ADDI Enrichment Academy

Findings

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that ADDI Enrichment Academy meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.

1 Background

The Chief Review Officer has a statutory duty to report on the performance of private schools throughout New Zealand.

Section 35I of the Education Act 1989, requires the Education Review Office (ERO) to review private schools between 6 and 12 months after they have been provisionally registered, and to report to the Ministry of Education for the Secretary to consider full registration.

This ERO review follows the provisional registration of the school by the Ministry of Education in August 2017, and focuses on whether the school now meets the criteria for full registration as a private school.

ADDI Enrichment Academy operates under the umbrella of the Central Plateau Enrichment Academy, a registered charity. The school caters for students in Years 1 to 13. The current roll of ten students include two who identify as Māori. Three of the students attend the school on a part-time basis for two to three days a week. All of the students have additional learning needs, including two who receive MOE Ongoing Resource Scheme (ORS) funding. The organisation also operates before and after school care programmes, as well as one-day programmes for children with special learning needs from the wider Taupo area.

The school is led by the managing director who is an experienced primary school principal. She provides professional support for the teaching team. All the teaching staff are fully qualified and includes one full time and several part time teachers. The teaching team is supported by several skilled teacher aides.

Students work on an individualised programme for most of the week and also participate in the one-day programmes on Thursdays. One student, who is in Year 10, is also enrolled in Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu to undertake correspondence courses and another is jointly enrolled with the Northern Health School.

2 Criteria for Registration

The criteria for registration are that the school:

a) has premises that are suitable, as described in section 35D; and

b) usually provides tuition for 9 or more students who are of or over the age of 5 years but are under the age of 16 years; and

c) has staffing that is suitable to the age range and level of its students, the curriculum taught at the school, and the size of the school; and

d) has equipment that is suitable for the curriculum being delivered or to be delivered at the school; and

e) has a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment and makes details of the curriculum and its programme for delivery available for parents; and

f) has suitable tuition standards, as described in section 35F; and

g) has managers who are fit and proper persons (as described in section 35G) to be managers of a private school.

This report was prepared in accordance with standard procedures approved by the Chief Review officer.

ADDI Enrichment Academy meets the criteria for registration as a private school.

The school has suitable premises and resources for the number of students enrolled. There are several class teaching spaces as well as separate withdrawal rooms that are suitable for individual and small group teaching. Outdoor play spaces include a courtyard area as well as gardens and a recently developed sandpit.

The school’s curriculum reflects the breadth of The New Zealand Curriculum. Appropriate emphasis is placed on literacy and mathematics learning. Priority is given to incorporating frequent excursions that prepare students to participate in community and family events. Individualised learning programmes are implemented using weekly contracts that are shared with parents and self-monitored by most students. Parents are well informed about the school’s curriculum and their children’s learning through an on-line reporting system, and regular formal and informal meetings with teachers.

Students’ wellbeing, engagement and learning is enhanced by very high adult to student ratios. Teachers work collaboratively in the best interests of students. They use effective teaching strategies to promote student learning. The teaching team have positive and affirming relationships with students and their parents. There are high expectations for students’ learning and behaviour. Leaders should give consideration to accessing external professional learning and development for the teaching team. This should focus on further strengthening their knowledge and expertise in promoting positive outcomes for students with high learning and behaviour needs.

School leaders are fit and proper persons to be managers of a private school. They are supportive of the teaching team, children and families. Leaders model effective practice for teachers and teacher aides. They have established useful assessment processes to identify students’ achievement and next learning steps. They should now consider further developing these processes to enable them to monitor students’ progress and achievement over time. An appropriate policy framework has been developed to guide school operations and meet legislative requirements.

Actions Required

Urgent priority needs to be given to liaising with the MOE, other schools in the area, and the families of three students who are only attending the school on a part time basis. 

3 Conclusion

On the basis of the information obtained during the review, ERO considers that ADDI Enrichment Academy meets the criteria for registration as a private school set out in the Education Act 1989.

Lynda Pura-Watson
Deputy Chief Review Officer

Te Tai Miringa - Waikato / Bay of Plenty Region

19 January 2018

About the School