Tiny Voices Silverdale

ERO’s Akanuku | Assurance Review reports provide information about whether a service meets and maintains regulatory standards. Further information about Akanuku | Assurance Reviews is included at the end of this report.

ERO’s Judgement

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed non-compliances and is now taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Tiny Voices Silverdale opened in 2020 and is one of four services privately owned by the same company. A general manager provides oversight for business and educational operations. Daily activity is managed by a qualified centre manager who is supported by room leaders. A few children attending the service are identified as Māori. This is the first ERO review of the service.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are given opportunities to develop knowledge and an understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through waiata, karakia and the environment. The curriculum acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua.

Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning experiences. Teachers provide a language-rich environment, and children have opportunities to extend their learning and development. Teachers are inclusive, and responsive to children as confident and competent learners.

Ongoing monitoring of safety checking procedures and health and safety practices is required to ensure all aspects of regulatory standards are maintained.

Compliance

Since the onsite visit the service provided ERO with evidence that shows it addressed the following non-compliances:

• A first aid kit that complies with the requirements of Appendix 1 (PF28).

• A record of the time each child attending the service sleeps, and checks made by adults during that time (HS9).

• A record of serious injuries, illnesses and incidents that occur at the service, and evidence that parents have been notified/informed (HS27).

• All children’s workers who have access to children are safety checked in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014. Safety checks must be undertaken, and the results obtained before the worker has access to children (GMA7A).

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

Filivaifale Jason Swann
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

15 September 2022 

Information About the Service

General Information about Assurance Reviews

All services are licensed under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008. The legal requirements for early childhood services also include the Licensing Criteria for Education and Care Services 2008.

Services must meet the standards in the regulations and the requirements of the licensing criteria to gain and maintain a licence to operate.

ERO undertakes an Akanuku | Assurance Review process in any centre-based service:

• having its first ERO review – including if it is part of a governing organisation

• previously identified as ‘not well placed’ or ‘requiring further development’

• that has moved from a provisional to a full licence

• that have been re-licenced due to a change of ownership

• where an Akanuku | Assurance Review process is determined to be appropriate.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

All early childhood services are required to promote children’s health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements. Before the review, the staff and management of a service completed an ERO Centre Assurance Statement and Self-Audit Checklist. In these documents they attested that they have taken all reasonable steps to meet their legal obligations related to:

• curriculum

• premises and facilities

• health and safety practices

• governance, management and administration.

As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO assesses whether the regulated standards are being met. In particular, ERO looks at a service’s systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:

• emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)

• physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)

• suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher certification; ratios)

• evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through:

• discussions with those involved in the service

• consideration of relevant documentation, including the implementation of health and safety systems

• observations of the environment/premises, curriculum implementation and teaching practice.