Northland Community Pre-School

Education institution number:
46130
Service type:
Education & Care Service
Total roll:
34
Telephone:
Address:

137 Mairangi Road, Northland, Wellington

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Northland Community Pre-School

1 ERO’s Judgements 

Akarangi | 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 are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. Judgements are made in relation to the Outcomes Indicators, Learning and Organisational Conditions. The Evaluation Judgement Rubric derived from the indicators, is used to inform ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence.  

ERO’s judgements for ​Northland Community Pre-School​ are as follows: 

Outcome Indicators 

(What the service knows about outcomes for learners) 

​​Whāngai Establishing​ 

Ngā Akatoro Domains 

 
Learning Conditions 
Organisational Conditions 
​​Whakaū Embedding​ 
Whakaū Embedding​ 

2 Context of the Service 

Northland Community Pre-School is a not-for-profit service managed by a parent committee. The daily operations are managed by the centre manager. A small number of children attending identify as Māori or of Pacific heritage. The service has made some progress in areas identified for improvement in the previous 2022 ERO report. 

3 Summary of findings 

Children actively engage in a curriculum where they experience opportunities to be creative and independent. They lead their own and group learning and have access to a range of resources. Infants learn in a calm, unhurried environment where their verbal and non-verbal cues and signals are responded to. Intentional teaching fosters children’s developing oral language. Children with additional learning needs are well supported. Children’s sense of belonging is valued. 

Leaders and teachers are making positive progress to integrate te reo Māori and tikanga Māori through their daily practice. Teachers purposefully engage children through Atua Māori, pūrākau (storytelling), karakia, tuakana-teina (older-younger child) relationships and waiata. Māori children are able to see themselves reflected through the curriculum. Regular celebrations highlight individual children’s cultures. The mana of the child is enhanced. 

Assessment and planning celebrate children’s identity as learners. The goals and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, are used variably to guide individual and group planning. They are yet to consistently underpin assessment of children’s learning. Teachers work in partnership with parents and whānau to promote and sustain connections to the local community. Implementation of culture, language, and identity of diverse learners through assessment, planning and evaluation continues to be a focus for improvement. 

Leaders foster collaborative relationships to improve the quality of teaching practices and learning. An internal evaluation framework supports leaders and teachers to identify areas for improvement and engage in meaningful decision making across the curriculum. The progress and focus of systems, processes, and practices, have been effectively guiding the service. The service is beginning to identify progress towards achieving equity of inclusion, access, experiences and outcomes for children. 

4 Improvement actions 

​Northland Community Pre-School​ will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning: 

  • Consistently draw on the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, to reflect the developing capabilities of children over time within documented assessment, planning and evaluation. 
  • Increase the visibility of each child’s cultural narratives through assessment and planning of the curriculum. 
  • Continue to build teachers’ knowledge and understanding of internal evaluation to better identify the impact of teaching and changes to practice for individuals and groups of children. 

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements 

Before the review, the staff and management of ​Northland Community Pre-School​ completed an ERO 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; safety checking; teacher registration; ratios) 
  • relevant evacuation procedures and practices. 

All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements. 

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE) 

​29 July 2024​ 

6 About the Early Childhood Service  

Early Childhood Service Name​Northland Community Pre-School​ 
Profile Number46130​ 
LocationNorthland, Wellington​ 
Service type  ​Education and care service​ 
Number licensed for  30 children, including up to 10 aged under 2 
Percentage of qualified teachers  ​100%​ 
Service roll 29 
Review team on site May 2024  
Date of this report ​29 July 2024​ 
Most recent ERO report(s) Akanuku | Assurance Review​, ​July 2022​; ​Education Review​, ​May 2020​ 

Northland Community Pre-School

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.

