Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church)

Education institution number:
20491
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
22
Telephone:
Address:

162 Coates Avenue, Orakei, Auckland

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Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) - 11/12/2019

1 Evaluation of Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church)

How well placed is Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) is a non-profit community early learning centre that operates in the church hall. The centre is licensed for 25 children, including five up to the age of two years. A committee provides management support and direction for the service. It includes parent representatives, a nominated church member, the centre manager and head teacher.

The centre manager oversees the daily operations of the service. She is supported by the head teacher, one registered teacher and a teacher aide. Since the 2016 ERO review, new teaching staff have been appointed.

The centre's philosophy encourages strong family values. It aims to instil a positive sense of self for tamariki by nurturing each child's natural wonderment, fostering kindness and supporting socialisation in a fun play-based environment. The dual heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand is acknowledged and there is a commitment to the provision of holistic care, learning and wellbeing.

ERO's 2016 report noted positive relationships and connections with families over time, comprehensive and well-established self review, and good opportunities for children to hear and learn te reo Māori. These encouraging aspects are still very evident. ERO also identified areas for further development, including reviewing the philosophy, ensuring policies and procedures meet legal requirements, documenting programme planning more fully and developing the outdoor area. Good progress has been made with these next steps.

The Review Findings

Children enjoy a nurturing and unhurried learning environment that is well resourced and provides opportunities for exploration and risk taking. Parents and whānau are openly welcomed into the centre. They engage in respectful relationships with staff and are part of their children's learning journey.

Children of all ages are caring, confident and engaged in their learning. They benefit from an environment that supports sustained, cooperative and imaginative play. Tuakana/teina approaches support children to learn at their own pace. Tamariki select and lead their learning across all play areas. They interact and converse in a friendly manner with each other and with adults.

Teaching practices are nurturing, respectful and inclusive. Adults work alongside children and offer some opportunities for complex play. Well-managed approaches are in place for children with additional needs. The manager and teachers carefully consider transitions for tamariki when they leave the centre.

The learning programme supports the integration of bicultural practices. Children also experience a programme that values cultural diversity through the celebration of annual events. The manager and head teacher agree that providing more open-ended resources would help to encourage children's creativity. They also acknowledge that showing children's learning development more clearly over time would strengthen children's assessment records.

The manager and staff adopt a collaborative team approach. A culture of ongoing improvement supports a new appraisal system and the reviewed centre philosophy. Centre-wide and individual teacher professional development makes good use of internal and external expertise.

The centre is well governed and managed. Good systems are in place to review policies and procedures. Strategic and annual plans align well with internal evaluation. The service is well placed to build on new initiatives and to ensure good practices are embedded and sustained.

Key Next Steps

Key next steps are to continue:

  • building effective teaching strategies to promote and document children's critical thinking

  • exploring ways to more deliberately weave individual children's language and cultural backgrounds through the learning programme and in their assessment records

  • strengthening internal evaluation by documenting evaluative thinking and positive learning outcomes for children.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) 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

11 December 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

Orakei, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

20491

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

25 children, including up to 5 aged under 2

Service roll

29

Gender composition

Girls 17 Boys 12

Ethnic composition

NZ European/Pākehā
other ethnic groups

25
4

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:5

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:7

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

October 2019

Date of this report

11 December 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

April 2016

Education Review

February 2013

Supplementary Review

January 2010

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.

Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) - 20/04/2016

1 Evaluation of Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church)

How well placed is Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) 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

Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) is a well-established early learning centre that operates as a community service from the church hall. A committee, consisting of parents, church representatives, the centre manager and head teacher, provides management support and direction for the centre.

The centre has clearly identified its role in the community. It is licensed to provide education and care for 25 children, including five up to two years old. The centre operates between 9:00am and 1:30pm. The children play as a mixed age group. Most children who attend are up to four years of age and many of them transition to local kindergartens. Parents are encouraged to stay and participate in the programme alongside their children. A strong sense of community is evident.

The 2012 ERO report noted the positive learning environment for children and the good frameworks for programme planning and self review. These good practices continue to be evident. Areas for development included extending provision for older children, alignment of management documentation and appraisal. Progress has been made in these areas.

The Review Findings

Children are settled and have a good sense of belonging. They make choices about their play and are well engaged. Respect for children is evident in the interactions between children and teachers. As a result there is a calm and busy tone in the centre.

Children and their teachers have warm and caring relationships. Teachers work together well to provide activities and opportunities for children to develop skills and learn together. They care for and nurture younger children. The short duration of sessions means that toddlers do not usually sleep at the centre.

Teachers have participated in professional development that has positively influenced their practice. They use their knowledge of individual children's stage of development to inform their programme planning. This approach has been helpful in providing learning opportunities for children in the mixed age group. Teachers record children's interests and their participation in the programme. Teachers continue to refine their planning so that it better meets the needs of the centre.

Children have good opportunities to hear and learn te reo Māori and waiata throughout the day and particularly at mat time. They participate enthusiastically. This good practice promotes bicultural understanding for all children.

Teachers share information with parents about the care and education of their child. Centre staff warmly engage with and support children's families. They sustain positive relationships and connections with families over time.

The indoor environment invites children to explore. Children freely access resources to support their play. Recent work on the outdoor area has improved facilities. Teachers could consider how the outdoor space can be further developed to provide learning opportunities for children.

Self review is comprehensive and well established. It is used in an ongoing way to support centre improvement. Parents and teachers provide good quality information to inform the review process.

Key Next Steps

In order to further promote positive outcomes for children, ERO and centre managers agree that next steps include:

  • reviewing the philosophy so that it acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi and promotes the importance of bicultural practice for all children

  • ensuring that robust policies and procedures are developed and reviewed that meet legal requirements and provide good guidance for staff

  • finding ways to document programme planning that acknowledge the influence of both schema and children's individual interests

  • further developing the outdoor area so that it fosters children's curiosity and creativity.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) 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 Playday (Orakei Presbyterian Church) will be in three years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

20 April 2016

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

Orakei, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

20491

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

25 children, including up to 5 aged under 2

Service roll

38

Gender composition

Girls 22 Boys 16

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

other

2

32

4

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:5

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:7

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

February 2016

Date of this report

20 April 2016

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

February 2013

Supplementary Review

January 2010

Supplementary Review

December 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.