28 Buick Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
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 |
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.
Magic Sparks Care and Learning is one of four early childhood education services under common private ownership. The owners have oversight of operation and practice. A recently appointed center manager takes responsibility for day-to-day operation. There have been significant staff changes in the last 18 months. The center serves a multicultural community. Over ten percent of children attending are Māori.
Adults providing education and care demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning and development, and knowledge of relevant theories and practice in early childhood education. The curriculum provides children with a range of experiences to enhance and extend their learning and social competence.
Governance and management have developed a policy framework and annual plan to guide centre operations. Teacher appraisal and ongoing professional development are established processes.
Regular review and internal evaluation help to maintain and improve the quality of its education and care.
Health and safety practices are well monitored.
Next steps include:
making children’s languages, cultures and identities more visible within the environment and in their assessment documentation
strengthening parent partnership in planning for their children’s learning.
The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.
Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Acting, Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
14 February 2023
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
Magic Sparks Care and Learning |
|
Profile Number |
45941 |
|
Location |
Lower Hutt |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
75 children, including up to 20 aged under 2 |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
|
Service roll |
68 |
|
Review team on site |
October 2022 |
|
Date of this report |
14 February 2023 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Akanuku | Assurance Review, June 2021; Education Review, October 2017 |
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 license to operate.
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.
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.
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 |
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.
Magic Sparks Care and Learning is one of four privately-owned services. The managing director and general manager oversee the business operation and the day-to-day management of teaching. Since the October 2017 ERO review, there have been significant and ongoing changes to staff including leaders.
The service curriculum is inclusive and informed by assessment, planning and evaluation aligned to the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The premises and facilities are resourced to provide for the learning and abilities of the children attending. Children experience respectful interactions with adults. The curriculum provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities to support their interests. Teacher appraisal and internal evaluation processes are established. A policy framework and annual planning guide operations. Consistent implementation of health and safety practices are required to meet aspects of regulatory compliance.
ERO found an area of non-compliance in the service relating to:
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, HS17.
Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliance:
ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.
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
24 June 2021
| Early Childhood Service Name | Magic Sparks Care and Learning |
| Profile Number | 45941 |
| Location | Lower Hutt |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
75 children, including up to 20 aged under 2. |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80%+ |
|
Service roll |
62 |
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori 5, NZ European/Pākehā 27, Pacific heritages 3, Indian 8, Chinese 4, other ethnic groups 15. |
|
Review team on site |
March 2021 |
|
Date of this report |
24 June 2021 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review October 2017, Education Review August 2014. |
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: