Porangahau Playcentre

Education institution number:
55071
Service type:
Playcentre
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
6
Telephone:
Address:

Keppel Street, Porangahau

View on map

Porangahau Playcentre - 25/07/2019

1 Evaluation of Porangahau Playcentre

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

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

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

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

Background

Porangahau Playcentre is rurally located in Porangahau, Central Hawkes Bay. The centre provides two sessions weekly for 30 children including 15 up to the age of two. At the time of this review 30 children were enrolled and 11 identify as Māori.

The centre is administered by Playcentre Aotearoa, Lower North Region and is supported by a regional manager. National policies are in the process of being developed and distributed to all playcentres for discussion.

The Playcentre Aotearoa philosophy, 'whānau tupu ngātahi – families growing together', is to empower parents and children to learn, play and grow together. Alongside this, the centre philosophy promotes children and parents experiencing positive learning experiences together in a safe, supportive environment.

Whānau and families are valued as the primary educators of their children. Curriculum planning and implementation is a shared responsibility. Responsibility for day-to-day operation is undertaken by a session support staff and centre-elected office holders. A centre support worker and centre administrator regularly visit playcentres to provide professional guidance and support, strengthen practice and promote improvement.

The January 2016 ERO report identified areas for development for the association and the playcentre. These included: assessment, planning and evaluation; engaging with Playcentre training; building te ao Māori practices; and strengthening knowledge and understanding of self review. These areas still require further development.

This review was part of a cluster of four playcentres in Central Hawkes Bay.

The Review Findings

Tamariki actively engage in activities with enthusiasm, energy and confidence. Their sense of wellbeing is nurtured within a family context. Friendships are valued and children are socially comfortable in mixed-age groups. They demonstrate confidence to lead their own learning in well-resourced indoor and outdoor areas.

Positive relationships throughout the centre promote a sense of wellbeing, belonging and community. An inclusive environment is supportive of young children and those with diverse needs. A well-considered transition process assists families into the centre. The relationship with the local school includes shared activities and experiences to enhance children's learning pathways.

Te ao Māori is woven into the programme. Leaders model te reo Māori, incorporate karakia, Māori presence and input. Hapū and iwi links to the land, river, mountain and marae are visibly displayed. Members identify the need to deepen understanding of children's culture language and identity, particularly for tamariki Māori.

A clear process guides assessment, planning and evaluation. Curriculum planning is responsive to children's interests. Parents work with the goals, ways of learning and outcomes of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Making links to children's interests at home is a feature. These are included in some children's individual learning plans and profiles. Ongoing learning provision should further develop members understanding of meaningful assessment and planning.

Internal evaluation is in its initial stages of implementation. Members identify the need to further extend their knowledge, practice and use of evaluation for improvement.

Leaders have undertaken professional development to strengthen individual member's knowledge and understanding of early childhood learning. There is a strong focus on increasing membership, encouraging adult education and supporting new members into centre roles. At a regional level it is timely to review, monitor and evaluate the quality of systems to support provision of this education to playcentres.

The appraisal process is currently based on annual review of successes and challenges. This requires further strengthening to better reflect roles and responsibilities and respond to building centre support workers and members' capability.

Key Next Steps

At playcentre level, the priorities are:

  • implementing consistency of planning for learning

  • developing understandings of internal evaluation

  • accessing professional learning opportunities.

At the governance level (Playcentre Aotearoa), priorities are to continue to:

  • develop and implement national policies and procedures

  • refine the appraisal process for staff

  • provide education for members to build playcentre capability.

Recommendation

ERO recommends that the regional team actively monitor and evaluate the quality of support provided to playcentres.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Porangahau 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.

ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to Governance, Management and Administration criteria. To meet requirements the service needs to improve its performance in the following area:

  • ensuring all children’s workers who have access to children are safety checked in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014.
    [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA7A]

Since the onsite phase of the review, Playcentre Aotearoa has provided evidence to show the safety checking of its workers has been undertaken.

