192 Domain Rd, Te Awamutu
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 | Not meeting |
| Premises and facilities | Meeting |
| Health and safety | Meeting |
| Governance, management and administration | Meeting |
ERO identified a non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.
Crackerjacks Preschool 2020 Ltd is a privately owned all-day education and care centre. There are three areas for different age groups of children. The owner, who is a qualified teacher, is responsible for governance and day-to-day operations. Approximately 20 percent of children enrolled are Māori. A small number of children attending are from diverse ethnicities.
Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful and positive interactions to nurture reciprocal relationships. Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning. A range of experiences and opportunities are provided to extend children’s learning and development.
The curriculum is language rich and supports children’s developing social competence. It acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. There are a few opportunities for children to learn an understanding of, or respect for, other cultures.
Regular opportunities are provided for parents to be involved in decision making about their child’s learning.
ERO found an area of non-compliance in the service relating to:
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C6.
The service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that the non-compliance identified in this report is addressed promptly.
The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.
Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)
18 December 2023
| Early Childhood Service Name | Crackerjacks Preschool 2020 Ltd |
| Profile Number | 30037 |
| Location | Te Awamutu |
| Service type | Education and care service |
| Number licensed for | 80 children, including up to 25 aged under 2 |
| Percentage of qualified teachers | 80-99% |
| Service roll | 124 |
| Review team on site | November 2023 |
| Date of this report | 18 December 2023 |
| Most recent ERO report(s) | Akanuku | Assurance Review, August 2022 Education Review, June 2019 |
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 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:
As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through:
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 | Not 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.
Crackerjacks Preschool 2020 Ltd is a privately owned, all-day education and care centre. Children from infants to school age learn in three separate learning areas. The centre owner and assistant manager are responsible for governance, and day-to-day operations. Approximately a quarter of the children identify as Māori and there are a small number of other ethnicities attending.
Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships.
The service curriculum provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities to extend their learning and development. Kaiako are responsive to children as confident and competent learners. Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning.
The service curriculum is informed by assessment and planning that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning and is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum.
Consistent implementation of health and safety practices and monitoring of premises and facilities is required to meet regulatory compliance.
ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:
[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF12, HS7, HS8, HS9, HS28]
During the review, the service provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
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.
The next ERO review will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
11 August 2022
| Early Childhood Service Name | Crackerjacks Preschool 2020 Ltd |
| Profile Number | 30037 |
| Location | Te Awamutu |
| Service type | Education and care service |
| Number licensed for | 80 children, including up to 25 aged under 2 |
| Percentage of qualified teachers | 80-99% |
| Service roll | 116 |
| Review team on site | July 2022 |
| Date of this report | 11 August 2022 |
| Most recent ERO report(s) | Education Review, June 2019; Education Review, February 2015 |
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 |
Crackerjacks Preschool Ltd is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Crackerjacks Preschool Ltd is a privately owned, all-day education and care centre, situated in Te Awamutu. Since the last ERO review in 2014 it has moved from two separate licenses to one. The current licence is for 80 children. The licence for children under the age of two years has increased to 28 places. At the time of this review 103 children were enrolled, including 25 who identify as Māori and 10 from other ethnicities.
The centre owner is supported by a centre manager, an assistant manager, a registration and appraisal manager and two team leaders. The teaching team comprises of early childhood, primary and secondary school trained teachers and some in-training or unqualified members.
Through their philosophy, the centre puts the child at the heart of everything. Flexible enrolments support the diversity of the community attending. Play, relationship building, risk taking and child-led learning are valued.
The centre has a positive reporting history with ERO.
Children benefit from the recently reviewed curriculum which is now a more child-led and play-based programme. Spacious outdoor environments enable children to engage in sensory and nature exploration. The Pirongia Explorers fortnightly excursion provides further opportunity for older learners to experience risk taking, problem solving and adventure. Literacy, mathematics and science are naturally integrated into learning. Predictable routines enable children to know what is expected and take increasing responsibility for self managing. Some elements of a bicultural curriculum are evident, including karakia, waiata and use of te reo Māori. Children develop a sense of belonging and wellbeing at the centre.
Children's learning is captured in individual portfolios. These are sent home six monthly and are available upon request. Good opportunities are made for parents to share their aspirations for their children's learning, and contribute to goal setting and planning. The current assessment, planning and evaluation of children's learning needs refining to:
Respectful and responsive relationships between children, parents and teachers are fostered. Parents are kept well informed about ongoing events and activities and are regularly consulted about centre policies, practices and operations. Teachers know children well and respond to their individual strengths. They recognise children’s interests and dispositions and plan the environment to further support learning opportunities. The centre offers flexible enrolments that are responsive to the needs of families. Children's transitions into and within the centre are well supported.
Children with additional learning needs are well supported with inclusive teaching practice, well-managed procedures, and individual learning plans for children when required. Teachers encourage the development of social competence through well-implemented positive guidance practices. Children up to the age of two years have their individual care needs well met. They play and learn in a calm, unhurried environment. Positive learning outcomes are promoted for all children.
Managers and leaders are strongly focused on building teacher capability. A dedicated leader is employed to support beginning teachers and guide the appraisal process, with ongoing support from the wider leadership team. Staff feel well supported and valued. A team culture is based on centre-wide values and strong internal communication. Clear expectations guide teaching practice. Leaders are effective advocates for children.
The experienced management team have developed efficient systems and processes to guide centre operations. A strategic plan, including an annual professional development plan and policy review schedule, has been developed and provides the basis for ongoing evaluation and development. Managers should continue to explore opportunities for parents and whānau to be involved in reviews of centre-wide processes and curriculum decisions. Ongoing, detailed internal evaluation is evident. An area for refinement is to regularly document internal evaluation and its impact on outcomes for children.
The key next steps for Crackerjacks Preschool Ltd managers and leaders are to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Crackerjacks Preschool Ltd 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:
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services
Central Region
7 June 2019
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 | Te Awamutu | ||
| Ministry of Education profile number | 30037 | ||
| Licence type | Education & Care Service | ||
| Licensed under | Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 | ||
| Number licensed for | 80 children, including up to 28 aged under 2 | ||
| Service roll | 103 | ||
| Gender composition | Female 55% Male 45% | ||
| Ethnic composition | Māori NZ European/Pākehā Other | 25% 64% 11% | |
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates | 80% + | ||
| Reported ratios of staff to children | Under 2 | 1:3 | Better than minimum requirements |
| Over 2 | 1:8 | Better than minimum requirements | |
| Review team on site | February 2019 | ||
| Date of this report | 7 June 2019 | ||
Most recent ERO report(s)
| Education Review | February 2015 | |
| Education Review | October 2011 | ||
| Education Review | May 2008 | ||
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:
Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.
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 will depend on how well the service promotes 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.