Kindercare Learning Centres - Christchurch CBD

ERO’s judgement

Background

Kindercare Learning Centre - Armagh is part of the Kindercare Learning Centres Ltd. It is located in the centre of Christchurch city. The centre manager leads a team of 13 qualified teachers and additional support staff. Children transition through four age-specific rooms. This is the service’s first ERO review.

Summary of review findings

The service plans and implements a curriculum that responds to the learning interests and strengths of children. The design and layout of the service support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences appropriate to the number, ages and abilities of children.

The service is governed and managed in accordance with good management practices. Staff are provided with professional support, development and resources to facilitate children’s learning. There are systems in place to monitor the implementation of health and safety requirements. Self review helps the service to maintain and improve the quality of education and care.

Next ERO Review

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

Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services Southern

Southern Region

19 July 2019

Information about 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:

• the Licensing Criteria for Education and Care Services 2008

• the Licensing Criteria for Home-based Education and Care Services 2008

• the Licensing Criteria for Hospital-based 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 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.