to develop play and exploration within a supportive and nurturing atmosphere.

Interactions: Positive and supportive interactions are a feature of the centre and children are able to play in a mixed-age setting, enabling them to enjoy each other’s company. Parents respond to children’s requests promptly. They promote social skills through constant recognition and reinforcement of children’s good behaviour. A strong commitment to working cooperatively is evident. Children confidently and happily approach parents for support or to share their play activities.

Areas for development and review

Curriculum review: The next step for the playcentre is to develop a formal system for reviewing all aspects of the centre operations. This process should enable members to analyse and reflect on their practices to further improve learning outcomes for children.

Māori dimension: Consideration should be given to further strengthening the Māori dimension, particularly opportunities to hear and use te reo Māori as a meaningful and functional language.

Attention to these aspects of centre operation is likely to strengthen the quality of the programme and learning for children.

3. National Evaluation Topic

Overview

ERO provides information about the education system as a whole through its national reports. This information will be used as the basis for long term and systemic educational improvement.

Inclusion of children with moderate to severe special needs

As part of this review ERO evaluated the extent to which:

  • transitions ensure the continuing well-being, learning, and development of children with moderate to severe special needs
  • children with moderate to severe special needs supported to be confident and capable learners; and
  • the service is inclusive of children with moderate to severe special needs

Otumoetai Playcentre provides inclusive early childhood education for all children including children with special needs. Centre office holders encourage parents to visit prior to their child’s enrolment and talk about the child’s strengths, interests and whether they have any concerns about their child’s development or needs. Routines are individualised to meet children’s needs. Children with special needs are welcomed as individuals who bring strengths and interests into the playcentre.

4. Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff of Otumoetai Playcentre completed an ERO CentreAssurance Statement andSelf-Audit Checklist. In these documents they attested that they have taken all reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations related to:

  • administration;
  • health, safety and welfare;
  • personnel management; and
  • financial and property management.

During the review, ERO looked at the service’s documentation, including policies, procedures and records of recent use of procedures. ERO also checked elements of the following areas that have a potentially high impact on outcomes for children:

  • emotional safety (including behaviour management, prevention of bullying and abuse);
  • physical safety (including behaviour management, sleeping and supervision practices; accidents and medication; hygiene and routines; travel and excursion policies and procedures);
  • staff qualifications and organisation; and
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

5. Future Action

ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.

Makere Smith

National Manager Review Services

About the Centre

Type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to15 aged under 2

Roll number

95 including 56 aged under two

Gender composition

Girls 53

Boys 42

Ethnic composition

New Zealand European/Pākehā 70

New Zealand Māori 17

Other 8

Review team on site

December 2011

Date of this report

22 February 2012

Previous three ERO reports

 

Education Review November 2008

Education Review August 2005

Accountability Review September 2000

To the Parents and Community of Otumoetai Playcentre

These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Otumoetai Playcentre.

Otumoetai Playcentre caters for children from birth to school age and is situated in the Tauranga suburb of Otumoetai. The centre is a parent-led cooperative and operates under the umbrella of the Western Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association. At the time of this ERO review there were 95 children enrolled of whom 17 identified as Māori.

Otumoetai Playcentre has recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary and there is a new team of office holders including two co-presidents, two vice-presidents and a personnel officer. In July the centre was relicensed under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. The centre also operates a programme for first-time parents and babies.

Since the last ERO review centre members have made some progress in relation to the recommendations identified in the 2005 report, particularly in regard to session evaluations and strategic planning. Over the past year, the centre has benefited from administrative support and professional development provided by the association and facilitated by the New Zealand Playcentre federation.

Parents ask open-ended questions and use rich learning conversations to extend children’s thinking. Support for children’s developing literacy and numeracy skills is an important part of daily experiences and is successfully encouraged through a range of play contexts. Children’s individual profiles provide parents with information about learning and the activities children were involved in during their time at the playcentre. Children are engaged in meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences.

Positive and affirming interactions between parents and children contribute to a settled inclusive environment. Children participate in sustained individual and group learning experiences. The mixed-age group plays harmoniously together. Children are secure and happy, and demonstrate a sense of well-being and belonging.

Centre members work collaboratively to successfully operate the centre. Centre office holders recognise that formalising self-review processes and further strengthening the Māori dimension are areas for continued development.

An appropriate range of policies and procedures contributes to the emotional and physical well-being of children.

Future Action

ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.

When ERO has reviewed an early childhood centre we encourage management to inform their community of any follow up action they plan to take. You should talk to the management or contact person if you have any questions about this evaluation, the full ERO report or their future intentions.

If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the centre or see the ERO website, http://www.ero.govt.nz. 

Makere Smith

National Manager Review Services