29 Campbell Street, Karori, Wellington
View on map|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
Karori Kids Incorporated is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Karori Kids Incorporated is a not-for-profit community centre providing care and education for two-to five year olds. The all-day centre is licensed for 24 children. It is situated in Karori, Wellington, and is governed by a parent committee operating as an incorporated society.
The centre manager, who is also the head teacher and administrator, has responsibility for day-to-day management. Three of the five fulltime teachers are fully registered and two are provisionally certificated.
Since the February 2017 ERO review, the Ministry of Education purchased the centre from Victoria University, returned the land to the Crown and gifted the buildings to Karori Kids Incorporated. The interior of the building, and the outside play areas, have undergone extensive renovations.
Karori Kids' philosophy statement, developed in partnership with families, emphasises respectful collaborative relationships, honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and emphasises holistic learning and being a responsive member of the centre's learning community.
The previous ERO report identified the following areas for improvement: planning, assessing and evaluating children's learning and internal evaluation to identify next steps toward achieving the vision, mission, goals and philosophy of the service.
Warm, responsive relationships are clearly evident. Teachers take time to genuinely listen to children and provide resources and environments that encourage exploration that is meaningful and enjoyable for them. Opportunities for purposeful play support children to lead their learning. The outdoor environment provides many opportunities for children to follow their interests and be creative.
Teaching and learning practices promote positive outcomes for all children. Individual and group interests inform child-centred planning. A wall planning map provides a visual tool to document, track and evaluate key learning themes. Individual profile books clearly articulate children's learning and progress.
A strong bicultural curriculum is threaded through the daily life of the centre. Teachers' frequent use of te reo Māori is integrated meaningfully into the programme and woven throughout children's learning stories. Children are enthusiastic participants in waiata, karakia and the centre's haka.
Each child's language, identity and culture are recognised and celebrated.
Children with additional needs are well supported. Teachers work with families and external support to plan specific strategies to respond to individual needs.
Transition to school is very well supported. The centre has consulted with families and local schools to develop practices that promote a smooth transition to school.
Teachers' and leaders' sound appraisal processes support and promote ongoing development of teaching practice. Teachers work collaboratively to provide each other with feedback in relation to the Standards for the Teaching Profession. Ongoing professional development responds to teacher interests and the centre's strategic focus.
The centre manager fosters collaborative ways of working with all involved in the centre. A strong commitment to teaching and learning is promoted and contributes to positive outcomes for all children.
A clear vision and philosophy sets the direction for the centre and is evident in practice. The useful, well-documented strategic plan includes goals informed by parent consultation and expected outcomes for future evaluation. Strategic goals are supported by appropriate actions and resources. The parent committee is focused on continuing improvement and has recently reviewed their governance practice.
Committee members, the manager and teachers use a sound self-review process to evaluate the effectiveness of centre processes and progress towards strategic goals. Increased emphasis on evaluation in relation to expected outcomes, particularly for children, should strengthen this process.
ERO and leaders agree that the next step is to:
strengthen internal evaluation with a clearer focus on expected outcomes for children.
Before the review, the staff and management of Karori Kids Incorporated 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.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region - Te Tai Tini
4 May 2020
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.
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Location |
Wellington |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
60230 |
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Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
24 children over 2 years |
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Service roll |
24 |
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Gender composition |
Male 15, Female 9 |
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Ethnic composition |
NZ European/Pākehā |
16 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% + |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:6 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
December 2019 |
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Date of this report |
4 May 2020 |
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Most recent ERO reports |
Education Review |
February 2017 |
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Education Review |
February 2014 |
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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 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.
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.
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Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Karori Kids Incorporated is an all day education and care facility licensed for 22 children, including one child aged up to two. It is situated in Karori, Wellington and governed by a parent committee operating as an incorporated society.
The centre manager, who is also the supervisor and administrator, is delegated responsibility for day-to-day management. At present, all children enrolled at the centre are over 2 years old and come from a range of cultural backgrounds. None identify as Maori.
