Diamond Harbour Playcentre

Education institution number:
70044
Service type:
Playcentre
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
16
Telephone:
Address:

Purau Road, Diamond Harbour

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Diamond Harbour Playcentre - 22/08/2019

1 Evaluation of Diamond Harbour Playcentre

How well placed is Diamond Harbour Playcentre to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Diamond Harbour Playcentre is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

Diamond Harbour Playcentre operates as a parent cooperative under the governance and management of the Playcentre Federation, Upper South Island Region. It is licensed for 21 children, including 15 aged under two. The playcentre is open three mornings a week. A new session has recently begun operating, to cater for an increase in enrolments.

The playcentre employs a coordinator and parents are rostered to help at each session. During 2018, the centre operated as an unfunded playcentre for two terms until the coordinator gained parent education qualifications. The Upper South Island Region employs a centre support person and an administrator who regularly visit the centre to support the parents and coordinator.

The centre's philosophy emphasises the important role of parents in children's learning and wellbeing. The importance of building strong relationships between children, adults and families is also valued. The provision of a safe and supportive environment where children can play, learn and take risks is promoted.

Playcentre adults have made good progress towards addressing the recommendations of the 2012 ERO report.

This review was part of a cluster of eight Playcentre reviews in the Playcentre Federation, Upper South Island Region.

The Review Findings

Children and parents enjoy positive and affirming relationships. They know each other well from their regular contact at the centre and within the wider community. Infants, toddlers and young children play well with, and alongside, others. Children are happy and settled.

Children are confident, capable learners who lead their own learning. They are well supported by adults who are respectful and responsive to their interests and needs. Adults work effectively as a cooperative, sharing their skills, knowledge and interests with each other and the children. Older children support younger children to engage in their learning.

Children's learning benefits from a rich and well-resourced programme which is diverse, interesting and challenging. It encompasses their interests and links home and centre learning well. Good use is made of the local community and environment. This includes a strong relationship with the local school and kindergarten, which also supports children's easy transition into school.

Te reo and tikanga Māori are in the early stages of development in the programme. The centre now needs to further develop and embed bicultural practices across centre operations and in documentation. Pacific language and culture is another area that needs more acknowledgement and visibility in the programme.

The centre has a useful process for internal evaluation. A recent internal evaluation has resulted in improvements to the way children's learning is captured in assessment and planning. Adults now need to better document parent aspirations, home cultures and how children's learning will be extended by adults. They also need to strengthen internal evaluation by documenting strategies that have contributed to positive learning outcomes.

Key Next Steps

The Upper South Island Region, the playcentre and ERO agree that the key next steps are for the centre to:

  • better document parent aspirations, home cultures and how identified learning will be extended
  • ensure strategies of adults that have contributed to positive learning outcomes are identified and documented
  • extend the use of te reo and tikanga Māori in the programme and centre documentation
  • acknowledge and make Pacific language and culture more visible in the programme.

Upper South Island Regional Governance

There continues to be significant change occurring with the playcentre's governance and management at regional and federation levels.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Diamond Harbour 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.

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services Southern

Southern Region

22 August 2019

The Purpose of ERO Reports

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.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Christchurch

Ministry of Education profile number

70044

Licence type

Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

21 children, including up to 15 aged under 2

Service roll

37

Gender composition

Boys 15; Girls 10

Ethnic composition

NZ European/Pākehā
Other

31
6

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:1

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:3

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

June 2019

Date of this report

22 August 2019

Most recent ERO reports

Education Review

May 2012

Education Review

September 2008

Education Review

February 2005

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

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.

ERO’s Overall Judgement

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.

Review Coverage

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.

Diamond Harbour Playcentre - 24/05/2012

1 The Education Review Office (ERO) Evaluation

Diamond Harbour Playcentre is one of 49 operating playcentres that are administrated by the Canterbury Playcentre Association. The playcentre is open for three sessions each week.

The playcentre operates as a parent cooperative. Parents help the employed coordinator to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the playcentre. The association offers opportunities for parents to train in the playcentre’s early childhood education training programme.

Coordinators and parents provide a welcoming environment for adults and children. Adults are responsive to meeting the needs of children. Experiences in the wider community help to build on children’s interests.

Children’s learning benefits from the spacious outdoor area that provides many opportunities for them to be involved in physical play and to make discoveries.

The centre has made good progress in addressing the recommendations of the 2008 ERO review. Parents have received support from the association and maintain good relationships with it.

This review occurred during the time of the Canterbury earthquakes. The coordinators and the association have provided a good level of support to families during this time.

The coordinators have identified, and ERO agrees, that the next areas for development are to improve children’s assessment and programme planning; and strengthen the way they review the centre’s programme and operation.

Future Action

ERO is likely to review the playcentre again in three years.

