Shine Montessori Educare Avalon

Education institution number:
60083
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
19
Telephone:
Address:

870 High Street, Avalon, Lower Hutt

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Shine Montessori Educare Avalon

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

Not meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

At the time of the review, ERO identified areas of non-compliance with regulatory standards that are an unacceptable risk to children.

Background

Shine Montessori Educare Avalon is one of two services under shared governance. A principal and business manager provide support. Significant and ongoing staff changes including the head teacher, have occurred since the previous review. The service has a diverse roll including a small number of Māori children.

Summary of Review Findings

The service curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, the Montessori and Christian philosophies. Teachers engage in meaningful, positive interactions with children to enhance their learning and nurture reciprocal relationships within a mixed-aged setting. Children have a range of experiences and opportunities within a suitably resourced learning environment to enhance and extend their learning and development, both indoors and outdoors, individually and in groups.

Monitoring of the consistent implementation of aspects of health and safety practices, and governance, management and administration is required. A priority is for the service to fully understand and consistently maintain regulatory standards.

Actions for Compliance

ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:

  • consistent sleep records kept of the time each child attending the service sleeps, and checks made by adults during that time

  • a record of regular excursions that includes assessment and management of risk, and evidence of parental permission and approval of adult: child ratios

  • records of all injuries and incidents that includes evidence that parents have been informed

  • a record of training and/or information provided to adults who administer medicine to children.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, HS9, HS17, HS27, HS29].

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

  • heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured [HS6]

  • consistently carry out relevant emergency drills with the children (as appropriate) on an at least a three-monthly basis [HS8]

  • a record of all food served that show the type of food provided, and are available for inspection for 3 months after the food is served [HS19]

  • consistent records are kept of all medicine (prescription and non-prescription) given to children [HS28]

  • ensuring that the following are prominently displayed: the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, and the current Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008; and the full names and qualifications of each person counting towards regulated requirements [GMA1]

  • all employees must be safety checked every three years in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014. [GMA7a]

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends that the Ministry reassess the licence issued to this service provider. ERO will not undertake a further review of this service until the Ministry of Education is satisfied that the service meets regulatory standards.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

14 February 2023 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Shine Montessori Educare Avalon

Profile Number

60083

Location

Lower Hutt

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

21 children, including up to 10 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

22

Review team on site

November 2022

Date of this report

14 February 2023

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Akanuku | Assurance Review June 2021; Education Review, February 2018.

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.

Shine Montessori Educare Avalon

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

Not meeting

Premises and facilities

Not meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Not meeting

At the time of the review, ERO identified areas of non-compliance with regulatory standards that are an unacceptable risk to children.

Background

Shine Montessori Educare Avalon, is one of two services administered by the trustees of Shine Montessori Educare Charitable Trust. The head teacher is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the service. A business manager and principal provide educational support and leadership for centre staff.  

Summary of Review Findings

Children’s learning records acknowledge Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers are working to understand and progress children’s learning and interests. A Māori perspective is developing in the curriculum. The design and layout of the premises supports the provision of different types of play experiences. Opportunities to collaborate with parents about centre operations and their children’s learning are provided. Increased monitoring by centre leaders is required to ensure that policies and procedures are followed.

Actions for Compliance

ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:

  • the curriculum is not sufficiently responsive to children as confident, competent learners
  • children’s access to the licensed space is not unnecessarily limited
  • documentation of aspects of staff appointment process.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008 C7, PF2, GMA7.

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

  • outdoor fences have parts where children could potentially leave the centre
  • children’s independent access to toilet and associated handwashing facilities
  • a procedure to ensure hygiene and infection control when washing sick or soiled children 
  • the first aid kit is not easily recognisable and includes expired items
  • some furniture and items intended for children to sleep on are not made of a non-porous material
  • stacker cots in the sleep room are not secured and could fall and cause serious injury or harm
  • development of emergency plan to include all required written documentation and resources
  • parental approval for adult: child ratios and risk assessment completed for local excursions; and the signature of the Person Responsible giving approval for special excursions.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF13, PF20, PF26, PF28, PF29, PF30, HS6, HS7, HS17,

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

15 June 2021 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name Shine Montessori Educare Avalon
Profile Number 60083
Location Lower Hutt

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

21 children, including up to 10 aged under 2.

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%+

Service roll

22

Ethnic composition

NZ European/Pākehā 4, Indian 8, Chinese 6, Other ethnic groups 4.

Review team on site

31 March 2021

Date of this report

15 June 2021

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, February 2018; Education Review, February 2015.

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.