35 Wheatley Steet, Naenae, Lower Hutt
View on mapERO’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.
Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
|
Curriculum |
Meeting |
|
Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
|
Health and safety |
Meeting |
|
Governance, management, and administration |
Meeting |
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.
Conductive Education Wellington is a special education service located on Naenae Primary School grounds. A centre manager and a long serving conductor lead the service with a recently qualified teacher and specialist staff. An open plan learning environment with specialist areas caters for group and individual activities.
Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum and Conductive Education philosophy and approaches are woven into the daily programme. Adults providing education and care demonstrate an understanding of children’s development and learning. They prioritise whānau relationships and children’s wellbeing, belonging and communication.
Interactions with children are positive, meaningful, and respectful. The well-resourced and developmentally appropriate learning environment supports the provision of different kinds of indoor and outdoor experiences. Those responsible for governance and management, need to be more familiar with the Regulatory Standards and the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008.
Next steps include:
to explore ways that children could independently, and with support, access their own learning records
adults who engage with children support the rights of each child to be confident in their own culture, particularly Māori children.
During the review, the service provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
sleep procedures that ensure children are checked for warmth, breathing, and general well-being at least every 5-10 minutes, and a record is maintained of the time each child attending the service sleeps
evidence of parental acknowledgement that medicine has been administered
a procedure people should follow if they wish to complain about non-compliance with the Regulations or criteria which includes the local Ministry of Education office contact details
selection and appointment procedures.
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, HS9, HS28, GMA1, GMA7.
Since the onsite review, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
a current Fire Evacuation Scheme approved by the New Zealand Fire Service
records of daily hazards that includes windows and other areas of glass, vandalism, and dangerous objects
evidence that all staff have been Police vetted and these remain current.
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, HS4, HS12, GMA7a.
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
10 August 2022
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
Conductive Education Wellington |
|
Profile Number |
55360 |
|
Location |
Lower Hutt |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
12 children, including up to 4 aged under 2 |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
|
Service roll |
15 |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori 6, NZ European/Pākehā 5, Other ethnic groups 4 |
|
Review team on site |
June 2022 |
|
Date of this report |
10 August 2022 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review, January 2019; Education Review, March 2016. |
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.
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.
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.
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Conductive Education Wellington is a special education service licensed for 12 children including four children up to two years.
Situated on the grounds of Naenae Primary School, an open plan learning environment with specialist areas, caters for group and individual activities. Longstanding volunteer trustees provide governance.
The centre philosophy emphasises supporting children with motor disorders to reach their full potential. The application of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, together with the Conductive Education's philosophy, provides a focus on children's holistic care and education. Respectful relationships between whānau and staff continue to encourage positive outcomes for learners.
The centre has experienced some change to staff since the March 2016 ERO report. In addition, staff roles and responsibilities have been reviewed. This has resulted in the appointment of a centre manager and lead teacher of curriculum in 2017. A long serving conductor leads and implements the Conductive philosophy.
The previous ERO report identified a number of areas for ongoing development. These included assessment for learning, appraisal, self review and annual planning. Progress in these areas has not been sufficient and these remain a priority for improvement.
Children participate and learn in a rich and responsive curriculum that extends their learning and development. Through well considered local excursions children experience the therapeutic benefits of aquatic activities, contact with animals and community interactions.
Staff know children well. They are welcoming and inclusive of the greater community that supports the development of each child. Individualised activities, both sensory and hands on promote children’s physical and cognitive development. Respectful and highly valued interactions between staff and children are sensitive to each child's changing needs and preferences.
Careful coordination of agencies ensures children and their families are well supported. Children and their whānau experience well-considered transitions into, within and beyond the centre. This fosters children's sense of belonging and security. The role of the conductor is integral to this process. Strong advocacy promotes positive outcomes for children and their whānau. This includes accessing specialised equipment for children to engage in their environment and creating tools that help children to attain levels of independence.
Learning-focused interactions support planning that aligns to whānau aspirations. Parents are encouraged and respected for the contribution they make to the learning within the centre and at home. Close and regular communication occurs and progress is celebrated as part of daily interactions.
