BestStart Glasgow Street

Education institution number:
45192
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
113
Telephone:
Address:

451 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui

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BestStart Glasgow Street - 28/10/2020

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

At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

BestStart Glasgow Street is a privately owned, urban education and care service governed and managed by BestStart Educare Ltd. Continuity of staffing remains an ongoing priority. The June 2019 ERO report identified non-compliances with regulatory standards that required addressing. Progress is evident.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are provided with opportunities to participate in a range of experiences to enhance and extend their learning and development. Positive steps are taken to respect and acknowledge the aspirations held by parents and whānau for their children. A systematic approach to responding to parent/whānau aspirations is likely to further strengthen children’s learning.

Children are given opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Kaiako should increase opportunities children have to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful learning contexts.

One aspect of the Health and Safety criteria did not meet minimum requirements during the onsite visit.

Key Next Steps

Key next steps include:

  • increasing opportunities children have to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful learning contexts
  • taking a more systematic approach to responding to parent/whānau aspirations for their child’s learning.

Actions for Compliance

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

  • records of all food provided by the service and shared with children.

[Licencing criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS19]

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

  • increased monitoring of food records
  • provision of further clarification and guidance for staff regarding maintenance of appropriate food records.

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

28 October 2020

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name

BestStart Glasgow Street

Profile Number

45192

Location

Whanganui

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

110 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%+

Service roll

121

Gender composition

Female 63, Male 58

Ethnic composition

Māori 40
NZ European/Pākehā 50
Pacific 6
Chinese 5
Indian 4
Filipino 4
Other ethnic groups 12

Review team on site

September 2020

Date of this report

28 October 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

Akanuku | Assurance Review, June 2019
Education Review, November 2017

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.

BestStart Glasgow Street - 11/06/2019

ERO’s judgement

Regulatory standards

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.

Background

BestStart Glasgow Street, was previously named Topkids Victoria Avenue. Daily operation is overseen by a professional services manager and a business manager. The November 2017 ERO report found that the service required further development to promote positive learning outcomes for children. Some progress is evident, however significant staff changes has impacted on progress.

Summary of review findings

Children’s exploration is promoted through planned and spontaneous experiences in the sufficiently resourced environment.

The service is developing a new philosophy that is underpinned by current research and theories to support outcomes for children. The service’s curriculum is informed by newly introduced systems for assessment and planning that align with the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Strategies are in place to involve parents and whānau in their children’s learning.

Consistent implementation of health and safety practices is required to meet all aspects of regulatory compliance.

Actions for compliance

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

  • carrying out relevant emergency drills with children on an at least three-monthly basis

  • supervising children while eating

  • the review and implementation of practices in response to injury, illness and incidents.
    Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS8, HS22, HS27 Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, 46 (1a, 1b, 1d)]

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 of BestStart Glasgow Street will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Phillip Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services Central

Central Region

11 June 2019

Information about the service

Early Childhood Service Name

BestStart Glasgow Street

Profile Number

45192

Location

Whanganui

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

110 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:5 – Meets regulatory standards

Over 2

1:10 – Meets regulatory standards

Service roll

81

Gender composition

Male 43, Female 38

Ethnic composition

Māori 35
NZ European/Pākehā 24
Pacific  4
Other ethnic groups  18

Review team on site

May 2019

Date of this report

11 June 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Licensed as Topkids Victoria Ave:

Education Review

November 2017

Education Review

May 2014

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:

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 Assurance Review process in any 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 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 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 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.