Adventure Valley Childcare

Education institution number:
45714
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
41
Telephone:
Address:

91 Henderson Valley Road, Henderson, Auckland

View on map

Adventure Valley Childcare

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

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

Adventure Valley Childcare is privately owned. The service owner works closely with a centre manager. Together they are responsible for daily operations. They lead a team of four qualified teachers and two unqualified staff. More than half of the children enrolled are Māori or have Pacific heritages.

Summary of Review Findings

Teachers engage in meaningful, positive interactions to nurture reciprocal relationships. They provide a language-rich environment that supports children’s learning.

The service curriculum acknowledges the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. Children develop knowledge and an understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The right of each child to be confident in their own culture is respected, and children are encouraged to understand other cultures.

Children benefit from an inclusive, and responsive curriculum that supports them to be confident and competent learners. Information and guidance is sought when necessary to enable teachers to work effectively with children and their parents.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

  • strengthening planning, assessment, and evaluation practices to show individual children’s learning, interests, whānau and life contexts

  • increasing the range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend children’s learning and development.

Actions for Compliance

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

  • Completing daily hazard checks which include consideration of windows and other areas of glass (HS12).

  • Ensuring all children’s workers who have access to children are safety checked and have the correct category of police vet (GMA7A).

Next ERO Review

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

1 November 2023

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Adventure Valley Childcare

Profile Number

45714

Location

Henderson, Auckland

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

60 children aged over 2 years

Percentage of qualified teachers

100%

Service roll

54

Review team on site

September 2023

Date of this report

1 November 2023

Most recent ERO report(s)

Akanuku Assurance Review, February 2020

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.

Adventure Valley Childcare - 19/02/2020

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

Adventure Valley Childcare provides education and care for up to 60 children between two to five years of age. This family owned and operated centre offers full and half day sessions. The centre provides a semi structured routine inspired by the Reggio Emilia model of teaching and learning. The open plan layout includes an extensive refurbished outdoor environment. This is the first ERO review of this service since taking ownership in December 2018.

Summary of Review Findings

Leaders and teachers provide education and care in meaningful and positive ways that enhance learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. The service curriculum supports children’s developing social competence.

The design and layout of the premises support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences. A sufficient quantity and variety of furniture, equipment and materials is provided that is appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending.

Governance and management practices meet regulatory standards in all aspects of centre operations.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)

Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

19 February 2020

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name Adventure Valley Childcare
Profile Number 45714

Location

Henderson Valley, Auckland

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

60 children, over 2 years of age

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%+

Reported ratio of staff to children under 2

N/A

Reported ratio of staff to children over 2

1:8 - Better than regulatory standards

Service roll

69

Gender composition

Girls 39

Boys 30

Ethnic composition

Māori 15

NZ European/Pākehā 13

Samoan 5

African 4

Filipino 4

Indian 4

other Pacific 7

other ethnic groups 17

Review team on site

January 2020

Date of this report

19 February 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

These are available at www.ero.govt.nz

Licensed as The Valley Kindergarten (at the time of the previous review)

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 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 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.

The Valley Kindergarten - 16/05/2016

1 Evaluation of The Valley Kindergarten

How well placed is The Valley Kindergarten to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

The Valley Kindergarten is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children. 

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

The Valley Kindergarten is a purpose built facility. Children from two up to five years of age attend the centre. The centre offers all day care and education for children with the majority of children attending five days a week on a sessional basis. A few children attend for the whole day.

The centre’s community is diverse. The majority of children are Pacific and Māori. The children’s cultures are reflected and promoted in the centre’s environment. The centre is designed with one central room for all children. This helps to create a sense of whānau for all children.

The centre manager and head teacher are the owners of the centre. As a management team they nurture relationships and communication with families. The owners have a commitment to local families and ensure they are available to talk with parents on a daily basis.

The owners have responded positively to recommendations in the 2013 ERO report. However, continued development is necessary to fully address some of the 2013 recommendations.

The Review Findings

Children play in a settled calm environment. Older and younger children respond positively to the opportunity to play together. Teachers foster the tuakana teina relationships that develop naturally amongst children. The centre is responsive to children’s cultures. For example, Māori and Pacific culture is reflected in the day to day programme through music, te reo Māori, karakia and art.

Children gather informally at mat times. They enjoy music, the beat of drums and Pacifica songs and dancing. They are highly engaged and teachers are responsive to their requests for songs, actions and dance.

The head teacher has developed effective ways of sharing children’s participation in the programme with parents and whānau. A daily recording folder allows whānau to see children’s activity and participation as it happened on the day. Children’s individual portfolios provide good insights into their play. A next step for teachers is to use this collected information to decide and document how they are going to extend learning opportunities for each child.

Children enjoy learning in an environment where teachers know them and their families well. Teachers are attentive and encouraging towards children. However, there is some variability in the quality of teacher interactions to support and extend children’s learning. ERO and managers agree that teachers could consider how to use the numerous centre resources to promote open-ended learning for children. Particular attention should be given to encouraging children’s problem solving, creativity and curiosity.

Children have access to many new resources and an extensive outdoor area. Since opening in 2012 there have been additions and improvements to the building. These have resulted in children having ample sheltered and well covered areas for playing in during wet weather.

Children would benefit from having access to a greater range of developmental play areas every day. For example, children would enjoy learning from water play, carpentry, messy play and soft construction.

Centre self-review captures some ongoing staff reflections and focuses on aspects of the curriculum. The owners are keen to develop self review further by seeking a wider range of perspectives and using research to create indicators and guide teachers’ reflections. Analysing the information gathered through self review and using it to make decisions would be a positive next step.

The head teacher takes responsibility for professional development and teachers’ appraisals. While the appraisal process meets requirements, teachers need more opportunities to develop professionally. The head teacher agrees that this is a next step for all professional staff at the centre.

The head teacher would benefit from an external appraisal. This would help her to lead improvements to the quality of teaching and learning and curriculum development. This is planned for 2016.

Key Next Steps

ERO recommends managers seek external support to address the following development priorities which include:

  • extending the range of developmental play areas available for children
  • extending and enhancing learning opportunities for each child
  • using self review to make well-informed decisions about the curriculum
  • linking teacher appraisals to Education Council Requirements
  • ensuring that the head teacher is externally appraised.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of The Valley Kindergarten 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.

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.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of The Valley Kindergarten will be in three years.

Graham Randell

Deputy Chief Review Officer Northern

16 May 2016

The Purpose of ERO Reports

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.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Henderson, Auckland

Ministry of Education profile number

45714

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

60 children, including up to 0 aged under 2

Service roll

75

Gender composition

Boys 39 Girls 36

Ethnic composition

Māori

Pākehā

Chinese

African

Niue

Japanese

other

28

18

4

2

2

2

19

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+

Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Over 2

1:10

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

January 2016

Date of this report

16 May 2016

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

January 2013

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

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.

ERO’s Overall Judgement and Next Review

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:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

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.