72 Beatty Street, South New Brighton, Christchurch
View on map|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
South Brighton Playcentre is well placed to promote positive outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
South Brighton Playcentre operates under the guidance of the Canterbury Playcentre Association. The playcentre is a parent cooperative with parents encouraged to be involved in all aspects of the playcentre's programme and management.
South Brighton Playcentre operates four morning sessions a week. It is located beside, and has a good relationship with, the local school.
The centre has been repaired after damage in the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. A number of families are transient and continue to be impacted by the earthquakes and damage to their homes. The centre provides a much-needed meeting place for families with young children in the area.
The centre has made good progress in meeting the recommendations in the 2012 ERO review report. The association has supported them to effectively implement the association's policies, procedures and plans and become more involved with the parent education programme.
This review was part of a cluster of nine reviews in the Canterbury Playcentre Association.
Children are well supported in their learning. Parents effectively help children to develop their ideas and thinking by asking questions, making suggestions and introducing new resources. Science and promoting sustainable practices are special features of the programme.
The environment is very well presented and resourced. It effectively encourages children to be active explorers and knowledge seekers about their world. Parents make very good use of their knowledge of each child to provide inviting play spaces and activities that engage children of all ages in meaningful and challenging learning.
Children's and parents' wellbeing and learning are well supported by the strong, positive relationships between children and adults. Parents have established many networks to support each other in the centre, participation in parent training and within the wider community. Individual skills are valued and parents benefit from being members of a caring community.
Parents are strongly committed to increasing the bicultural components of the programme and valuing te reo and tikanga Māori. Signage, resources and involvement in the parent education courses are well used to increase parent knowledge, confidence and pride in Māori language and culture. Centre plans include introducing a bicultural session in 2017 to continue to integrate te ao Māori into all aspects of centre life.
Parents willingly share their home cultures to benefit all children. Children often talk in English, Māori and languages of other family cultures. Māori and Pacific families are well supported to share and learn more about their own cultures through the parent education programme and links with other playcentres.
Infants and toddlers are well integrated into the programme. Parents care for all children and share the care and wellbeing of infants and toddlers. Special areas and activities are provided to extend the interests, participation and confidence of these young children. Older children willingly include younger children in their play and support their learning.
Internal evaluation has been used effectively to identify what is going well and where improvements need to occur in child assessment and programme planning. Parents are using an indepth evaluation process to closely monitor progress and further modify plans to achieve successful outcomes for children and parents.
The centre operates effectively as a parent cooperative. The parent group has high expectations that all parents will share their skills, take an active role in the administration of the playcentre and participate in the parent education courses. The group makes very good use of association policies and procedures and support from the association centre support team.
A strategic plan has recently been developed that is clearly based on internal evaluation and closely aligned to the association goals.
The Canterbury Playcentre Association has made significant progress since the 2014 ERO cluster review. They have implemented a strategic plan that effectively identifies goals, plans and progress. The centre support and education teams have been structured to provide more efficient and timely support and guidance for the centres. The parent education programme has become more accessible to parents. Noticeably more parents are participating in all levels of the training and are making good use of this new knowledge in the centres. The centre support team is successfully facilitating the sharing of useful knowledge and practices across centres.
The association has high expectations for every child to experience high quality education and all parents to be actively involved in parent education and the management of the centres. They have established some very useful systems and practices to ensure the sustainability and improvement of the organisation and the centres. This includes effective evaluation and monitoring of the quality of education for parents and improved outcomes for children.
The key next steps for the association are to:
review how well the individual playcentre philosophies are meeting the changing contexts of centres
implement appraisals for the members of the centre support team that align more closely with centre needs and association expectations.
The association, parents and ERO agree that the next key steps for the playcentre include:
strengthening assessment and planning by focusing more on teaching and learning
developing learning partnerships with the local school to strengthen transition practices
embedding strategic planning, monitoring and reporting on the plan goals.
Before the review, the staff and management of South Brighton Playcentre 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.
ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to appraisal. To meet requirements the association needs to improve its performance in the following areas:
implement a system of regular appraisal for members of the Education Support Team.
[Regulation 47 (GMA7) Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008]
The next ERO review of South Brighton Playcentre will be in three years.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Deputy Chief Review Officer Southern/Te Waipounamu
14 March 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.
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Location |
Christchurch |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
70124 |
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Licence type |
Playcentre |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
24 children, including up to 10 aged under two |
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Service roll |
41 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 25; Girls 16 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori Pākehā Cook Island Fijian Other ethnicities |
2 27 2 1 9 |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:1 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Over 2 |
1:5 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
November 2015 |
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Date of this report |
14 March 2017 |
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Most recent ERO reports
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Education Review |
September 2012 |
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Education Review |
May 2008 |
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Education Review |
June 2004 |
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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 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.
South Brighton Playcentre is one of 49 centres administered by the Canterbury Playcentre Association. The association’s education and centre support teams provide support for the centre. The parent cooperative is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the playcentre. This playcentre operates five morning sessions for children aged from birth to school age.
This playcentre has been significantly affected by the recent Canterbury earthquakes. The centre was unable to use its buildings for a significant period of time. The local school provided a classroom for the playcentre to use. This arrangement strengthened the relationship between the playcentre and school. The parent members have responded to the earthquakes by establishing effective support networks with each other. They continue to promote a strong sense of community for children and families. Despite many families needing to find alternative housing, the playcentre cooperative has remained enthusiastic and focused on providing high-quality learning experiences for their children.
Positive features of this playcentre include:
The next steps are for the parent group to:
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.
Before the review, the management of South Brighton Playcentre was invited to consider its priorities for review using guidelines and resources provided by ERO. ERO also used documentation provided by the centre to contribute to the scope of the review.
The detailed priorities for review were then determined following a discussion between the ERO review team and the management and staff. This discussion focused on existing information held by the centre (including self-review information) and the extent to which potential issues for review contributed to positive outcomes for children atSouth Brighton Playcentre.
All ERO education reviews in early childhood focus on the quality of education. For ERO this includes the quality of:
ERO’s findings in these areas are set out below.
The playcentre philosophy highlights the belief that children reach their full potential when parents understand their development and take part in the learning process. At this playcentre, the parent group believes that children learn best when they are able to choose their own play experiences and follow their own ideas. Parents aim for the playcentre to be a positive environment. Adults are expected to work cooperatively to effectively manage the centre and have opportunities to develop friendships with other families in the community. This philosophy was clearly visible in the centre’s practices and operation.
Children benefit from a programme that strongly reflects their emerging interests and ideas. Children make the most of the many opportunities they have to initiate and lead play, and make choices about how they organise their time at the playcentre.
Trusting and mutually respectful relationships are a feature of the playcentre. This includes:
Parents work collaboratively to support children’s learning. They regularly discuss what they recognise about children’s learning and make useful plans to extend children’s interests further. The number of parents undertaking training is increasing. This commitment to training is also resulting in parents increasingly sharing their knowledge with each other to help improve the programme.
The parent group works well together. A good number of active members are sharing the workload of managing the playcentre.
The parent group has now begun to re-establish more robust self-review systems. Although in the early stages of the process, parents are making good use of these reviews to:
Adults interact with children in a range of ways that promote their play and learning. This includes adults:
ERO observed that the high number of adults who chose to remain on session resulted in sustained engagement with individuals and small groups of children. Adults effectively include babies and toddlers in all activities at the playcentre.
Children have many opportunities for exploration in the programme. Adults plan and provide a wide range of learning experiences including many sensory activities, physical challenges and regular opportunities for children to enhance their literacy skills. The outdoor environment is well set out with areas of natural plantings and resources for children to investigate and explore. It reflects the local environment the children and their families live in.
Following the earthquakes, and subsequent temporary relocation of the playcentre, understandably there was less focus on self review, planning and assessment practices. The parent group members are now back in their usual premises and are in a better position to:
Before the review, the staff of South Brighton Playcentre completed an ERO CentreManagementAssurance 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 documentation, including policies, procedures and records of recent use of procedures. ERO also checked elements of the following areas that have a potentially high impact on outcomes for children:
At the time of this review parents had informal systems for identifying and attending to hazards in the environment. Since the onsite stage of the review the parent group has made better use of association systems for recording and sharing information about hazards with centre members and visitors.
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.
Graham Randell
National Manager Review Services
Southern Region
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Type |
Sessional Playcentre |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998 |
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Number licensed for |
22 children, including up to 10 aged under two |
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Roll number |
55 |
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Gender composition |
Girls 30 Boys 25 |
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Ethnic composition |
New Zealand European/Pākehā 35; Māori 4 British 4; German 3; Other Ethnicities 9 |
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Review team on site |
May 2012 |
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Date of this report |
16 July 2012 |
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Previous three ERO reports |
Education Review May 2008 Education Review June 2004 Accountability Review May 1999 |
16 July 2012
These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on South Brighton Playcentre.
South Brighton Playcentre is one of 49 centres administered by the Canterbury Playcentre Association. The association’s education and centre support teams provide support for the centre. The parent cooperative is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the playcentre. This playcentre operates five morning sessions for children aged from birth to school age.
This playcentre has been significantly affected by the recent Canterbury earthquakes. The centre was unable to use its buildings for a significant period of time. The local school provided a classroom for the playcentre to use. This arrangement strengthened the relationship between the playcentre and school. The parent members have responded to the earthquakes by establishing effective support networks with each other. They continue to promote a strong sense of community for children and families. Despite many families needing to find alternative housing, the playcentre cooperative has remained enthusiastic and focused on providing high-quality learning experiences for their children.
Positive features of this playcentre include:
The next steps are for the parent group to:
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interest of the children. Therefore ERO is likely to review the service again in three years.
When ERO has reviewed an early childhood centre we encourage management to inform their community of any follow up action they plan to take. You should talk to the management or contact person if you have any questions about this evaluation, the full ERO report or their future intentions.
If you would like a copy of the full report, please contact the centre or see the ERO website, http://www.ero.govt.nz.
Graham Randell
National Manager Review Services
Southern Region
ERO is an independent, external evaluation agency that undertakes reviews of schools and early childhood services throughout New Zealand.
ERO follows a set of standard procedures to conduct reviews. The purpose of each review is to:
Reviews are intended to focus on outcomes for children and build on each centre’s self review.
ERO’s framework for reviewing and reporting is based on four review strands.
Quality of Education – including the quality of the programme provided for children, the quality of the learning environment and the quality of the interactions between staff and children and how these impact on outcomes for children.
Additional Review Priorities – other aspects of the operation of a centre, may be included in the review. ERO will not include this strand in all reviews.
Compliance with Legal Requirements – assurance that this centre has taken all reasonable steps to meet legal requirements.
ERO reviews do not cover every aspect of centre performance and each ERO report may cover different issues. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to this centre.
Most ERO reports include recommendations for improvement. A recommendation on a particular issue does not necessarily mean that a centre is performing poorly in relation to that issue. There is no direct link between the number of recommendations in this report and the overall performance of this centre.