ERO’s Judgement

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

CurriculumMeeting
Premises and facilitiesMeeting
Health and safetyMeeting
Governance, management, and administrationMeeting

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed non-compliances and is now taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Northland Community Pre-School managed by a parent committee, is a not-for-profit service. A recently appointed supervisor manages day-to-day operations with a team of fully certificated teachers. Some progress has been made in updating policies, developing the bicultural curriculum, and reflecting children’s cultures in documentation since the 2020 report.

Summary of Review Findings

Teachers engage in meaningful, positive interactions with children. Promoting rich oral language is a feature of the curriculum. Assessment information shows teachers responding to children’s interests and recognising their learning dispositions. However, the curriculum is yet to be consistently informed by planning that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning within the context of their family.

A well-resourced learning environment supports the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences. Internal evaluation processes are established. Suitable human resource management practices including appraisal and professional development are in place. Better implementation of health and safety practices is required.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include strengthening the quality of planning and assessment for learning, particularly in relation to:   

  • integrating te reo me ngā tikanga through daily practice
  • implementing clear expectations for assessment and planning for learning, and regularly evaluate children's progress over time against the learning outcomes from Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum.  

Actions for Compliance

Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:  

  • the curriculum is informed by planning, that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning, their interests, whānau, and life contexts
  • evidence of a current Fire Evacuation Scheme approved by the New Zealand Fire Service
  • a procedure that ensures sleeping children are checked for warmth, breathing, and general wellbeing at least every 10 minutes
  • daily hazards checks include all aspects of the licensing criteria; and a documented risk management system shows how hazards are eliminated, isolated or minimised
  • a regular or special excursion is approved by the person responsible prior to the excursion taking place
  • records that show that adults who administer medicine to children are provided with information and/or training.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, C2, HS4, HS9, HS12, HS17, HS29.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

20 July 2022 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name:Northland Community Pre-School
Profile Number46130
LocationWellington
Service typeEducation and care service
Number licensed for30 children, including up to 10 aged under 2
Percentage of qualified teachers100%
Service roll33
Ethnic compositionNZ European/Pākehā 28, Other ethnic groups 5
Review team on siteJune 2022
Date of this report20 July 2022
Most recent ERO report(s)Education Review, May 2020; Education Review, April 2017

General Information about Assurance Reviews

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.

ERO undertakes an Akanuku | Assurance Review process in any centre-based service:

  • having its first ERO review – including if it is part of a governing organisation
  • previously identified as ‘not well placed’ or ‘requiring further development’
  • that has moved from a provisional to a full licence
  • that have been re-licenced due to a change of ownership
  • where an Akanuku | Assurance Review process is determined to be appropriate.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

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:

  • curriculum
  • premises and facilities
  • health and safety practices
  • governance, management, and administration.

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:

  • 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 certification; ratios)
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through:

  • discussions with those involved in the service
  • consideration of relevant documentation, including the implementation of health and safety systems
  • observations of the environment/premises, curriculum implementation and teaching practice.

Northland Community Pre-School

1 Evaluation of Northland Community Pre-School

How well placed is Northland Community Pre-School to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Northland Community Pre-School requires further development to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

Northland Community Pre-School is licensed to provide early childhood education for 30 children, including 10 up to two years old. It is a not-for-profit centre managed by a parent-elected committee and serves a diverse ethnic community.

Day-to-day operations of this service are the responsibility of the supervisor, who leads a team of four registered teachers. Since the April 2017 ERO review staffing has remained stable.

A welcoming, rich learning environment, guided by children’s interests and capabilities which nurture and meet the needs of tamariki, kaiako and whānau, is central to the centre's recently reviewed philosophy. Teachers’ practice is guided by parent aspirations, community values, Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi. It is strongly underpinned by values of whanaungatanga, belonging, and mana atua (wellbeing). The service’s aspirations are for tamariki to be happy, confident, resilient, keen learners and valued members of their wider community.

The previous 2017 ERO evaluation findings recommended that the teaching team strengthen and further develop: bicultural practices, understanding success for Māori, support for transition to school, assessment practice, appraisal, internal evaluation and the alignment of planned reviews with long-term planning. Progress is evident, however appraisal remains an area requiring improvement.

