70 Queen Street, Levin
View on mapAkarangi | 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 Learning Links Horowhenua are as follows:
Outcome Indicators(What the service knows about outcomes for learners) |
Whakaū Embedding |
Ngā Akatoro Domains |
|
Learning ConditionsOrganisational Conditions |
Whāngai Establishing Whakaū Embedding |
Learning Links Horowhenua is one of nine childcare services under the governance of Learning Links Childcare Limited. The service has a new centre manager. Almost half of the children attending are Māori, and a small number have Pacific heritages. The centre philosophy aspires to develop every child to reach their full potential.
Children learn through a curriculum that promotes their social and emotional wellbeing. They have opportunities to explore and be challenged. Infants and toddlers play and lead their own learning within a calm, slow-paced environment. Their verbal and non-verbal cues are responded to. Plans for children requiring additional support are inclusive of their identified needs. Children’s sense of belonging is prioritised.
An increased focus on cultures, languages and identity has contributed to the visibility of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in the environment. Children can hear and see some te ao Māori in day-to-day activities. Most cultures are regularly celebrated. Some Pacific resources are accessible to children. The service has recognised a need to deepen relationships with Pacific families to support their children’s needs.
Teachers use effective assessment, planning and evaluation to identify the individual needs of children, and priority is given to oral language. They work in partnership with parents and provide opportunities to learn about the local environment. Children confidently share their ideas and express themselves.
Internal evaluation to support ongoing improvement is established. Professional discussions, reflective practice and feedback are actively encouraged. Further development is needed to understand how well changes in practice are improving outcomes for individuals and groups of children.
Leaders and those responsible for governance have developed robust systems and processes that promote equitable access to learning. They actively seek out parent and whānau feedback to support the wellbeing of all children. Trust and collaboration between teachers, leaders and those with roles in governance support decision making. Professional development focuses on building the capability of leaders and teachers.
Learning Links Horowhenua will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:
Develop relationships with Pacific families to deepen knowledge and increase teacher capability to respond to the cultures, languages and identity of Pacific children.
Strengthen the monitoring of improvement actions and the evaluation of their impact on children’s outcomes.
Before the review, the staff and management of Learning Links Horowhenua 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)
6 November 2023
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
Learning Links Horowhenua |
|
Profile Number |
50051 |
|
Location |
Levin |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
38 children, including up to 15 aged under 2 |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
|
Service roll |
46 |
|
Review team on site |
July 2023 |
|
Date of this report |
6 November 2023 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Akanuku | Assurance Review, February 2020; Education Review, November 2016 |
Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
|
Curriculum |
Meeting |
|
Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
|
Health and safety |
Meeting |
|
Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Learning Links Horowhenua, formerly known as Horowhenua Educare, is located in Levin. The service provides all-day education and care for 38 children. In June 2018, it was purchased by Learning Links Childcare who support governance and management. Day-to-day management is the responsibility of the centre manager.Most teachers are qualified.
Revised curriculum expectations inform planning and assessment practice aligned to the principles of Te Whāriki,the early childhood curriculum. Children follow their interests in an inclusive environment. The inclusion of te ao Māori emphasises local histories and place-based learning experiences. The cultural heritage and language of individuals is acknowledged by teachers.
Parents, whānau and families are provided with regular opportunities to know about their child’s learning and contribute their aspirations. Governance and management work together to monitor and make changes when required.
A next step is deepen teachers’ and leaders’ understanding of the revised curriculum expectations through further targeted professional learning and development opportunities.
The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
13 February 2020
| Early Childhood Service Name | Learning Links Horowhenua |
| Profile Number | 50051 |
|
Location |
Levin |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
38 children, including up to 15 aged under 2. |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80%+ |
|
Reported ratio of staff to children under 2 |
1:4 - Better than regulatory standards. |
|
Reported ratio of staff to children over 2 |
1:8 - Better than regulatory standards. |
|
Service roll |
45 |
|
Gender composition |
Female 24, Male 21 |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori 20 NZ European/Pākehā 16 Pacific 5 Other ethnic groups 4 |
|
Review team on site |
28 January 2020 |
|
Date of this report |
13 February 2020 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) These are available at www.ero.govt.nz |
Education Review November 2016 Education Review November 2013 Education Review June 2010 |
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.
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:
As part of an 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:
As part of an Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through: