923 Southampton Street West, St Leonards-Napier/Hastings, Hastings
View on mapERO’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.
Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
|
Curriculum |
Meeting |
|
Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
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Health and safety |
Meeting |
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Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten – Hastings is a centre that operates under the Provincial Education Group Ltd. Of the 106 children enrolled, 19 identify as Māori. A small number of Pacific children attend. The centre supports an ethnically diverse community with many Indian children attending.
The service is effectively governed and managed in accordance with good management practices. A sufficient quantity and variety of resources, equipment and materials is appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending. The design and layout of the premises supports the provision of different types of learning experiences.
Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interaction to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. The service curriculum is inclusive, and responsive to children as competent learners. The curriculum provides a language-rich environment that supports children’s learning.
Next steps include:
increase the opportunities children have to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful contexts
increase the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their identity, language, and culture.
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
31 August 2022
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten – Hastings |
|
Profile Number |
46882 |
|
Location |
Hastings |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
108 children, including up to 40 aged under 2 |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
|
Service roll |
106 |
|
Review team on site |
July 2022 |
|
Date of this report |
31 August 2022 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Akanuku | Assurance Review, January 2021; Education Review, November 2017 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
|
Curriculum |
Meeting |
|
Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
|
Health and safety |
Not meeting |
|
Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.
Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten – Hastings, provides education and care for 108 children in central Hastings. In March 2020, the service was purchased by Provincial Education Group Ltd. Provincial Education Group Ltd oversees operations and provides ongoing guidance to kaiako and staff to support the change of management process.
The curriculum and premises provide children with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance their learning and development. Kaiako engage in meaningful and positive interactions to enhance learning and nurture reciprocal relationships.
Children’s learning is shared with parents and whānau and opportunities are available for involvement in decision making concerning their child’s learning.
Adults ensure appropriate procedures are in place to manage emergencies and excursions. Consistent checks of sleeping children is required.
ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:
Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
The service provided ERO with evidence of additional support to promote consistent implementation of the sleeping children policy and associated practices.
ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.
The next ERO review of Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten - Hastings will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
21 January 2021
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten - Hastings |
|
Profile Number |
46882 |
|
Location |
Hastings |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
108 children, including up to 40 aged under 2. |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80%+ |
|
Service roll |
89 |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori 16, NZ European/Pākehā 53, Indian 10, Other ethnic groups 10. |
|
Review team on site |
October 2020 |
|
Date of this report |
21 January 2021 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review, November 2017 |
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.
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:
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:
As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through:
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten in Hastings was opened in November 2015. It is one of three early learning services under common private ownership. It caters for up to 120 children, including 40 up to the age of two years. Of the 60 children enrolled, 11 are Māori.
Two directors manage the financial, marketing and business aspects of the service. The centre and education manager is responsible for the operation of the centre, with the support of two head teachers. The majority of teachers are qualified and registered.
The new purpose-built centre is divided into three separate learning spaces designed specifically for different age groups. There is a focus on using natural and open-ended resources.
The philosophy emphasises Christian principles and values such as compassion, patience, honesty, respect and kindness.
This is the first ERO review of this service.
The service's philosophy and values are highly evident in practice. There is an explicit focus on integrating the values throughout the programme. A strong sense of belonging for children, families and whānau is fostered through positive, respectful and responsive relationships. Having fun as part of the learning process is highly valued.
Children follow their interests and engage in self-initiated play. Access to a wide range of resources and activities promotes their exploration, creativity, physical activity and development of problem-solving skills.
Teachers are intentional in the way they recognise and respond to opportunities to engage in, and extend children's learning. As a result, children are confident learners and able to sustain their play for long periods. Early literacy, mathematics and science development is meaningfully integrated into learning contexts. Teachers continue to enhance te ao Māori throughout the programme.
Planning for learning is responsive to individual children's and group interests. Through ongoing observation of children at play, teachers collaboratively identify strategies to promote learning. Their progress is regularly assessed and shared with parents and whānau through learning stories and anecdotal notes. Profile books are a valuable record of children's learning and participation in the programme. These include learning plans and evaluations which record children's progress and achievement over time.
Parents' aspirations for their children's learning are valued. An online programme and other forms of technology are supporting two-way communication between parents and teachers, and the celebration of children's learning.
Children up to the age of two years are nurtured in a calm, stress-free environment where they can actively explore and investigate. Teachers are attuned to infants' non-verbal cues and respond sensitively to each child's needs and preferences.
Children's transitions into, through and out of the centre are supported by well-considered systems and processes and relationships with parents and whānau. A programme for four-year-olds is focused on developing competencies that are most likely to support their successful transition to school.
Children requiring additional learning support are well provided for through inclusive practices and positive relationships with parents, whānau, and external agencies. Responsive planning supports their full participation in the programme alongside their peers.
Teachers work collaboratively. A highly reflective culture is evident. The skills and strengths of individuals are acknowledged and valued. Emergent leadership is promoted. The newly implemented appraisal process is aligned to updated legislative requirements and provides opportunities for teachers to inquire into their practice. Continuing to improve their understanding and use of inquiry should support them to measure the impact of their teaching practices on outcomes for children.
Leaders and teachers are improvement focused. Internal evaluation is developing as a means to measure the impact of processes and practices on outcomes for children.
ERO and management agree that teachers should continue to strengthen their understanding and use of inquiry and internal evaluation.
Before the review, the staff and management of Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten - Hastings 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:
During the review, ERO looked at the 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 registration; ratios)
evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
The next ERO review of Piccolini Private Nursery and Kindergarten - Hastings will be in three years.
Patricia Davey
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central (Acting)
Te Tai Pokapū - Central Region
2 November 2017
The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.
|
Location |
Hastings |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
46882 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
102 children, including up to 40 aged under 2 |
||
|
Service roll |
60 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Boys 30, Girls 30 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori |
11 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates |
80% + |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:5 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
|
Review team on site |
September 2017 |
||
|
Date of this report |
2 November 2017 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s)
|
No previous ERO reports |
||
ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:
Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.
ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.
A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.
For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.
The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:
ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.
ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.