563 Waiau Pa Road, Waiau Pa
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.
Waiau Pa Kindergarten is a well-established service that is licensed for 30 children over two years of age. It operates a kindergarten day model, which allows children to attend sessions that match the hours of Waiau Pa School, which is located next door to the centre. Parents are able to choose whether children stay for full days or attend sessions.
Waiau Pa Kindergarten provides education and care for children from the surrounding rural communities. The teaching team is new, and is supported by an administrator and a teacher aide.
The 2014 ERO report noted good practices and identified some areas for improvement. The new teaching team have worked together to address the improvements recommended in the 2014 report. These included strengthening partnerships with whānau, reflecting the commitment to bicultural practice and using self review to determine the effectiveness of teaching practices.
Waiau Pa 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 reviews in the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association.
Relationships between children and teachers are positive and cheerful. Teachers know children and their families well and are welcoming and inclusive. Teachers and children have friendly conversations and teachers provide effective provocations to attract and interest children.
Teachers recognise and celebrate the diverse cultural mix of children and families, and as a result whānau and children feel supported and included. A 'key teacher' approach is used in the kindergarten where a teacher is assigned to meet each new whānau and support them to settle into the centre. This approach helps to provide teachers with good information about children and their interests, which they can use to begin generating conversations and supporting children's play.
Children have periods of uninterrupted play and enjoy friendships and opportunities to collaborate with others. The roll currently includes a high percentage of boys. Teachers have evaluated their provision for boys and have increased opportunities for them to engage in more robust play. This is an example of teachers using evaluation to help develop programmes that increasingly reflect children's interests.
Teachers have strengthened relationships with the school. Regular, reciprocal visits between the new entrant room children and the older kindergarten children are contributing to more seamless transitions for children from the centre to school.
Bicultural practice is well established. Teachers have a strong commitment to incorporating te reo, tikanga and te ao Māori concepts in the programme in as many contexts as possible. Children have learnt about ngā Atua through legends, are learning about Māori values, and display some understanding of te reo Māori. Teachers' planning includes their work towards contact with a local marae and developing further knowledge of the Māori history of Waiau Pa.
The Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association (CMKA) continues to provide very good support for the kindergarten. The systems and personnel in place for supporting centre operations, ongoing review and association monitoring contribute to efficient management of the service. Leaders establish overarching long-term goals that enable teachers to align their annual plan with the strategic direction of the association.
Teachers are supported to meet the programming needs of the younger children attending, and to provide variable and often longer hours of operation. The teaching team appreciates the professional support and guidance from CMKA personnel. Leaders continue to adapt personnel systems to meet legislative changes, including refinement of the appraisal process to meet Education Council expectations.
The association has a strong commitment to equity and continually improving educational outcomes for children. They have high expectations for teachers to use evidence based and reflective practices. The association has a strong commitment to biculturalism and working in partnership with Māori whānau and community. They are focusing on strategies to promote success for Pacific learners and value cultural diversity. Resources and personnel such as whānau workers and a Play Truck, are targeted to ensure that the specific learning needs of children are met.
Centre managers and teachers agree that their key next steps are to continue to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Waiau Pa 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 Waiau Pa Kindergarten will be in three years.
Julie Foley
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern (Acting)
Te Tai Raki - Northern Region
8 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 |
Pukekohe |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
5640 |
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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 2 years of age |
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Service roll |
55 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 35 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
8 |
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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 |
8 February 2018 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
September 2014 |
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|
Education Review |
April 2011 |
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Education Review |
May 2008 |
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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.
Waiau Pa Kindergarten serves a rural community on the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour. The kindergarten is licensed to provide education and care for up to 30 children over two years at each session. It operates a kindergarten day model, which allows children to attend sessions that match the hours of the Waiau Pa School next door.
Two of the teachers have been at the kindergarten for some time. The third permanent position has recently been filled by an experienced teacher. Teachers are supported by an administrator and a teacher aide, and are becoming established as a cohesive team. They have a focus on supporting children to learn through their own inquiry into areas of interest to them.
In 2011, ERO identified the need to strengthen teachers’ self review, the quality of their conversations with children, and their partnerships with whānau. Teachers have participated in professional development that has helped them to respond to ERO’s 2011 recommendations.
This review was part of a cluster of seven kindergarten reviews in the Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association.
The Association’s values, strategic goals and mission statement provide clear guidance for the kindergarten. A sound governance and management framework 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 are well supported to learn through self-selected activities in a well resourced and attractively presented environment. They are confident, capable communicators and work together cooperatively to extend their play. Some children are particularly independent and focused as they explore creative activities.
Children have opportunities to take leadership roles and their contributions are respected and valued. Teachers engage in increasingly meaningful conversations with children to foster thinking and problem solving. Children’s literacy learning is well supported and they have good opportunities to experiment with print and enjoy books. Teachers and children use ipads to research areas of interest. These practices provide a sound foundation for children as they transition to school.
Teachers record their assessments of children’s learning in individual portfolios. The best examples include children’s contributions, provide evidence that children’s developing dispositions for learning are valued, and make good links with children’s homes and families. Some portfolios show how children are supported to develop their interests over time.
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.
With PPM support, teachers are developing shared understandings and ways to work together as a team. They are in the process of reviewing their statements of philosophy and teaching practice. Teachers support each other to achieve their professional development goals. 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.
Teachers and the PPM agree that continuing developments in the kindergarten should include:
teachers focusing their review discussions more clearly on the quality and effectiveness of teaching practice for all children
the purposeful use of self review to inform management and curriculum planning, and making teachers’ plans for supporting children’s learning more visible
strengthening the partnership between whānau and teachers to support children’s learning, and improving the documentation of this relationship
increasing the extent to which the local community context, teachers’ commitment to bicultural practice, and the Māori history of Waiau Pa, are reflected in the environment and programmes for children.
To enhance its management practices, the Association could consider making more deliberate connections between kindergarten’s and Association’s self review and long-term planning.
Before the review, the staff and management of Waiau Pa 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 Waiau Pa 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 |
Pukekohe |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
5640 |
||
|
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 |
47 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 25 Girls 22 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori NZ European/Pākehā |
10 37 |
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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 |
||
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Date of this report |
17 September 2014 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
April 2011 |
|
|
Education Review |
May 2008 |
||
|
Education Review |
May 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.