The centre's vision is to 'provide quality education and care within a family environment in the heart of the Karori community'. This is underpinned by its mission 'to inspire courageous investigators within a secure, nurturing learning community'.
Karori Kids' philosophy statement, developed in partnership with families, emphasises the importance of celebrating children's successes, maintaining respectful, caring relationships, growing children's ideas and knowledge, and encouraging curiosity and problem solving. It respects and celebrates Te Tiriti o Waitangi and other cultures.
The February 2014 Supplementary ERO review was positive. Good progress had been made since the 2013 ERO report. It affirmed the next steps identified by the centre manager to further develop assessment for learning, evaluate practice in relation to the philosophy, and continue to explore ways to provide a curriculum that values the language, culture and identities of Māori children.
Since the 2014 ERO review a new teaching team has been appointed. Most teachers are fully registered. They are participating in professional learning and development to introduce an inquiry approach to learning that is clearly linked to Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum statement.
Karori Kids Incorporated is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children. A family-like atmosphere is apparent, together with many aspects outlined in the philosophy statement. Diversity is valued and celebrated, and te reo me ngā tikanga Māori are woven into the programme.
Children happily engage in a range of self-initiated learning activities. They enjoy creative and imaginary play as they explore the well-resourced environment. Children are actively involved in learning and sustain play for a considerable period of time. They are developing as confident, competent learners.
Children are curious and approach teachers and other adults to ask questions and share knowledge. Teachers readily respond to their needs and participate in the learning activities. Relationships within the centre are warm, positive and respectful. Through children's learning inquiries, there is further opportunity to develop programme planning, assessment and evaluation, including for children with special needs and abilities.
Teachers know the children and their families well. Children's learning is clearly visible in centre displays. Families contribute to the programme through discussions with teachers and the use of digital technologies that give them easy access to their child's learning stories and photographs. The manager acknowledges the need to document each child's learning journey to show progress over time and feedback to families about the aspirations they have for their children.
Children are well supported when they transition to school. Teachers have worked with other centres and the local school to share practices. The centre's 'thunderbirds' programme for older children encourages their problem solving and self-help skills and competencies, together with literacy and numeracy. School visits support the transition process.
The centre manager provides good leadership and promotes collaborative teamwork. The recently introduced teachers' inquiry approach is well documented. Teachers are gaining a good understanding about this approach through coaching and professional development. It includes good guidelines for appraising teachers' practices and these are appropriately implemented.
Strong, knowledgeable leadership is provided by the chairperson of the parent committee. The centre's vision, mission and philosophy guide all operations. Strategic and annual plans are displayed in the centre and the related actions are regularly monitored to measure progress. Clear understandings about governance and management roles are apparent.
The centre manager, teachers and the parent committee are improvement focused. Aspects of the centre's operations have been informally and formally reviewed. The manager acknowledges the teaching team has yet to develop shared understandings about internal evaluation to strengthen this process.
ERO affirms the next steps identified by the centre manager to:
continue developing programme planning, assessment and evaluation
gain shared understandings about internal evaluation and how to best document planned evaluations.
Findings from internal evaluation should help teachers and the parent committee identify what is going well and next steps for improvement towards achieving the centre's vision, mission, goals and philosophy.
Before the review, the staff and management of Karori Kids Incorporated 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 Karori Kids Incorporated will be in three years.
Joyce Gebbie
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central
20 February 2017
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 |
Wellington |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
60230 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
22 children, including up to 1 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
22 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Girls 12, Boys 10 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Pākehā Chinese Indian Samoan |
13 6 2 1 |
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|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% + |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:5 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
December 2016 |
||
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Date of this report |
20 February 2017 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s)
|
Supplementary Review |
February 2014 |
|
|
Supplementary Review |
February 2013 |
||
|
Education Review |
March 2012 |
||
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.