Tēnā koutou katoa
I had an interesting meeting recently with folk at the Education Review Office. As you will be aware this year ERO have developed new indicators of quality for centre-based early childhood services in New Zealand and work is ongoing on a revised approach to evaluating quality in these services. This meeting was to introduce the information that will go out to centres explaining the new quality evaluation process. One of the key issues I was keen to raise with ERO is the way Playcentres are currently reviewed in the same way as teacher-led ECEs. It was good to hear that they are open to exploring how Centres should be treated, so perhaps we may see changes that accurately reflect the role and difference of Playcentre. ERO have agreed to work with Playcentre Aotearoa to develop future documentation that reflects the parent-led nature of what we do so that evaluations reflect this. You will soon receive information on quality evaluation as it currently is set out, as the process for advising centres is already well underway. It is important for Centres to be aware of this and we will work as quickly as possible with ERO to ensure that a Playcentre version of this information follows on from what you will soon receive. As always, I will keep you posted.
NSC team meeting
We had a most productive all-day meeting this week. As quite a few of the team are fairly new to Playcentre, it was a great opportunity to come together and discuss a number of pressing issues, particularly in light of the COVID-19 lockdown and the consequent pausing of the restructure.
The recent Government funding grant gives us 12 months breathing space to reshape our organisation. What we are focussed on now is how we proceed with Phase 2 of our restructure, in the knowledge that the Government wants us to come up with a Playcentre model and how that model should be funded. Our full management team is meeting early next month and will provide another opportunity for us to plan for what hopefully will be a prosperous future.
Playcentre Shops
The Playcentre Shop (CanterburyPlaycentre ) has launched a new website (https://playcentreshop.co.nz/). It specialises in great equipment and resources for early childhood. Playcentres get a discount so make sure you add in which centre you are buying for.
The Playcentre Shop in Taranaki has a new page on the Playcentre website (https://www.playcentre.org.nz/about/playcentre-shop-taranaki-2/). It supplies quality Early Childhood Educational toys, equipment and resources from its shop at 33 Rimu Street, Inglewood. If you are in the area over the school holiday break, pop in and see its outstanding resources.
Ka kite anō au i a koutou.
