Fantails Childcare - Silverdale

Education institution number:
46293
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
106
Telephone:
Address:

98 Totara Views Road, Silverdale

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Fantails Childcare - Silverdale

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 Fantails Childcare - Silverdale are as follows:

Outcome Indicators

(What the service knows about outcomes for learners)

Whakaū Embedding

Ngā Akatoro Domains

 

Learning Conditions
Organisational Conditions

Whakaū Embedding

Whakaū Embedding

2 Context of the Service

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale is a well-established, privately owned education and care centre. It is one of three centres in the Fantails group. The group manager oversees health and safety, and the centre manager is responsible for day-to-day operations, supported by an experienced supervisor. All three leaders are qualified teachers. The service provides programmes in four age specific groups for children from a highly culturally diverse community.

3 Summary of findings

Children relate easily to adults and engage in activities for sustained periods. The curriculum provides opportunities for children to learn early numeracy and literacy concepts. Online assessment portfolios allow parents to follow children’s learning progress.

The easily accessible learning environment supports children to direct their own learning. Teachers know the children and families well, and there is a strong sense of respect and calmness in the centre. They intentionally provide a culture that is highly inclusive of all children.

Infants and toddlers experience a calm and nurturing environment. Teachers are attentive to children, and respectful caring relationships are promoted. Supporting oral language development is a priority and is well promoted through teachers’ role modelling of pronouncing words.

The environment reflects the service’s ongoing commitment to providing a bicultural curriculum. Teachers’ use of te reo and tikanga Māori is carefully interwoven into children’s experiences and considered in routines. Displays in the environment promote and celebrate all children’s cultures, to foster their sense of belonging.

Teachers are embedding the implementation of a responsive curriculum, that is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and which provides equitable opportunities for learning. Leaders and teachers are beginning to recognise inequities in their assessment information. Focused, ongoing and in-depth evaluation of the curriculum and assessment of children’s learning is required to support teachers to:

  • plan and implement experiences that support children to develop their thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills to extend their learning

  • identify teaching strategies that enable them to facilitate learning and replicate these across the curriculum.

A collaborative leadership structure guides the service’s current processes and practices. Service leaders’ robust systems and processes are helping to build shared understanding and promote capability and capacity building across the team. Quality and proactive management enables leaders to embed quality practices that are responsive to the service context.

Teachers’ practice is guided by purposeful professional learning. Their individual goals are thoughtfully planned around the centre’s strategic goals. Internal evaluation includes the use of research and theories to assist teachers to reflect on their practice. More critical reflection is required on what worked well, and what did not, by using good practice indicators to help measure and evaluate outcomes for all learners.

5 Improvement actions

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:

  • Continue to extend children’s critical thinking and learning through planning, deliberate acts of teaching and regular evaluation of assessment for learning practices.

  • Further support teachers’ understanding of evaluation of the curriculum. Include in-depth critical reflection, identification of indicators of good practice to reflect on, measure and identify where practices need to improve, and for whom, to sustain improved outcomes for all learners.

6 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Fantails Childcare - Silverdale 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.

Filivaifale Jason Swann
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

16 September 2022 

7 About the Early Childhood Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale

Profile Number

46293

Profile Number

Silverdale, Auckland

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

110 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

111

Review team on site

July 2022

Date of this report

16 September 2022 

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, March 2019
Education Review, August 2015

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale - 29/03/2019

1 Evaluation of Fantails Childcare - Silverdale

How well placed is Fantails Childcare - Silverdale to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

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

Background

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale, is a privately owned service in the Millwater subdivision. The owners also have a centre in nearby Wainui. The Silverdale centre is licensed for 110 children, including 25 children up to the age of two years. It provides programmes in four age-specific groups. The centre's parent community is increasingly culturally diverse.

The owners have appointed a group manager who works alongside two supervisors, and key teachers in each room. This experienced team leads a large staff, most of whom are qualified teachers. A cook, kitchen helper, administrator and maintenance worker are also part of the team.

The principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, are reflected in centre programmes. The recently reviewed philosophy emphasises welcoming, respectful relationships and promotes a culture where diverse backgrounds, values, traditions and capabilities are embraced. It focuses on providing high quality education that supports children's lifelong learning.

The good practices noted in ERO's 2015 report are well embedded, and teachers have continued to strengthen their practice through professional learning and internal evaluation. Leaders have responded well to areas identified by ERO for ongoing development.

The Review Findings

The very good quality of care and learning is consistent throughout the centre. Children enjoy warm, nurturing relationships in a spacious environment. Teachers know the children and families well and there is a strong sense of respect and calmness in the centre.

Teachers settle babies and toddlers well and respond sensitively to their needs. Toddlers move around the centre freely, enjoy many opportunities to access resources and learn to sustain their play. The aroha and whanaungatanga evident in the infant room, and teaching practices that nurture children's self-management and independence, continue as children advance through the centre.

Thoughtful presentation of the environment and a wide range of resources promote children's creativity and imaginative play. The well designed outdoor play area encourages children to take on physical challenges and explore.

The experienced teaching team works collaboratively and seamlessly. Teachers nurture an inclusive culture, and provide well for children with additional learning needs. Literacy, numeracy and science are woven into children's play. Teachers listen to children's conversations and requests, and their responses promote oral language and extend children's vocabularies. Leaders and teachers continue to reflect on, and consider ways to provide additional challenge for capable learners.

Programme planning is responsive to children's interests. Online assessment portfolios allow parents and their wider whānau to follow children's learning progress. Photos and photo books connect children to home and family, and encourage children to revisit their learning.

Transitions between rooms are managed very well. A specific programme for older children promotes skills that support children as they transition to school. Well-considered connections have been made with the local school and community.

