74-76 Cabourne Drive, Glenview, Hamilton
View on mapBestStart Dixon Heights
BestStart Dixon Heights
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 |
During 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
This is the first ERO review for BestStart Dixon Heights, opened in July 2020. Three aged-based areas cater for children from infants to school age. Governance support for the service is provided by Best Start Educare Limited. The centre manager guides a diverse teaching team of qualified and unqualified teachers.
Summary of Review Findings
The service curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The unique place of Māori as tangata whenua is acknowledged. Children have opportunities to develop an understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Adults providing care and education engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. The service curriculum provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities indoors and outdoors.
A philosophy and annual plan guide the service’s operation. An ongoing process of self review helps the service maintain and improve the quality of education and care.
Key Next Steps
Next steps include:
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building teachers’ understanding and use of the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki
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strengthening the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their culture, language, and identity.
Actions for Compliance
During the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliance:
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heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured.
[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008, HS6]
Next ERO Review
The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.
Shelley Booysen
Acting Director Review and Improvement Services
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
25 March 2022
Information About the Service
Early Childhood Service Name |
BestStart Dixon Heights |
Profile Number |
47854 |
Location |
Hamilton |
Service type |
Education and care service |
Number licensed for |
70 children, including up to 13 aged under 2 |
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
Service roll |
81 |
Ethnic composition |
Māori 16, Indian 29, NZ European/Pākehā 10, Filipino 9, Fijian 4, Pacific groups 3, Other ethnic groups 10 |
Review team on site |
February 2022 |
Date of this report |
25 March 2022 |
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 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:
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having its first ERO review – including if it is part of a governing organisation
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previously identified as ‘not well placed’ or ‘requiring further development’
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that has moved from a provisional to a full licence
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that have been re-licenced due to a change of ownership
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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:
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curriculum
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premises and facilities
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health and safety practices
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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:
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emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)
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physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)
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suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher certification; ratios)
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evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.
As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through:
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discussions with those involved in the service
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consideration of relevant documentation, including the implementation of health and safety systems
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observations of the environment/premises, curriculum implementation and teaching practice.