The Review Findings

Northland Community Pre-School’s vision and values are strongly promoted, shared and enacted by the children, the teaching team and the supportive community. A welcoming, inclusive culture, where all children are valued, is deliberately fostered by leaders and teachers.

Highly engaged children of all ages play and learn together in well-resourced indoor and outdoor environments. Children under two years benefit from attentive, responsive teachers who promote a strong sense of security and belonging. Older children are encouraged to support younger children.

Imaginative and creative play is intentionally promoted. Science, literacy and mathematics are effectively woven through the curriculum. Environmental sustainability and kaitiakitanga, guardianship of the land, is a strong focus.

Children are seen as confident, competent learners. Teachers closely observe their emerging interests, and plan collaboratively to deepen and extend their learning. Profile books consistently capture children's discoveries, experimentations and emerging understandings. A next step is to ensure their language, culture and identity are well reflected and represented in all documentation.

The teaching team effectively supports and guides children’s learning through group planning. This is strongly child-led and forms the basis of the enacted curriculum. Thoughtful wall displays clearly document children's learning discoveries and outcomes, and keep parents and whānau well informed.

The teaching team is improvement focused, collaborative and values the skills and strengths of each team member. Internal evaluation is well understood and results in positive outcomes for children.

Inclusive practice is highly evident. Children with additional needs are very well supported to improve and enhance their learning, in partnership with parents. Appropriate assistance is accessed as required.

The learning environment strongly reflects the cultures of all children. An important next step is for teachers to continue this journey with a strong focus on te reo and te ao Māori.

Transitions into the pre-school are well supported by a collective team approach, based on individual children’s needs. Leaders and teachers have identified the need to build relationships with local primary schools.

Appraisal remains an area for significant improvement. ERO also identified this as a priority in the centre's 2014 and 2017 reports. The policy and procedures require review and updating to reflect legislation. All teachers should have a robust appraisal process that includes targeted observations of their practice linked to identified goals, formal documented meetings and an annual summary report.

The parent committee receives useful information about centre operations from the supervisor. To improve practice, policies and procedures must be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current legislation.

Key Next Steps

Key next steps for leaders and teachers are to:

  • strongly reflect children's culture, language and identity in centre documentation
  • continue to develop knowledge of the bicultural curriculum
  • review and update policies.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Northland Community Pre-School 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.

Actions for compliance

ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to governance and management, and health and safety. To meet requirements the service needs to improve its performance in the following areas:

  • suitable human resource practices are implemented, specifically a system of regular appraisal
  • heavy objects that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage should be secured.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA7, HS6]

Since the onsite stage of the review the service has provided evidence that the safety issue related to heavy objects has been addressed.

To improve other compliance practice the service should:

  • ensure that sleep monitoring records are consistently completed
  • update the personnel policy to specifically reference the Children's Act 2014 in the appointment policy.

Development Plan Recommendation

ERO recommends that the service, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, develops a plan to address the key next steps and actions outlined in this report.

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region - Te Tai Tini

20 May 2020

The Purpose of ERO Reports

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.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

LocationWellington
Ministry of Education profile number46130
Licence typeEducation & Care Service
Licensed underEducation (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008
Number licensed for30 children, including up to 10 aged under 2
Service roll43
Gender compositionBoys 27, Girls 16
Ethnic compositionNZ European/Pākehā
Chinese 
Other ethnic groups
25 

15
Percentage of qualified teachers80% +
Reported ratios of staff to childrenUnder 21:4Better than minimum requirements
Over 21:8Better than minimum requirements
Review team on siteDecember 2019
Date of this report20 May 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Education ReviewApril 2017
Education ReviewApril 2014
Education ReviewMay 2011

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

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.

ERO’s Overall Judgement

The overall judgement that ERO makes will depend on how well the service promotes positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed
  • Well placed
  • Requires further development
  • Not well placed

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

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.