Education reviews in early childhood focus on the factors that contribute to positive outcomes for children. The Education Review Office works with services to identify their strengths and the areas they need to review and develop. The findings assist us in enhancing children’s learning and wellbeing.
Our centre was reviewed in 2021 and will be reviewed again in three years time, as part of the standard review cycle.
The Review Summary of Findings
Leaders and kaiako have strong, shared values and ways of working. They see children as capable and competent learners. Leaders and kaiako collaborate to develop and maintain responsive, reciprocal and respectful relationships and partnerships with children, parents, whānau and the local education community.
Kaiako carefully consider transitions into and through the service that are tailored to each child providing time for Kaiako to know them in the context of their family and culture. Children with additional learning needs are well supported to succeed within an inclusive learning environment.
The use of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, is highly evident in assessment, planning and evaluation processes and underpins the learning priorities the service has for children. Kaiako deliberately use the learning outcomes from Te Whāriki in assessment for learning practices to guide and show children’s progress and achievement over time.
Kaiako value children’s diverse languages cultures and identities, leaders agree they could make this consistently evident in assessment documentation. Evaluation of group planning describes learning however more depth is required to explicitly show how effective teaching improves outcomes for children’s learning.
Leaders and kaiako design and implement a responsive and rich curriculum that enhances children’s mana and identity as a learner. Children have a strong sense of belonging and agency. Kaiako are intentional about giving them the space and time to lead their own learning. Regular, relevant experiences at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School provide further opportunities for extension. Te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are also well integrated into the daily learning programme.
Children’s learning is enhanced through leaders and kaiako working as a professional learning community. Evaluation, inquiry and knowledge building are embedded in the policies, systems, processes and practice that contribute to plans and actions to realise the vision, values, goals and priorities for children’s learning.
Leaders effectively use the strengths of kaiako to ensure that there is relational trust at every level to encourage collaboration, and sustained improvement. They advocate and work alongside children, parents and whānau to promote equitable outcomes for all children.