High quality education and care

The importance of selecting high quality childcare has been recognised as impacting on the success a child can have when they start school. Parents often have difficulty in knowing which aspects are important to look at. In August 2010 ERO (Education Review Office) looked at Quality in Early Childhood Services. They found that change and development in the sector in recent years has led to:

Following is an overview of their report and to find out more visit: http://www.ero.govt.nz/National-Reports/Quality-in-Early-Childhood-Services-August-2010/Introduction  

High quality education and care - an overview

ERO has found that in good quality early childhood services, managers and educators hold high expectations for all children and keep their focus on what really matters. In these services, educators are interested in children - who they are and what they bring to their learning. Educators? interactions with children create opportunities for meaningful conversations that provoke and extend children?s thinking. Assessment practice enables educators to notice, recognise and respond to children?s emerging interests and strengths.

Children who participate in high quality services learn in a safe and inclusive environment where they are respected, supported and challenged in their learning. They are happy, confident learners who are included and listened to. Their progress, achievements and successes are acknowledged and celebrated. Relationships between educators, parents and wh?nau, based on mutual trust and respect, strengthen partnerships for learning.

ERO has found that it is the interweaving of many aspects of practice that contribute to good learning opportunities for infants, toddlers and young children. In high quality services it is the interrelationship between the following features, rather than any one on its own, that underpins the quality of education and care provided.

• leadership
• philosophy
• vision
• relationships and interactions
• teaching and learning
• assessment and planning
• professional learning, qualifications and support
• self review
• management.

In this report each feature is discussed in terms of how it influences quality. The report includes relevant findings from recent national evaluation reports and examples of practice in high quality services drawn from individual service?s education review reports.