Buckland Road, Tuakau
View on map|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Tuakau Kindergarten is adjacent to Tuakau Primary School and draws children from a large geographical area. It is licensed for 30 children over the age of two and offers six-hour sessions, similar to a school day. About a quarter of the children attending the kindergarten are Māori, and a small number of children have Pacific heritage.
The kindergarten team comprises an experienced head teacher and two other registered teachers. A fully qualified teacher aide and administrator support the teaching team.
The kindergarten's philosophy focuses on respectful relationships, whanaungatanga, and providing an environment inspired by the natural world. The kindergarten has achieved Enviroschool silver status and operates a Nature Discovery programme twice a week.
The 2014 ERO report recognised the kindergarten's sustainable, nurturing environment and the strong sense of ownership and belonging demonstrated by children. Teachers have made good progress in relation to the priorities identified in the 2014 ERO report. They are now using self review processes linked to teaching and learning, have strengthening links to the Māori community, and are extending children's understanding of environmental sustainability.
Tuakau Kindergarten is part of the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association and operates within the policies and management framework of this organisation. An education manager (EM) visits and provides leadership and curriculum support for teachers.
This review was part of a cluster of six kindergarten reviews in the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association.
Children are confident and capable learners. They settle quickly and have a strong sense of belonging and wellbeing. Children lead the direction of their play and choose activities and play areas based on their interests and preferences. They are developing an understanding of kaupapa Māori concepts such as manaakitanga. Children are welcoming and enjoy talking with adults.
The outside area provides very well for physical challenge, encourages exploration and fosters children's curiosity.
The programme responds very effectively to the curiosities, strengths and abilities of all children. Core curriculum areas such as literacy and maths are highly visible and integrated throughout planning and programme design. Kaupapa Māori concepts and te reo Māori are highly evident. Well established partnerships with parents and whānau enable them to contribute as valued partners in their child's learning.
The Nature Discovery programme complements and enhances the kindergarten's commitment to environmental sustainability and its teaching and learning philosophy. Children spend a day in the bush, experience the natural environment, are involved in conservation, and take part in a number of outdoor adventure activities.
Teachers take time to genuinely listen to children. They promote a calm and relaxed environment. Interactions between teachers and children are sensitive and supportive of children's learning. Teachers encourage problem-solving and empower children to take responsibility for their own and others' wellbeing and for their environment. Teachers and children have fun as part of the learning process.
Teachers have a shared understanding of the philosophy and vision of the kindergarten and also share a commitment to professional learning. Emergent leadership among teachers is encouraged. The team leaders and teachers seek out parents' aspirations and work collaboratively and responsively to achieve them.
The Association continues to provide very good support for the kindergarten. Its systems and support personnel, ongoing review and monitoring contribute to efficient management. Long-term goals enable teachers to align their annual plan with the Association's strategic direction.
The Association is responsive to changing community needs. It supports teachers to meet the needs of younger children and to provide variable and often longer hours of operation. It is expected that teachers will use evidence based, reflective practices. Teachers appreciate the professional support and guidance of Association personnel. Leaders continue to adapt personnel systems to meet new legal requirements, including those of the Education Council.
The Association has a strong commitment to equity, bicultural practices, partnerships with whānau and community, and continuous improvement in educational outcomes for children. There is a focus on strategies to promote success for Pacific learners. Personnel and resources such as whānau workers and a Play Truck are targeted to meet the specific needs of children and communities.
The teachers' annual plan identifies appropriate goals for sustaining and enhancing current high quality practices. These include continuing to build on existing good links with the local community, bicultural practices and internal evaluation.
Before the review, the staff and management of Tuakau Kindergarten 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 Tuakau Kindergarten will be in four years.
Julie Foley
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern (Acting)
Te Tai Raki - Northern Region
7 February 2018
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.
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Location |
Tuakau, Auckland |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
5621 |
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Licence type |
Free Kindergarten |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
30 children over the age of 2 years |
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Service roll |
47 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 24 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
26% |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% + |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
November 2017 |
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Date of this report |
7 February 2018 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
2014 |
|
|
Education Review |
2007 |
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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.
Tuakau Kindergarten is a well established service that operates on a site adjacent to the local primary school in the small rural town of Tuakau. It draws children from a wide surrounding area and is licensed to provide education and care for 30 children over two years of age. The kindergarten offers a kindergarten day model, which allows children to attend sessions that match school hours. Many children attend on selected days during the week. About half the children attending the centre are of Māori heritage, and about half are of NZ European descent. There are also a small number of children with Pacific heritage.
The kindergarten’s four registered teachers are supported by a qualified teacher aide. One teacher is new since the last review. Some have served the kindergarten for many years, creating a stable foundation for teamwork. The teaching team has established cohesive practices with a focus on providing innovative programmes to engage children’s interest.
