ERO Review
19 September 2007
To the Parents and Community of Kiddz Homebased Early Childhood Education Services 65055 and 65071
These are the findings of the Education Review Office’s latest report on Kiddz Homebased Early Childhood Education Services 65055 and 65071.
This report covers two Kiddz Homebased Early Childhood Education Services (65055 and 65071). There are three separately licensed services, two in Christchurch and one in Westport. All licences run under the same policies, procedures and coordinators and were reviewed at the same time at the request of the licensee. This report refers to the two in Christchurch. There is a separate report for the Westport service.
The coordinators support educators in Christchurch and Westport. This review is based on the visits to 50% of educators’ homes across all three licences. As a result of the level of ongoing professional development and support offered to the educators, ERO observed no difference in the standard of education and care that children receive across the three services. The directors hold a Diploma of Teaching or a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning. The directors are also the coordinators.
The service provides education and care for children from birth through to five years of age. Children are cared for in homes of educators who are registered with the service. The coordinators have established a strong philosophy that fosters children’s learning through relationships: relationships with people, places, things and time. This is very evident throughout all aspects of the service.
Since the December 2005 review, the directors have developed a vision statement that clearly outlines what quality looks like for their service. The quality indicators related to children, educators, coordinators and families. The coordinators use this statement in conjunction with the strategic plan for self-review purposes and for being sure they continue to provide high quality education and care. They have a well developed self-review process.
ERO’s review confirmed what the service had already identified as their next steps. The coordinators will continue to develop their assessment practices, and explore ways to involve children and parents more in their child’s learning and increase the opportunities for children to develop an understanding of te reo and tikanga Māori.
ERO’s review focused on the quality of the programme, the learning environment and interactions, and the extent to which these are contributing to children’s learning and development. The review also included an evaluation of the service’s assessment practices and some aspects of health and safety.
Children demonstrate a strong sense of wellbeing and belonging, and are supported by caring, nurturing educators. Their learning and development is fostered through a variety of activities, equipment and community outings. The weekly playgroup provides opportunities for children and educators to have a wider social contact with others in the service. Children can play and learn in a larger group setting and educators can network and support each other and develop friendships.
Music and art are a feature of the service. The coordinators have a strong commitment to providing children with a range of musical experiences. They run a music group at playgroup and often hold music sessions when they visit children at educators’ homes. Working with children and educators, they developed a production that was presented to families. Children’s artwork has been displayed through exhibitions.
The coordinators provide purposeful guidance and support to children, educators and families. They maintain positive, warm relationships through regular contact and work collaboratively with educators to provide good quality care and education for children. They support educators to observe and recognise learning and development, which is well documented in individual children’s portfolios. Parents are kept informed about their children’s learning through a variety of approaches, including the portfolios. Children’s learning is valued and shared.
The coordinators have a strong commitment to providing a safe physical and emotional environment in homes.
Future Action
ERO is confident that the service is being managed in the interests of the children. Therefore ERO will review the service again as part of the regular review cycle.
When ERO has reviewed an early childhood service we encourage management to inform their community of any follow up action they plan to take. You should talk to the management 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 service or see the ERO website, http://www.ero.govt.nz.
Isabell Sinclair Irwin
Area Manager
for Chief Review Officer