Infants and toddlers experience attentive care. One-to-one interactions carefully consider children’s temperament and interests. Teachers are affirming and positive within a calm and unhurried learning environment. Interactive routines encourage learning. Literacy and numeracy are promoted through music and rhyme.
Portfolios show teachers noticing and recognising children's learning and progress. Teachers use Te Whāriki to design the learning programme for children, with an emphasis on belonging | mana whenua, to deepen their connections to the Conductive Education Wellington whānau. A strengths-based approach guides practice. Co-constructed goals feature as part of the Conductive Education Plan (CEP) and form the basis for the child's care, learning and development. ERO and leaders agree that a key next step is to strengthen assessment, planning and evaluation practices. This should include whānau feedback about their child's interests and learning goals aligned to Te Whāriki. Clearly identifying the teaching strategies planned, should better support the extension of children's learning.
Kaupapa Māori and reo are evident in the learning environment. This includes manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and aroha being enacted. Leaders, staff and volunteers should continue to develop their shared understanding of Māori concepts. In addition, using the strengths within the centre's Māori community should extend their response to language, culture and identity.
Leaders and teachers are improvement focused. They regularly reflect on aspects of their practice to guide improvement. ERO and leaders agree that a key next step is to develop their understanding and use of internal evaluation to better know the impact of practice on outcomes for children and inform resourcing decisions.
An appraisal process has been implemented and aligns with the centre's philosophy. Further development is required to clearly align teacher appraisal with Teaching Council requirements. This should contribute positively to the centre’s strategic priorities to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
The board and leaders are improvement focused and continue to work on clarifying roles and responsibilities. Board members are highly supportive of the service. Leaders and teachers have a strong commitment to teaching and learning that contributes to positive outcomes for all children. The strategic plan provides some direction for the centre and action plans articulate the work ahead. Further consideration should be given to developing goals that are clear, specific and measurable. This should include how to more effectively support the new leader to continue to build an increased understanding of operational requirements for this service that promote sustainability and improvement.
A key next step is to continue to strengthen the annual plan of work. Timeframes, clarity of roles with resourcing that aligns to priority actions are required to guide practice at all levels. This should support clear direction of expectations each year that support the strategic goals and enable leaders and trustees to more clearly measure impact of resources, teaching and learning programmes.
Priority areas to strengthen include:
assessment for learning
internal evaluation
appraisal
annual planning.
Trustees should also ensure the centre manager is supported to build leadership capability and further develop robust systems and processes for sustainability.
Before the review, the staff and management of Conductive Education Wellington 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:
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.
To improve practice the service provider should:
The next ERO review of Conductive Education Wellington will be in three years.
Alan Wynyard Director Review and Improvement Services
Southern Region
18 January 2019
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 |
Lower Hutt |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
55360 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
12 children, including up to 4 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
15 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Male 9, Female 6 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori |
7 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates |
80% + |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:6 |
Better than minimum requirements |
|
Over 2 |
1:3 |
Better than minimum requirements |
|
|
Review team on site |
November 2018 |
||
|
Date of this report |
18 January 2019 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
March 2016 |
|
|
Education Review |
March 2013 |
||
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.
Conductive Education Wellington is a special education service licensed for up to 12 children including up to four under two. The centre is situated in the grounds of Naenae Primary School. It is governed by the Conductive Education Wellington Trust, which is associated with the New Zealand Foundation for Conductive Education.
The roll has grown to capacity since the 2013 ERO review. Since that time building extensions, enhanced access to digital technology and a sensory garden have improved services and opportunities for children to learn, and extended spaces for visiting parents.
The centre vision is to teach children with motor disorders a way of living that provides them with skills to get the most out of life. The previous report identified a need for staff to further develop assessment, evaluative self review, planning and appraisal processes. While progress has been made, aspects of these areas require further development or refinement.
Professional leadership is provided by the conductor who is supported by a qualified early childhood teacher and specialist assistants. The centre staff work closely with several agencies and organisations to support the delivery of its programmes.
The centre has a positive reporting history with ERO. It continues to work in close partnership with parents and whānau to provide good quality education and care for children.
Conductive Education Wellington is well placed to sustain ongoing improvement and promote positive outcomes for all children. It has responded well to the previous ERO review and strengthened some processes to benefit children.
Children learn in a positive affirming atmosphere. Teachers, teacher aides and conductors interact with children respectfully and provide a caring and supportive environment appropriate to children with diverse needs, dispositions and abilities.
A holistic approach to learning for each child combines the conductive education methods with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The programmes are focused on children developing their physical and cognitive skills and abilities through a wide range of opportunities and planned experiences.
Teachers develop programmes that are responsive to the abilities, needs and aspirations of each child. The conductive programmes provide challenge and are planned in consultation with parents and staff, who meet to discuss individual children’s progress and needs.
Individual conductive education plans (CEPs) record needs, interests, goals and strategies and are reviewed twice a year. A focus on promoting perseverance, independence, success and a strong sense of belonging is evident. Staff regularly reflect on the programmes.
Teaching and learning deliberately integrates additional learning experiences to extend children’s development and potential. Learners enjoy the specialist music lessons, art exploration, sensory and tactile spaces and equipment. Community-based excursions for swimming and riding and planned trips to cultural centres and animal parks, extend children’s learning and promote their wellbeing.
Learning stories vary in depth and quality. They celebrate children’s achievements and growing confidence through challenge and extension of their learning. A new assessment approach is being developed to record what learning is happening and next steps. The lead teacher is developing group and individual learning plans to strengthen links with assessment.
Teachers should continue to develop their understanding and use of assessment and planning by using an approach that incorporates Te Whāriki principles and goals and conductive education plans.
Māori and Pacific cultures are embraced and celebrated. This is done through planned programmes, excursions, festivals and provision for inclusion of the child’s culture and parents’ aspirations. Children under two are well catered for with appropriate programmes and teaching developed for their specific interests, needs and abilities.
Parents and whānau have well developed learner-centred partnerships with centre staff. Parent feedback to ERO and the centre reflects high levels of satisfaction with the care, learning connections and relationships between families and the centre.
Well-planned and considered transition programmes help develop children’s confidence and wellbeing as they move into and out of the centre. A special programme supports transition for children moving into mainstream education.
Self-review practices have improved through the use of professional learning and development (PLD) and structured processes to enhance the quality of teaching and outcomes for children. A recent review of communications including input from parents and whānau, has improved the quality and responsiveness of processes in this area to benefit children. All staff should continue to develop a shared understanding of evidence-based internal evaluation.
Significant and planned initiatives, including study and PLD, promote leadership and increased alignment of conductive programmes with the wider education expectations of the centre. An external mentor programme is being developed to support the lead teacher in her curriculum leadership role.
Teachers are supported to improve their learning and develop their professional capability through study and PLD. Some aspects of the staff appraisal processes such as goal setting have developed since the previous ERO review.
A more robust appraisal cycle and framework needs to be implemented for all teachers and assistants. This should include performance goals related to centre priorities for children, the use of practising teacher criteria, observations and follow-up discussions during the year, and evaluative feedback at the end of the year.
The trust has formalised a strategic vision defining strategies and conditions for achieving expected outcomes and results for children, their carers, parents and whānau. Trustees receive an annual report on activities and operations. Trustees and leaders should regularly review and evaluate how well the centre programmes and practices meet the desired outcomes and results outlined in its strategic plan.
Some centre policies are not regularly reviewed or current so they provide an up-to-date framework for decisions and procedures. ERO affirms trustee’s plans to develop a more robust and consistent policy framework and review process.
Centre leaders and trustees acknowledge that continued development of processes and practices is required, including:
Before the review, the staff and management of Conductive Education Wellington 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 Conductive Education Wellington will be in three years.
Joyce Gebbie
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central
7 March 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 |
Naenae, Lower Hutt |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
55360 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
12 children, including up to 4 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
13 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 7, Girls 6 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori Pākehā Samoan Other ethnic groups |
3 5 3 2 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates |
80% + |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:1 |
Better than minimum requirements |
|
Over 2 |
1:2 |
Better than minimum requirements |
|
|
Review team on site |
December 2015 |
||
|
Date of this report |
7 March 2016 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
March 2013 |
|
|
Education Review |
March 2010 |
||
|
Education Review |
September 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:
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.