1 Cato Road, Tamatea, Napier
View on mapAkarangi | Quality Evaluation evaluates the extent to which this early childhood service has the learning and organisational conditions to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. Te Ara Poutama- indicators of quality for early childhood education: what matters most (PDF 3.01MB) are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. The Akarangi Quality Evaluation Judgement Rubric (PDF 91.30KB) derived from the indicators, is used to inform the ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence.
ERO’s judgements for The DEN: Discover Education in Nature are as follows:
Outcome Indicators |
ERO’s judgement |
|
What the service knows about outcomes for learners |
Whakaū Embedding |
Ngā Akatoro Domains |
ERO’s judgement |
|
He Whāriki Motuhake The learner and their learning |
Whakaū Embedding |
|
Whakangungu Ngaio Collaborative professional learning builds knowledge and capability |
Whakaū Embedding |
|
Ngā Aronga Whai Hua Evaluation for improvement |
Whakaū Embedding |
|
Kaihautū Leaders foster collaboration and improvement |
Whakaū Embedding |
|
Te Whakaruruhau Stewardship through effective governance and management |
Whakaū Embedding |
The DEN: Discover Education in Nature is a privately owned centre situated in a large natural setting. They draw on a philosophy of learning and experiences for children based in nature and active exploration. A centre director and head teacher are responsible for day-to-day leadership, supported by a team leader and 15 kaiako.
The centre philosophy and values clearly inform the curriculum and daily programme. Children have time and space to authentically explore their environment with the support of kaiako. The concept of ako, or reciprocal learning, is enacted naturally through interactions between children and kaiako. Children’s learning is effectively supported through careful consideration of the role the natural environment plays.
Children have a strong sense of belonging and are encouraged to plan and lead their own learning. Kaiako enact an approach that is rooted in relationship and kindness first and take the time to build trust with families to support experiences for children. Kaiako are responsive to the varying ages of children and use a range of strategies to support safe risk taking and independence. Children’s own rhythms are respected and nurtured.
A strong whānau approach supports connections in the centre. Tikanga Māori is valued and woven through the centre curriculum, through the values of aroha, manaakitanga, and tuakana teina. Tamariki Māori, Pacific learners and children from a wide range of ethnicities experience aspects of their own, and other cultures. A focus area for kaiako has been identified to continue to build cultural responsiveness in assessment of children’s learning in order to strengthen the reflection of children’s individual identity in documentation. Leaders and kaiako are in the early stages of developing a localised curriculum that reflects what matters to children, whānau and iwi.
A sense of clarity about the next steps for the centre is evident amongst leaders and kaiako. Recent changes in governance mean that there is a strong and strategic focus on re-rooting the centre to the philosophy. Leaders draw on the rich knowledge the teaching team hold in inquiry and evaluation to support positive outcomes for children. A focus on equity of experiences is present and promotes access to quality experiences for all children.
The DEN: Discover Education in Nature will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:
Before the review, the staff and management of The DEN: Discover Education in Nature 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.
Shelley Booysen
Acting Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
15 December 2021
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
The DEN: Discover Education in Nature |
|
Profile Number |
47593 |
|
Location |
Napier |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
65 children aged over 2. |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
100% |
|
Service roll |
94 |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori 11, NZ European/Pākehā 54, Other ethnic groups 29. |
|
Review team on site |
November 2021 |
|
Date of this report |
15 December 2021 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Akanuku | Assurance Review, November 2020. |
ERO’s Akanuku | Assurance Review reports provide information about whether a service meets and maintains regulatory standards. Further information about Akanuku | Assurance Reviews is included at the end of this report.
Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
|
Curriculum |
Meeting |
|
Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
|
Health and safety |
Not meeting |
|
Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.
The DEN: Discover Education in Nature is a privately owned service that opened in December 2018. The philosophy promotes discovery education through nature and active movement for learning. Two directors and a centre manager undertake day-to-day management of the service. This is its first ERO review.
Children’s preferences are respected and they are involved in decisions about their learning. The curriculum responds to them as competent and confident learners. The service’s philosophy guides operation and the play space supports learning experiences to reflect this.
Parents take opportunities to contribute to the development of the service’s operational documents and decision making around their children’s learning.
Staff have recently taken steps to improve emergency management. They must ensure that relevant emergency drills are carried out with children at least every three months.
ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:
[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS8]
Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS6, HS7]
ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.
The next ERO review of The DEN: Discover Education in Nature will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
18 November 2020
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
The DEN: Discover Education in Nature |
|
Profile Number |
47593 |
|
Location |
Tamatea, Napier |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
65 children aged over 2. |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80%+ |
|
Service roll |
86 |
|
Gender composition |
Male 56, Female 30. |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori 6, NZ European/Pākehā 63, Other European 5, Other Ethnic Groups 12. |
|
Review team on site |
September 2020 |
|
Date of this report |
18 November 2020 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
First ERO review of the service. |
All services are licensed under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. The legal requirements for early childhood services also include the Licensing Criteria for Education and Care Services 2008.
Services must meet the standards in the regulations and the requirements of the licensing criteria to gain and maintain a licence to operate.
All early childhood services are required to promote children’s health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements. Before the review, the staff and management of a service 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:
As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO assesses whether the regulated standards are being met. In particular, ERO looks at a service’s systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:
As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through: