BestStart Kelvin Grove

Education institution number:
47338
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
99
Telephone:
Address:

2 Roberts Line, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North

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BestStart Kelvin Grove - 18/06/2019

ERO’s judgement

Regulatory standards

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 Kelvin Grove is licensed to provide education and care for 100 children, including 20 under two years of age. The service is owned by, BestStart Limited, a national organisation with services across New Zealand. A business manager and professional services manager oversee the operation. This is the service’s first review.

Summary of review findings

Children’s interests, strengths and wellbeing are catered for. The inclusive curriculum aligns with Te Whāriki and reflects the service’s philosophy. Separate age-related, well-resourced physical learning spaces and specific teaching teams promote individual and group learning experiences.

The service is effectively operated. Leaders and teachers work collaboratively to support the day-to-day operation of the service. Health and safety systems promote a safe physical and emotional environment.

Strategies are in place to include parents and whānau in decision-making about the service and their children’s learning. Internal evaluation and practices for building leaders’ and teachers’ capability contribute to improved curriculum provision for children.

Next ERO Review

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

Phillip Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services Central

Central Region

18 June 2019

Information about the service

Early Childhood Service Name

BestStart Kelvin Grove

Profile Number

47338

Location

Palmerston North

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

100 children, including up to 20 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1 - 4 Better than regulatory standards

Over 2

1 - 8 Better than regulatory standards

Service roll

118

Gender composition

Male 71, Female 47

Ethnic composition

Māori 10
NZ European/Pākehā 75
Other ethnic groups 33

Review team on site

May 2019

Date of this report

18 June 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

First ERO review of 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:

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.