Part 1: Introduction

This document gives information about the process that the Education Review Office (ERO) uses for reviews of home-based education and care services.

ERO’s review methodology is centred on positive learning outcomes for children and is underpinned by sound evaluation theory and current educational theory.

The methodology:

• focuses on the capacity of the early childhood service to sustain and improve outcomes for children
• is flexible, and responsive to each service’s context and stage of development
• builds upon services’ internal evaluation processes and information
• retains an accountability function and contributes to service improvements
• incorporates processes for collecting information about government priorities
• is responsive to Government goals for the early childhood sector.

Through its evaluation practice, ERO aims to build the capacity of the early childhood sector to review, evaluate and improve its own practice.

About ERO

The Education Review Office (ERO) is an independent external evaluation agency. ERO provides assurance to the Government about the quality and effectiveness of schools and early childhood services.

Children and young people are central to ERO’s approach. This is reflected in ERO’s whakataukl and is the foundation for ERO’s purpose statement.

ERO’s evaluations prompt change and improvement in individual schools and early childhood services. They take into account the important contextual and cultural dimensions that shape each service.

ERO’s system-wide evaluations also influence national debate and support the Government in the development and implementation of education policy and practice.

ERO and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Te Tiriti o Waitangi informs the development and implementation of all policies and procedures in ERO, including its education evaluation approaches. ERO promotes educational success for Maori, as Maori and the realisation of Maori potential.

Ka Hikitia, the Government’s Maori Education Strategy, clearly articulates this aspiration for the education sector.

Conduct during education reviews

Review officers use ERO’s Manual of Standard Procedures and follow the Code of Ethical Conduct for Review Officers.

The procedures allow for flexible and responsive evaluation that reflects the circumstances of individual services. ERO’s Code expects and requires standards of fairness, impartiality, responsibility and trustworthiness. These standards reflect those in the State Services Commission’s Standards of Integrity and Conduct.