16 Airport Road, Whenuapai, Waitakere
View on mapNot well placed | Requires further development | Well placed | Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Whenuapai kindergarten provides a full day and sessional service for up to 40 children from approximately three years of age. It is part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA), which provides a governance and management framework, and support personnel to assist the kindergarten. The 2015 restructure of AKA leadership roles has been reviewed and has resulted in the further re-allocation of roles. There continues to be a period of transition for all Association staff as they adapt to new systems and responsibilities.
The kindergarten is located between the school and the air force base at Whenuapai. It is led by a head teacher and employs three other fulltime registered teachers. Part-time employees include two teacher aides and an administrator.
The kindergarten has been through significant change since the 2013 ERO review. It moved to temporary premises in Term 2 and 3 of 2014 while the kindergarten buildings and grounds were relocated and renovated. By the end of 2015 the kindergarten roll increased from 30 to 40 children and an additional teacher had been appointed.
The kindergarten's philosophy promotes partnership with parents/whānau to support children's education and development. It shows a strong commitment to incorporating aspects of tikanga and te reo Māori into the programme. Intended outcomes for children include independence, confidence, skills to inquire and communicate effectively, and a positive self-image.
This review was part of a cluster of seven kindergarten reviews in the Auckland Kindergarten Association.
Staff have created a welcoming and inclusive culture at the kindergarten for children and their whānau. Interactions are caring and teachers respond to children with respect, valuing their contributions to conversations.
Teachers know the children and their families well. They regularly share information about children with their whānau through conversations and in children’s portfolios. Parents feel listened to by the teachers.
Teachers encourage parents to share their aspirations for their children and they help children to set and achieve learning goals. Teachers’ programme planning considers these goals and aspirations and the programme includes occasions for children to celebrate their achievements.
The kindergarten's physical environment is well resourced, organised with discrete areas of play, and resourced so that children can make choices about how their play develops. The vegetable gardens, fruit trees and recycling facilities help promote concepts of environmental sustainability.
Children benefit from a curriculum that allows them to participate in all aspects of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. They are encouraged to investigate and to be creative. Teachers’ holistic approach to children’s education has been supported by professional development where they have explored the Māori concepts of mana, mauri and wairua. Teachers support children to identify and communicate their feelings and to be resilient.
The kindergarten’s acknowledgement of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is evident in many aspects of its operations. Teachers have learned about the history of the local area. Their new learning is being incorporated into the kindergarten programme and the way that they think about their role as educators.
The kindergarten is inclusive of children from all cultures and of children with special needs and abilities. Families are encouraged to share aspects of their cultures with all the children. Teachers seek support and guidance to ensure that children’s individual needs are met.
The kindergarten is well led and managed. Staff work well as a team. The changes resulting from roll growth and the relocation and renovations have been well managed. All staff are supported and encouraged to take leadership roles.
Teachers are working to strengthen programme planning and evaluation. Recent planning has focused on ensuring that parents' aspirations are considered. With the introduction of electronic assessment portfolios, it would be useful for teachers to clarify the audience and purpose of learning stories, and to develop some agreed expectations of how these contribute to assessment and planning.
Strategic planning is well documented in the kindergarten's business plan. It is informed by internal evaluation and leads to ongoing improvement. Parents are consulted as part of the process. Progress against the plan is evaluated. Internal evaluation could be strengthened by more clearly identifying evaluation questions.
AKA systems for monitoring and promoting improvement in kindergarten operations are well established. The Association's shared vision and a comprehensive strategic plan guide kindergarten developments. New AKA roles were established to provide more targeted support for head teachers in their leadership and management roles. A new Quality Improvement Process (QIP) is aligned with AKA and kindergarten strategic plans, monitors quality and promotes ongoing improvement in kindergartens. AKA support and guidance is responsive to each kindergarten's individual context.
The kindergarten managers and teachers agree that areas that require strengthening include:
The AKA is continuing to review and refine its policies and procedures, including those for teacher appraisal and the endorsement of teachers’ practising certificates.
Before the review, the staff and management of Whenuapai 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 Whenuapai Kindergarten will be in three years.
