Hand and Hand Early Learning Centre, Hamilton

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

Since 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

The service is one of three under shared ownership. Operational oversight and leadership are provided by the centre manager and 2IC. Children attending are ethnically diverse, including a third who identify as Māori and a small number of Pacific heritages. This is the service’s first ERO review.

Summary of Review Findings

Infants, toddlers, and young children are provided with an inclusive, language-rich curriculum through which their preferences are respected. They are involved in decisions about their learning.

The curriculum is informed by planning, assessment and evaluation and supports children to develop their social competence. It provides a range of experiences and opportunities indoors and out to extend and enhance learning and development.

Positive steps are taken to respect and acknowledge the aspirations held by parents for their children. An annual plan and budget guide service operation.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• strengthening the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their identity, language and culture

• increasing the opportunities children have to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful learning contexts.

Actions for Compliance

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:

• heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS6]

Next ERO Review

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

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

11 November 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.