Phil Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services Central

Central Region

25 July 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

Porangahau

Ministry of Education profile number

55071

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

30

Gender composition

Male 15, Female 15

Ethnic composition

Māori
NZ European/Pākehā

11
19

Reported ratios of adults to children

Under 2

1:1

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:1

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

June 2019

Date of this report

25 July 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

January 2016

Education Review

February 2013

Education Review

October 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.

Porangahau Playcentre - 14/01/2016

1 Evaluation of Porangahau Playcentre

How well placed is Porangahau 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

Porangahau Playcentre is located in the rural community of Porangahau in Central Hawkes Bay. The centre is open for two morning sessions per week. It is licensed for 30 children, including fifteen children up to two years of age. Parents stay with their children. The playcentre is located in a purpose-built facility across the road from the local school.

Since the February 2012 ERO report, the roll has increased considerably. The current roll is 64, with ten children identifying as Māori.

The centre is managed as a parent cooperative with support from experienced personnel from the Central Hawkes Bay Playcentre Association (the association).

The centre has a positive reporting history with ERO.

This review was part of a cluster of three reviews in the Central Hawkes Bay Playcentre Association.

The Review Findings

The centre philosophy aims to empower and support children and adults to play, work, learn and grow together by providing a welcoming environment for all. This is highly evident in the programme.

Children and their parents know each other well. A sense of community is apparent as they arrive and set up the environment for the day’s session. Children quickly settle and immerse themselves in their activity of choice. They initiate their own play and work in collaboration with each other to share equipment and resources.

Children are well supported by adults. A shared responsibility for the children is visible. Parents engage in conversation with the children, model language and demonstrate a sense of fun.

The thoughtful placement of resources and activities is responsive to different age groups. Children have choices and are able to explore, investigate and be creative. A comfortable and safe space is provided for children who are not yet mobile.

The programme is underpinned by Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. There is a planned approach to supporting parents’ understanding of how to document children’s learning in relation to Te Whāriki. Parents notice and recognise children’s emerging interests and plan activities and resources accordingly. Session evaluations capture children’s interests and aim to provide continuity from one session to another. Parents have identified the need to align session evaluation and planning to better identify and document the learning that is occurring for individual children.

Profiles are attractive. They capture and celebrate children’s involvement and engagement in centre activities and the wider community.

There is a strong commitment to promoting te reo me ngā tikanga Māori in the centre. This is reflected through the philosophy, wall displays, resources, routines and the use of te reo in authentic contexts. Parents acknowledge the need to continue to build bicultural practices and to strengthen strategies to support Māori children and their whānau.

Close proximity to the local school and positive reciprocal relationships supports children’s transition.

Parents are strongly committed to the Playcentre philosophy. They work collaboratively and support each other to take on leadership roles. The range of knowledge and skills that parents have is valued and celebrated. Some useful systems and processes have been developed to keep everyone informed, induct new parents and to support succession and sustainability.

Parents are encouraged and supported to work towards a Playcentre qualification. The association has identified that parent education is a priority. A new education convenor has been appointed.

Parents’ understanding of self review is developing. There is an established framework which guides the process and results in improvement. Members have identified the need to continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of self review. The association is providing professional learning and development to support this.

Key Next Steps

Parents are committed to the ongoing improvement of the centre. Members and ERO have agreed that there is a need for members, with the support of the association, to continue to:

  • develop their understanding and use of assessment, planning and evaluation
  • engage with Playcentre training
  • build bicultural practices and strengthen strategies to support Māori children and their whānau
  • strengthen and embed knowledge and understanding of self review.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Porangahau 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 Porangahau Playcentre will be in three years.

Joyce Gebbie

Deputy Chief Review Officer Central

14 January 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

Porangahau, Central Hawkes Bay

Ministry of Education profile number

55071

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

Girls 32, Boys 32

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Other ethnic groups

10

53

1

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%

Based on funding rates

50-79%

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

 

Over 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

November 2015

Date of this report

14 January 2016

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

February 2013

 

Education Review

October 2009

 

Education Review

October 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.