5 Stock Road, Te Puke
View on mapNot well placed | Requires further development | Well placed | Very well placed |
Te Puke Playcentre is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Te Puke Playcentre is a parent-led education and care service located in Te Puke. It caters for children from birth to school age and operates three mixed-age morning sessions per week. The playcentre is licensed for 30 children including up to 15 under the age of two years. The current roll of 35 children includes three who identify as Māori.
During 2018 the New Zealand Playcentre Federation transitioned from operating with 32 regional associations to become one national body with six regional offices. In the central North Island six associations have merged into a regional hub renamed Playcentre Aotearoa Central North Island Region that now includes 95 playcentres over a large geographic area. During this transition there is some overlap between associations and the new national regional systems and processes. At Te Puke Playcentre the president is supported by a committee of parent members. A role model, centre administrator and support worker are provided by governance.
Through their national philosophy the playcentre places emphasis on whānau tupu ngatahi – families growing together. They empower adults and children to play, work and grow together and value and affirm parents as first and best educators of their children.
Te Puke Playcentre has a positive reporting history with ERO. Since the last ERO review in 2015 the playcentre has implemented session evaluations, self reviewed the science area and baby sleep room, and focused on parent interactions that effectively promote children’s problem solving and thinking skills.
This review was part of a cluster of five playcentres in the Central North Island Region.
A warm, welcoming atmosphere is evident. Members are confident in contributing their ideas to the programme and to overall centre development. A shared philosophy and vision are reflected in the programme, environment and curriculum delivery. Children are actively encouraged to explore and take risks in an inclusive and friendly environment.
Parents place high priority on children’s care needs and wellbeing. In this family-like, mixed-age setting there are many opportunities for children to establish friendships. Parents have established a culture in which children are valued, celebrated and affirmed for who they are and what they bring to their learning.
Children are confident with familiar and unhurried routines. They enjoy opportunities to be involved in social interactions and conversations with other children, their parents and centre members. Home languages and cultures are valued and aspects of te ao Māori are integrated into the programmes in an inclusive environment. Literacy and mathematics are naturally included in children’s play. There are many opportunities for children to engage in play for long periods of time. Children have a variety of opportunities to learn and explore within a supportive atmosphere.
Assessment portfolios capture children's learning and development and session evaluations encourage parents to reflect on activities provided for children. Spontaneous ongoing discussions are effective in leading to positive outcomes for children. Parents are committed to ongoing improvement to the quality of education and care provided for children.
The environment successfully supports children’s learning and development. 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.
Parents nurture and care for babies and toddlers. They are responsive to the individual routines and needs of young children. Babies and toddlers enjoy consistent caregiving that responds sensitively to each child’s changing needs and preferences.
The co-presidents of Te Puke Playcentre provide a collaborative approach to leadership. They foster parent's involvement in the service and support each other in their roles and professional learning. Leaders show a strong commitment to the philosophy of playcentre. Internal evaluation is ongoing and responsive to identified priorities. Planned and spontaneous self reviews are leading to improvement in outcomes for children.
The Playcentre Aotearoa overarching strategic and individual annual plans guide the playcentre direction and focus on building capability through parent education programmes. There has been regular communication and support between the association and regions through the restructure. Existing policies and systems support centre operations until new systems developed by Playcentre Aotearoa are implemented. The playcentre philosophy and vision are clearly documented and strategic goals set, now there is a need to measure the impact and outcomes for children.
ERO and centre management agree that the next steps are to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Te Puke 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:
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:
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 Te Puke Playcentre will be in three years.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services
Central Region
28 February 2019
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.
| Location | Te Puke | |
| Ministry of Education profile number | 40004 | |
| 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 | 35 | |
| Gender composition | Boys 20 Girls 15 | |
| Ethnic composition | Māori Pākehā Other | 3 28 4 |
| Review team on site | December 2018 | |
| Date of this report | 28 February 2019 | |
Most recent ERO report(s)
| Education Review | May 2015 |
| Education Review | July 2008 | |
| Education Review | June 2005 | |
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.
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Te Puke Playcentre provides education and care for 30 children, including up to 15 under two years of age at any one time. At the time of this ERO review, the roll of 29 children included three of Māori descent. The centre currently operates three morning sessions a week that children attend with their parents.
The centre operates under the umbrella of the Western Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association (WBOPPA). The parent cooperative benefits from the ongoing support and guidance of a centre liaison officer and centre administration officer provided by the association. The WBOPPA also provide useful documentation and frameworks to guide centre training workshops and operations. These guidelines are underpinned by the association’s philosophy, which is well implemented by centre leaders. The association employs two experienced playcentre members to support two of the sessions.
Since the 2011 ERO review there has been a slight drop in the centre’s roll. There have been significant developments in the outdoor play area, including establishing a multi-purpose track and new play equipment. The centre continues to benefit from the expertise of several experienced parent members who undertake key leadership roles.
The centre supports parents to learn with their children, and to facilitate and respond to child-led play in a manner that extends children’s interests. Members want their children to be competent and confident learners, communicators and problem solvers, who are secure in their sense of belonging. In addition, they want children to develop relationships with other children and adults.
This review was part of a cluster of six reviews in the Western Bay of Plenty Playcentre Association.
Children enjoy learning and playing in a programme that is responsive to their emerging interests. Particular features of the centre’s rich programme include:
Children have ready access to an extensive range of high-quality resources and equipment.
Parents have a range of playcentre qualifications, with most currently involved in ongoing training. Some parents effectively support children’s problem solving and thinking skills through high-quality learning interactions. Parents appreciate the parenting knowledge and support that is shared by other parent members. ERO observed children highly engaged in sustained meaningful play alongside parents and their playcentre friends.
Individual learning portfolios provide children and families with a well-presented record of each child’s participation in the programme. They are easily accessible for children to revisit their learning.
Māori children’s sense of identity and culture is supported by the inclusion of waiata, te reo Māori signage, and resources that reflect a Māori dimension. Centre leaders acknowledge that there is a need to increase Māori perspectives within the programme.
A special feature of the centre is the inclusive support provided for children with special health and learning needs.
Positive relationships have been established with local schools in Te Puke that supports transition for children as they move on to school.
Knowledgeable centre leaders provide good quality leadership for the centre. They model effective teaching interactions with children and are welcoming and supportive of new families. Centre leaders are continuing to develop useful self-review processes that contribute to centre development. This includes end of session evaluations that involve parents reflecting on the daily programme and identifying how children’s interests and learning can be further developed at the next session.
A key next step for centre leaders is to consider promoting processes that support all parents to implement interactions that effectively promote children’s problem solving and thinking skills.
Before the review, the staff and management of Te Puke 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:
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:
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 Te Puke Playcentre will be in three years.
Dale Bailey
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern
26 May 2015
|
Location |
Te Puke |
|
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
40004 |
|
|
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 |
29 |
|
|
Gender composition |
Boys 18 Girls 11 |
|
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori Pākehā South East Asian Other |
3 23 2 1 |
|
Review team on site |
May 2015 |
|
|
Date of this report |
26 May 2015 |
|
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
November 2011 |
|
Education Review |
July 2008 |
|
|
Education Review |
June 2005 |
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.