Tiny Nation Southland

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 

​​At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.​ 

Background 

Homes in this Tiny Nation service are located in Southland. The philosophy values strong relationships and well-resourced learning environments. Professional leaders and visiting teachers provide guidance and support to educators, children and families. At the time of the review, under a quarter of the children enrolled were identified as Māori. 

Summary of Review Findings 

Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, underpins the service’s philosophy. Educators engage in meaningful positive interactions that nurture reciprocal relationships with children. Children are viewed as capable and confident learners, and they make decisions about their own learning experiences. The curriculum is inclusive and informed by assessment, planning and evaluation. 

Information and guidance is sought, when necessary, from agencies/services to enable educators to work effectively with children and their families. Regular opportunities are provided for parents to communicate with educators about their child’s learning. 

Management systems and processes provide ongoing guidance for the implementation of the service’s operations.   

Key Next Steps  

Next steps include: 

• strengthening the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their identity, languages and cultures 
• embedding the use of the learning outcomes of Te Whāriki through assessment, planning and evaluation.   

Next ERO Review 

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

Patricia Davey 
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE) 

​​17 November 2023​    

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.  

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.