Titirangi Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten 1

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

Titirangi Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten 1 is located within the grounds of Rudolf Steiner School. A qualified centre manager and curriculum leaders are responsible for daily operations. They lead the teaching team and curriculum delivery. The curriculum is based on Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and the Steiner philosophy, which has a focus on enabling children to become their true selves and to contribute positively to society. A small number of Māori children and children with Pacific heritages are enrolled.

Summary of Review Findings

The service’s curriculum is inclusive and responsive to children as confident and competent learners. Their preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning. Children’s developing social competence is supported.

Teachers engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning. They demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning and development, and knowledge of Steiner theories and practice in early childhood education. Regular opportunities are provided for parents to communicate with adults providing education and care about their child and be involved in decision-making about their child’s learning.

Service leaders need to monitor systems and process to ensure compliance with regulatory standards is maintained.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• Strengthening the planning and assessment practices to capture children’s learning, their interests, whānau and life contexts.

• Making children’s languages, cultures, and identity visible in the programme planning and assessment practices.

Actions for Compliance

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

• Maintaining excursion records that include the names of adults involves, time of the excursion, evidence of parental permission and approval of adult:child ratios for regular excursions, and the signature of the person responsible giving approval for the excursion to take place (HS17).

• Ensuring there is an adult present for every 25 children attending who holds a current First Aid qualification (HS25).

• Maintaining a record of safety checks and their results, which include suitable police vetting of staff (GMA7A).

Next ERO Review

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

7 November 2023

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 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.