BestStart Abacus

Education institution number:
45037
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
42
Telephone:
Address:

69 Rotokawa Road, Taupo

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BestStart Abacus

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

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

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

BestStart Abacus, formally known as First Step Abacus, regained a full license in June 2022. The recently appointed centre manager, supported by an assistant manager and head teacher, leads a teaching team of six. Almost a third of children attending the service are Māori.

Summary of Review Findings

Infants, toddlers and young children experience positive, respectful interactions with adults. Children are involved in decisions about their learning experiences and their choices are respected. Teachers support children’s developing social competence and understanding of appropriate behaviour. Children experience a curriculum that acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua.

The service’s curriculum is informed by assessment and planning that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning. Positive steps are taken to acknowledge the aspirations held by parents and whānau. Teacher appraisal and internal evaluation processes are established. A policy framework and an annual plan guide the service’s operation.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

  • strengthen the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their identity, language and culture

  • increase the opportunities children have to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful learning contexts

  • continue to build teachers knowledge and understanding of current theory for working with children under two.

Actions for Compliance

During the review, the service provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non‑compliances:

  • ensuring the prominent display of all documents required by the GMA1 criterion

  • providing written information to parents about the amount and details of the expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service

  • having an annual budget setting out the service’s estimated revenue and expenses for the year that includes professional development costs.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA1, GMA3, GMA9.

Next ERO Review

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

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

15 November 2022 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name

BestStart Abacus

Profile Number

45037

Location

Taupō

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

37 children, including up to 10 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

47

Review team on site

October 2022

Date of this report

15 November 2022

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, June 2018; Education Review, December 2013

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 regulatory 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; safety checking; teacher certification; ratios)

  • relevant evacuation procedures and practices.

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.