7th December 1999
To The Community Of The Little Feet Preschool

An accountability review evaluates the quality of education and care received by children and the performance of management in providing these services. This is a summary of the Office's confirmed accountability review report on Little Feet Preschool. A copy of the full accountability review report is available from the centre or from the Education Review Office.

Little Feet Preschool is a pleasant and supportive environment for children and their families. The centre has been operating for just over a year and during that time the roll and waiting list have burgeoned. The newly renovated property provides and appropriate facility for staff and children.

Staff have participated in a professional development contract with a support service to establish effective planning methods. The collect information about the children in the centre and plan a programme to meet their needs and strengths. In the coming year, staff will continue to use the support service to assist them to develop evaluation procedures.

The programme provides well for children. Staff encourage them to participate in a wide range of activities and provide support for them to develop and extend their play. They successfully integrate infants and toddlers into the general group for parts of the day and support them in their choices about participation.

Staff include a strong focus on helping children to understand the dual cultural heritage of New Zealand. They use te reo Maori and waiata as part of shared times as well as incidentally in the programme. Children clearly understand and respond to the language.

The licensee and staff communicate well with parents and have developed sound processes for keeping parents informed.

Staff have good employment conditions and the licensee's administrative systems are effective.

The licensee and staff have made a good start in providing a high quality service. They are well positioned to continue this development. Little Feet Preschool will be reviewed again as part of the regular schedule of Education Review Office reviews.

Please contact management if you have concerns about any issues raised in this summary or in the full report.

Charlene Scotti
Area Manager
for Chief Review Officer