Leaders' and teachers' commitment to, and respect for, bicultural practice is consistently evident. A teacher supports and encourages the use of te reo and tikanga Māori among teachers and children. Leaders have considered further plans to foster teachers' confidence, and continue to develop their knowledge and practice.

The leadership team and teachers have a strong focus on continual improvement. Leaders work collaboratively and support team members well to develop their leadership capability. Teacher appraisals are aligned with the centre's strategic goals and required teaching standards. Teachers' professional learning programmes and internal evaluation also ensure that good quality is maintained. This is impacting positively on outcomes for children. Well-developed strategic and annual plans guide centre operations.

Key Next Steps

Centre leaders agree that key next steps include continuing to:

  • embed te reo and tikanga Māori in daily programmes and practices

  • make children's home languages and cultural identities more visible in their portfolios

  • extend and challenge children's thinking through planning and deliberate acts of teaching.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Fantails Childcare - Silverdale 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.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services Northern

Northern Region

29 March 2019

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

Location

Silverdale, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

46293

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

110 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Service roll

129

Gender composition

Girls 51% Boys 49%

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Chinese
African
British
Korean
other ethnic groups

1%
38%
28%
6%
6%
5%
16%

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

January 2019

Date of this report

29 March 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Education Review

August 2015

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.

Fantails Childcare - Silverdale - 28/08/2015

1 Evaluation of Fantails Childcare - Silverdale

How well placed is Fantails Childcare - Silverdale to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

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

Background

Fantails Childcare-Silverdale is a new centre which opened in October 2013. This is their first ERO report. The uniquely designed centre is privately owned and located in the new Millwater subdivision of Silverdale. The centre is licensed for 110 children, including 25 up to the age of two years. Centre management are carefully administering the rapid roll growth that is occurring in the centre at present. Efficient management, a highly effective and collaborative leadership structure and cohesive teaching teams underpin centre operations.

The centre’s overarching philosophy and the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, support children’s learning. A noteworthy feature of the centre philosophy is the provision of a quality education that has a significant and lasting impact on children’s overall development. Strong support for the importance of deep listening to children, teachers and parents is a significant feature of the centre.

Sound foundations have been set for formal and spontaneous self-review procedures and documentation. Centre leaders and teachers are developing a culture of reflection and are seeking opinions and information from parents and professional agencies to ensure optimal outcomes for children’s learning. Children’s wellbeing and sense of belonging are nurtured through positive transitions into, within and out of the centre. These affirming features contribute to promoting positive outcomes for children.

The Review Findings

Children, parents and whānau are warmly welcomed into the centre. Teachers know their families well. Individual children are honoured and valued for who they are. Teachers include and respond to children’s diverse cultures and learning needs. The centre values its wider community and is establishing positive relationships with other early childhood services and schools. As a result, teachers are helping to develop a community of learners.

Children are settled and engaged in their learning. Their relationships with other children and adults are respectful and caring. Children play cooperatively and engage in meaningful conversations with each other and with teachers. They have opportunities to lead and revisit their learning. Children move freely between the junior and preschool rooms. There is easy access to the spacious outdoor environment. Well resourced learning environments within a modern building complex enhance children’s learning experiences.

Babies and toddlers benefit from a caring and nurturing environment. Teachers are receptive to their needs and respond sensitively to individual children. A focus on listening to children’s ideas and requests guides teachers in their practice and helps to sustain children’s learning and development. Babies and toddlers move freely between the indoor and outdoor environments. Warm and comfortable spaces support children who are yet to be mobile.

High teacher ratios support children in their learning. Teachers facilitate children’s learning and support and challenge children to extend their understanding. They weave literacy, numeracy and science into the curriculum and provide children with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in these areas. Teachers' deep respect for children is evident across the centre.

Programme planning and assessment is responsive to children’s interests and next steps. Teachers’ knowledge of children as learners informs decisions about the programme. Children’s portfolios and teacher’s records of children’s learning are a useful account of their learning and development over time.

Bicultural practice is fostered across the centre. Teachers are committed to acknowledging the distinct place of Māori. The use of te reo and tikanga Māori is valued and encouraged. A recently appointed bicultural officer supports this practice.

Teachers are committed to ongoing professional learning. Clearly defined leadership roles maintain the practice of growing leaders and teacher capability across the centre. Teachers work well together and set their own goals in consultation with senior teachers. Teacher appraisals are aligned to the Practising Teachers’ Criteria. Senior leaders now plan to implement Tātaiako - Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners, into the teachers’ appraisal process.

The centre is well governed and managed. Well developed strategic and annual plans guide centre operations. The centre’s policy framework is a useful and meaningful document. Ongoing self review of these systems and processes ensures that high levels of centre operations are maintained.

Key Next Steps

Centre management, teachers and ERO agree that the key next steps for the centre are to:

  • develop a mission and vision statement to support the centre’s philosophy and the ongoing implementation of the strategic and annual plans
  • deepen the evaluative aspect of centre self review
  • further promote opportunities for children to lead their own inquiry learning
  • continue to strengthen teachers’ practice and skill base.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Fantails Childcare - Silverdale 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.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of Fantails Childcare - Silverdale will be in three years. 

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern (Acting)

28 August 2015

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

Location

Millwater, Silverdale

Ministry of Education profile number

46293

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

110 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Service roll

120

Gender composition

Boys 55% Girls 45%

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Chinese

Indian

African

German

Latin American

Korean

Polish

Samoan

others

8%

61%

7%

5%

3%

3%

3%

2%

1%

1%

6%

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

July 2015

Date of this report

28 August 2015

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

No previous ERO reports

 

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 and Next Review

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:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

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.