Teachers’ vision statement for the kindergarten focuses on enriching children’s relationships with papatuanuku and providing a sustainable, nurturing environment. This vision is apparent in the programme choices for children and in the experiences provided by teachers.
Teachers have made progress in addressing the areas for development identified in ERO’s 2010 report. They have strengthened their understanding of self review and formed stronger links with the community. Teachers’ participation in professional learning about te reo Māori is helping to strengthen their relationships with children.
Redevelopment of the outdoor area has provided children with improved challenges and great opportunities to develop skills. The changes to the environment contribute to children’s learning about nature and sustainability.
This review was part of a cluster of seven kindergarten reviews in the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association.
The Associations’ values, strategic goals and mission statement provide clear guidance for the kindergarten. A sound governance framework, management systems and professional personnel support kindergarten operations. A professional practice manager (PPM) provides management leadership and curriculum support for teachers. The Association provides regular professional development opportunities.
Children’s sense of ownership and belonging in the centre is strong. They settle easily to play, work cooperatively, and share goals with their friends. Children select their own play from a wide range of available activities and show high levels of competence in their ability to manage their day.
Children confidently communicate and engage well in new learning opportunities. They are capable learners and eagerly share knowledge of their own learning. They benefit from some high quality conversations with teachers that foster their learning and thinking skills.
Playing games and listening to stories is helping to lay good foundations for children’s literacy and numeracy learning. They dramatise stories they are familiar with and enjoy presenting plays for their friends. The environment is print rich, and includes opportunities for children to read and creatively explore drawing and writing.
Children are taken in groups on a weekly basis to explore a natural bush area in the local community. Working out how to catch eels, climbing trees and learning to abseil have been popular parts of the bush experience. This new addition to the programme is having a positive effect on children’s confidence, thinking and physical abilities. It complements other aspects of learning about nature and sustainability that are included in the daily programme.
Development of the outdoor area has enabled teachers to further focus on sustainability by creating natural features in the playground and opportunities to learn about recycling. The kindergarten’s involvement in the Enviroschools programme has spearheaded these developments and has provided a link to tikanga Māori values and practices.
The indoor area also provides children with interesting experiences and resources to explore. Teachers value children’s work and centre displays celebrate children’s participation in previous experiences.
Teachers know children well and use children’s individual assessment portfolios to capture significant moments in their learning and to provide insights for parents about the programme. They have a variety of processes for regularly reviewing their practices and programmes for children. They continue to review their assessment and planning processes with the aim of increasing the effectiveness and manageability of these processes. More focused, in-depth teacher planning and self review should further increase children’s engagement in extended learning. It would also be useful for teachers to review the effectiveness of the programme in supporting and diversifying children’s learning as a result of what they add to the programme.
Professional development supports teachers’ knowledge of, and confidence in using, te reo Māori in the programme with children. With the growth of Māori families attending the kindergarten, work to strengthen their understanding of te Ao Māori is timely. Teachers should also continue efforts to consult with families/whānau about their aspirations for their children to further guide planning for the centre programme.
Association systems for strategic planning and self review are well established and effective. Teachers and whānau have opportunities to contribute to these processes. The PPM knows the kindergarten very well, provides responsive and professional support for teachers, and continually promotes high quality teaching and learning. The PPM regularly reports to the General Manager about the kindergarten’s progress.
Teachers’ individual strengths are valued by the PPM. The Association’s performance appraisal processes are well established and have recently been adapted to enhance support for the ongoing growth and development of staff.
ERO and the managers agree that next key steps for the teaching team are to continue:
using self-review processes linked to teaching and learning to identify and build children’s extended learning
strengthening links with the Māori community, embedding ngā tikanga and developing understandings of te Ao Māori
the focus on sustainability practices to extend children’s and their own understanding of ways for maintaining environments.
To enhance its management practices, the Association could consider making more deliberate connections between the kindergarten’s and Association’s self review and long-term planning.
Before the review, the staff and management of Tuakau Kindergarten 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.
The next ERO review of Tuakau Kindergarten will be in three years.
Dale Bailey National Manager Review Services Northern Region
17 September 2014
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 |
Tuakau |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
5621 |
||
|
Licence type |
Free Kindergarten |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
30 children, including up to 0 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
50 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 27 Girls 23 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori NZ European/Pākehā Indian Kiribati Tongan Chinese |
20 23 2 2 2 1 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80% Based on funding rates |
80% |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
Review team on site |
June 2014 |
||
|
Date of this report |
17 September 2014 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
April 2010 |
|
|
Education Review |
April 2007 |
||
|
Education Review |
February 2004 |
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.