Halswell Quarry Preschool

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

Halswell Quarry Preschool is a privately owned early childhood service. The centre opened in September 2020 and gained its full licence in September 2021. The owner employs an operations manager who is responsible for day-to-day management. Almost all permanent teaching staff are qualified and registered. The centre serves a culturally diverse community. There are a small number of children attending from Māori and Pacific heritages.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development. It is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation that demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning, their interests, whānau and life contexts. The design and layout of the premises support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences.

Internal evaluation is becoming established to support improvement. A policy framework and long-term planning guide centre operation and direction for development. Health and safety practices are well implemented and monitored.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• improve curriculum planning and assessment for learning processes and practices

• by integrating the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum

• strengthening the place of parents’ aspirations

• continuing to work on integrating te ao Māori and a more bicultural approach into teaching and learning.

Next ERO Review

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

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

20 September 2022 

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.