14 Camp Street, Kaniere
View on map|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Kaniere Playcentre is parent led and provides five morning sessions each week for children up to school age. Children come from a range of ethnic backgrounds. It is licensed for up to 45 children and operates from purpose-built facilities next to the local school. The sessions are run by paid team leaders and playcentre members who are gaining playcentre qualifications by being involved in adult-education training provided by the association.
It is one of nine playcentres within the Buller/Westland Playcentre Association. Three of these playcentres operate as certified playgroups. The Association consists of a core group of dedicated, paid and elected members. It provides a framework for centre management and operations, as well as parent-education programmes and personnel to support centre members.
The Buller/Westland Playcentre Association is experiencing a time of change as all playcentre associations throughout New Zealand merge with the New Zealand Playcentre Federation to reduce duplication and make cost savings. This restructure will mean significant changes at the local association level.
The 2012 ERO report noted a number of areas for review and development including planning, assessment and evaluation. Some progress has been made in improving these, however these are areas to continue to develop. The efforts of the playcentre have been appropriately focused on managing the significant changes in office holders and playcentre parents. The priority for the playcentre over the past two years has been on building the education of parents with a core group working towards training to ensure ongoing sustainability.
This review was part of a cluster of five playcentre reviews in the Buller/Westland Playcentre Association.
Children play in a settled and calm environment where parents work alongside their children and join in their play. The playcentre provides support for parents with young children and opportunities for adult friendships as well as children's friendships. The playcentre has well-resourced indoor and outdoor areas. Very young babies are well supported by their parents.
The programmes the team leaders and centre members provide for children are underpinned by the overarching playcentre philosophy of whānau and children learning together in an enjoyable and nurturing learning environment. With the changes in the parent group, the next step is for the playcentre to review its philosophy to ensure it reflects this group's values, beliefs and agreed desired learning outcomes for their children.
Children benefit from a programme where they are supported to make choices, develop self-help skills and independence. The adults have purposeful conversations with children and help them make connections between home and playcentre and the local community. Parents contribute their strengths and skills to the programme. Children's learning is enriched by a range of experiences including:
The playcentre has an annual action plan which outlines key priorities for the smooth operation and improvements to the playcentre. This includes keeping the focus on training to ensure there are enough parents with qualifications to enable them to run the centre. There are a good number of parents in training and the playcentre has a focus on roll growth and sustainability. The community is supportive of the playcentre, including supporting its extensive fundraising efforts.
Recent professional learning and development provided by New Zealand Playcentre Association has helped team leaders and parents improve assessment and planning for children's learning. Since March the session daily diary shows a greater focus on planning activities to support learning and continuity of children's learning. The professional learning has also helped the adults enrich the way science and music are provided for children during sessions. The centre has a framework for self review but this needs further development to be useful. Self review should be guided by an evaluative question and indicators of best practice. Aspects of the programme and centre practice that make the most difference for children's learning should be reviewed.
The Buller/Westland Playcentre Association has a strategic plan to help guide the association work. This, along with each playcentre's annual action plan, should be more formally monitored. Currently the association provides a policy framework for all the playcentres. This will change as the playcentres merge under Playcentre Aotearoa next year. Some policies and procedures within the association need immediate development to give better guidance to playcentres.
These include:
The New Zealand Playcentre Federation, the current Buller/Westland Playcentre Association, playcentre team leaders and parents need to continue to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Kaniere 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:
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:
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 Kaniere Playcentre will be in three years.
Lesley Patterson
Deputy Chief Review Officer Southern
18 August 2016
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 |
Hokitika |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
65209 |
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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 |
45 children, including up to 15 aged under 2 |
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Service roll |
56 |
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Gender composition |
Girls: 30 Boys: 26 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
9 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
Parent Led |
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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 |
June 2016 |
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Date of this report |
18 August 2016 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
May 2012 |
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Education Review |
March 2008 |
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Education Review |
May 2005 |
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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.
This playcentre operates from purpose-built facilities next door to the local school. It operates five mornings a week and has children of varying ages and from a growing range of ethnic backgrounds. The playcentre’s roll has grown significantly over the last two years, with over 50 families now involved.
The playcentre is one of ten parent-led centres that operate under the umbrella of the Buller Westland Playcentre Association. The association provides policy direction for centre operations, as well as administrative services and quality management. Office holders, along with fieldworkers, provide professional advice and support to centres.