2 Review Priorities

The Focus of the Review

Before the review, the management of Diamond Harbour 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 atDiamond Harbour Playcentre.

All ERO education reviews in early childhood focus on the quality of education. For ERO this includes the quality of:

  • the programme provided for children
  • the learning environment
  • the interactions between children and adults.

ERO’s findings in these areas are set out below.

The Quality of Education

Background

The playcentre programme aims to meet children’s needs in a child-focused mixed-age setting. Parents are recognised as children’s first educators. Family involvement is seen as an integral part of the playcentre. The curriculum document, Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, is the basis for the programme.

Areas of strength
Relationships

ERO observed families being warmly welcomed. Many parents/whānau, in addition to those supervising, spend time at the centre and stay for periods of time. There are positive relationships between children and adults. Children generally play well with and alongside others. Adults were observed working well together and communicating effectively. Some te reo and tikanga Māori was used during conversations between children and adults.

Programme

Children benefit from the wide variety of opportunities and experiences indoors and outdoors. They are confident to make their own choices in the child-led programme. Most adults are actively involved in children’s play. On the day of the review, many children were well engaged in their interests for sustained periods of time. Adults encourage children’s independence. Some adults make good use of questioning to extend on children’s thinking and problem solving.

Environment

Attractive wall displays identify children’s current interests and involvement in the programme. The outdoor environment is spacious and well resourced. Children’s individual profile books are well presented and provide a good record of their interests and participation in a range of activities.

Areas for development and review

Playcentre team leaders are in the early stages of making changes to centre-wide practices. They acknowledge, and ERO agrees, that the next steps are to build on existing assessment and programme planning practices, and to extend aspects of self review.

In assessments by:

  • more clearly identifying children’s learning
  • further developing the next steps for children’s learning.

In planning by:

  • more clearly linking individual children’s assessment information and how this is used to plan the programme
  • describing the practices adults will use to extend children’s learning
  • showing the impact of the planned programme on children’s learning.

In self review by:

  • further developing practices to include the impact of this on learning outcomes for children and on the role of the adult.
Extending bicultural practices

The playcentre team leaders are aware that they need to continue to further integrate te reo and tikanga Māori into the programme.

3 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff of Diamond Harbour Playcentre completed an ERO CentreAssurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklist. In these documents they attested that they have taken all reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations related to:

  • administration
  • health, safety and welfare
  • personnel management
  • financial and property management.

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:

  • emotional safety (including behaviour management, prevention of bullying and abuse)
  • physical safety (including behaviour management, sleeping and supervision practices; accidents and medication; hygiene and routines; travel and excursion policies and procedures)
  • staff qualifications and organisation
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

4 Future Action

ERO is likely to review the playcentre again within three years.

Graham Randell

National Manager Review Services

Southern Region

About the Centre

Type

Sessional, Playcentre

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998

Number licensed for

20 children, including up to 8 aged under two

Roll number

42

Gender composition

Girls 13;

Boys 29

Ethnic composition

New Zealand European/Pākehā 40;

Japanese 2

Review team on site

March 2012

Date of this report

24 May 2012

Previous three ERO reports

Education Review September 2008

Education Review February 2005

Accountability Review December 1999

24 May 2012

To the Parents and Community of Diamond Harbour Playcentre

These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Diamond Harbour Playcentre.

Diamond Harbour Playcentre is one of 49 operating playcentres that are administrated by the Canterbury Playcentre Association. The playcentre is open for three sessions each week.

The playcentre operates as a parent cooperative. Parents help the employed coordinator to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the playcentre. The association offers opportunities for parents to train in the playcentre’s early childhood education training programme.

Coordinators and parents provide a welcoming environment for adults and children. Adults are responsive to meeting the needs of children. Experiences in the wider community help to build on children’s interests.

Children’s learning benefits from the spacious outdoor area that provides many opportunities for them to be involved in physical play and to make discoveries.

The centre has made good progress in addressing the recommendations of the 2008 ERO review. Parents have received support from the association and maintain good relationships with it.

This review occurred during the time of the Canterbury earthquakes. The coordinators and the association have provided a good level of support to families during this time.

The coordinators have identified, and ERO agrees, that the next areas for development are to improve children’s assessment and programme planning; and strengthen the way they review the centre’s programme and operation.

Future Action

ERO is likely to review the playcentre 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

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT REVIEWS

About ERO

ERO is an independent, external evaluation agency that undertakes reviews of schools and early childhood services throughout New Zealand.

About ERO Reviews

ERO follows a set of standard procedures to conduct reviews. The purpose of each review is to:

  • improve quality of education for children in early childhood centres; and
  • provide information to parents, communities and the Government.

Reviews are intended to focus on outcomes for children and build on each centre’s self review.

Review Focus

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.

Review Coverage

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.

Review Recommendations

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.