- ERO evaluates and reports on the education and care of children and young people in early childhood services and schools.
Topkids New Lynn is well placed to continue promoting positive outcomes for children.
The centre is located in New Lynn, West Auckland. The purpose built facility was opened in March 2011 on the site of the old New Lynn Hotel. This is the centre’s first ERO review.
The centre caters for up to 100 children including 20 children under the age of two years. Programmes are provided in three separate rooms for infants, toddlers and older children. In addition, there is a separate programme for children who attend morning and afternoon sessions. The centre manager and professional services manager provide support and guidance for the four head teachers in these rooms.
Kidicorp Ltd provides management, administration and quality assurance systems, and personnel to support centre development.
Topkids New Lynn’s philosophy of a fun and nurturing environment is evident in happy children, a settled tone and positive relationships. The cultural diversity of children, families and teachers is acknowledged. There are good strategies in place to get parents’ input into curriculum development. Relationships are valued and communications between managers, teachers and parents are positive.
The programme provides good opportunities for children to play and learn in groups, pairs or individually with teacher support. There are some examples of teachers extending children’s thinking through thoughtful conversations. Programme planning has been identified by centre managers as an area for development.
There are clear links to Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, in programme documentation. Children play and learn in age appropriate and well resourced environments. Pre-school and Sessions rooms share a large outdoor space. Children’s independence and self management are encouraged by teachers. Children are supported well as they settle into the centre and move between rooms. Centre managers are beginning to form relationships with neighbouring schools to support children in their transition to school.
Cultural diversity is celebrated through the programme and in attractive displays. Parents willingly contribute their skills to provide cultural experiences for children. The centre managers have identified that bicultural practice is an area for development.
There has been good support from Kidicorp Ltd, to establish the centre and appoint suitable staff. There has been a considered approach to centre priorities and ongoing support for implementing centre goals.
Collaborative processes and clear guidelines support good self review. Review areas relate to Kidicorp’s and the centre priorities. This review is led by the centre manager who ensures it is a useful process that is well documented.
Appraisal systems are well implemented and monitored by the centre manager. The focus of appraisal is clearly on teacher development and is linked to centre priorities. Further support for teachers is provided through professional learning and development for whole staff, groups and individuals.
Managers have identified appropriate key next steps for centre development, including:
Before the review, the staff and management of Topkids New Lynn 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.
ERO is likely to carry out the next review in three years.
Dale Bailey
National Manager Review Services Northern Region
15 April 2013
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Location |
New Lynn, Auckland |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
45654 |
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Licence type |
All Day Education and Care Serivce |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
100 children, including up to 20 aged under 2 years |
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Service roll |
159 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 55% Girls 45% |
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Ethnic composition |
NZ European/Pākehā Māori Indian Chinese Samoan Niue Tongan Fijian Southeast Asian Cook Island Māori other |
23% 12% 27% 9% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 8% |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:4 |
Exceeds minimum requirements |
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Over 2 |
1:8 |
Exceeds minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
February 2013 |
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Date of this report |
15 April 2013 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
No previous ERO reports |
The Education Review Office (ERO) is the New Zealand government department that reviews schools and early childhood services throughout New Zealand.
ERO's education reviews in early childhood services focus on the factors that contribute to positive learning outcomes for children. ERO evaluates how well placed the service is to make and sustain improvements for the benefit of all children at the service. To reach these findings ERO considers:
Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of self review and partnerships with parents and whānau.
ERO reviews do not cover every aspect of service performance and each ERO report may cover different issues. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.