Graham Randell
Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern
14 December 2016
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 | Whenuapai, Auckland | ||
| Ministry of Education profile number | 5105 | ||
| Licence type | Free Kindergarten | ||
| Licensed under | Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 | ||
| Number licensed for | 40 children, including up to 0 aged under 2 | ||
| Service roll | 52 | ||
| Gender composition | Boys 26 Girls 26 | ||
| Ethnic composition | Māori Pākehā Chinese Korean other ethnicities | 7 36 2 2 5 | |
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates | 80% + | ||
| Reported ratios of staff to children | Over 2 | 1:10 | Meets minimum requirements |
| Review team on site | September 2016 | ||
| Date of this report | 14 December 2016 | ||
Most recent ERO report(s)
| Education Review | August 2013 | |
| Education Review | December 2009 | ||
| Education Review | November 2006 | ||
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:
Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.
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.
Whenuapai Kindergarten provides a full day or sessional service for up to 30 children over three years of age. All staff are fully registered teachers. The kindergarten operates as part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA). The association provides policy, procedural and operating guidelines. It also provides teachers with regular, topical professional development and on-going support from professional managers.
The kindergarten was opened as Sunderland Kindergarten in 1986, it later moved premises and was renamed Hobsonville North Kindergarten. In 2012 the centre moved again and is now situated between Whenuapai School and the airforce base. It is now known as Whenuapai Kindergarten.
Since the 2009 ERO review, the kindergarten has faced several years of uncertainty around its future. The enthusiasm of the head teacher and several dedicated families has maintained a strong team culture. Change, while challenging, has presented staff and children with many experiences that have enriched them and the centre programme. These experiences have been captured in the new centre logo, displays, stories and songs. They form an integral part of the centre culture.
The kindergarten’s philosophy is very evident in the programme, learning environment and relationships with children and parents and whānau.
This review was part of a cluster of ten kindergarten reviews in the Auckland Kindergarten Association.
The kindergarten has a calm settled tone, with positive relationships evident between teachers, children, parents and whānau. Teachers know children and their families well and are keen to build strong learning partnerships between the kindergarten and children’s homes.
Children are happy and purposefully active in the kindergarten. They confidently engage in cooperative and imaginative play with their friends. Children are supported to be aware of the needs of others and how their actions can affect other people. They have well developed social skills, negotiate roles and welcome others into their play.
Teachers value all children and see them as capable learners. They support children to make decisions about their play and to take leadership roles. Children select resources independently and use them in a capable, responsible manner. Children’s interests are evident in their play and the learning environment, and are extended over time.
The kindergarten’s curriculum is based on Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, children’s interests and teacher priorities. Good processes are being established to make planning visible for children, teachers and parents. This includes having attractive wall displays that keep parents up to date and well informed about the programme.
Teachers value parent and community contributions and have sought to build relationships with the local school, the airforce base and the Māori community.
Teachers have a focus on supporting Māori children to experience ongoing success. Whānau are invited to contribute aspects of their culture and to share goals for their children. Teachers have identified a strategic goal to provide more opportunities for children to celebrate New Zealand’s bicultural heritage.
The learning environment is attractively set up to provide interesting areas that invite children to explore. There are many opportunities for children to be physically active and to challenge themselves.
The kindergarten’s focus is now on continuing to strengthen links with families and their new local community. They want to re-establish the strong sustainable, environmental perspective that was evident at their previous premises.
Now that the centre has settled into its new premises, kindergarten staff agree they could:
Teachers are working on further strengthening assessment practices and the recording of children’s learning in portfolios including:
Before the review, the staff and management of Whenuapai 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 Whenuapai Kindergarten will be in three years.
Graham Randell
National Manager Review Services
Northern Region (Acting)
14 August 2013
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 |
Whenuapai, Auckland |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
5105 |
||
|
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 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 24 Girls 23 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori NZ European/Pākehā Other |
6 38 3 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80% Based on funding rates |
80% |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
Review team on site |
June 2013 |
||
|
Date of this report |
14 August 2013 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review (as Hobsonville North Kindergarten |
December 2009 |
|
|
Education Review (as Hosbonville North Kindergarten) |
November 2006 |
||
|
Education Review (as Hobsonville North Kindergarten) |
November 2003 |
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:
Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.
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.