Since the last ERO review in March 2008, there have been significant changes in office holders, ongoing parent training and professional development. Team leaders and parents have successfully maintained and built on the many good practices noted during this review.
This playcentre provides children with good quality education and care. Its operation clearly reflects its philosophy.
Particular features of the centre’s programme include:
The playcentre is well led and managed. Delegation holders perform their roles well. Their enthusiasm and teamwork foster a positive culture. Their reflective practices, along with a strong focus on ongoing centre improvement, means the playcentre is in a strong position to continue to develop.
The areas for development and review agreed to by the playcentre management and ERO focus on building on the best of some current practices to further enhance the quality of education for children.
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 Kaniere 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 atKaniere 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.
Office holders, team leaders and parents have continued to develop the centre’s programme and practices. They demonstrate a strong ongoing commitment to making sure the that education and care children receive is consistent with the playcentre’s philosophy.
The centre provides children with a good quality educational programme. Particular features of the programme include:
ERO observed team leaders and parents relate to children in ways that were supportive, respectful and responsive. Their interactions were helping to foster children’s sense of well-being and belonging. Children played cooperatively and were supportive of one another.
Parents actively involve themselves in children’s play. They recognise children’s interests and actively look for opportunities to help foster these. Their interactions make sure that children are provided with, and supported in, making choices. Children were observed involving themselves in a variety of activities for prolonged periods.
The playcentre environment is well maintained, attractive and inviting. Team leaders and parents make good use of the space available to provide children with a wide range of well-presented activities.
A spacious and well-developed outdoor area provides children with plenty of activities that challenge them and encourage exploration.
Children have ready access to, and make good use of, a varied range of resources.
This playcentre is well managed and led. Office holders work towards clear priorities. Systems of delegations make good use of parents’ personal strengths. Teamwork is fostered through centre practices.
Team leaders and office holders:
A reflective culture exists within playcentre personnel, along with a strong commitment to ongoing centre improvement. This culture is supported by some well developed self-review practices. For example, team leaders are currently considering how best to respond to a recent parent survey that identified the need to further recognise children’s cultural heritage.
Team leaders and office holders foster strong links with their community. This has helped to raise the profile of the playcentre within the community and led to an increase in the centre’s roll.
The playcentre management and ERO agree that developments in these areas would help to enhance the centre programme. They include:
Team leaders and parents could enhance children’s learning by:
Before the review, the staff of Kaniere Playcentre completed an ERO CentreAssurance Statement andSelf-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:
In order to improve current practice the managers should:
extend the risk management procedures for the trips and outings they involve children in.
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
About the Centre
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Type |
Sessional |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
30 children, including up to 12 aged under two |
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Roll number |
70 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 38 Girls 32 |
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Ethnic composition |
NZ European/Pākehā 53 Maori 4 Other ethnicities 13 |
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Review team on site |
March 2012 |
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Date of this report |
30 May 2012 |
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Previous three ERO reports |
Education Review March 2008 Education Review May 2005 Accountability Review January 2000 |
30 May 2012
These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Kaniere Playcentre.
This playcentre operates from purpose-built facilities next door to the local school. It operates five mornings a week and has children of varying ages and from a growing range of ethnic backgrounds. The playcentre’s roll has grown significantly over the last two years, with over 50 families now involved.
The playcentre is one of ten parent-led centres that operate under the umbrella of the Buller Westland Playcentre Association. The association provides policy direction for centre operations, as well as administrative services and quality management. Office holders, along with fieldworkers, provide professional advice and support to centres.
Since the last ERO review in March 2008, there have been significant changes in office holders, ongoing parent training and professional development. Team leaders and parents have successfully maintained and built on the many good practices noted during this review.
This playcentre provides children with good quality education and care. Its operation clearly reflects its philosophy.
Particular features of the centre’s programme include:
The playcentre is well led and managed. Delegation holders perform their roles well. Their enthusiasm and teamwork foster a positive culture. Their reflective practices, along with a strong focus on ongoing centre improvement, means the playcentre is in a strong position to continue to develop.
The areas for development and review agreed to by the playcentre management and ERO focus on building on the best of some current practices to further enhance the quality of education for children.
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