Blue Duck Early Learning Centre

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

Blue Duck Early Learning Centre is one of three services under the same ownership. A center manager alongside the center owner oversees the day-to-day operations of the service. A large number of children who attend the service are Māori and a small number of children are of Pacific heritage. This is the service’s first ERO review since opening in February 2022.

Summary of Review Findings

Children participate in experiences reflective of the center philosophy. They are involved in making choices about their play and learning. Infant and toddler’s environments are calm and settled. Teachers support children in developing their independence skills and social competence. Teacher interactions with children are respectful. Use of family aspirations inform planning for groups and individual children. These are aligned to Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum.  

Policies are in place to guide the service operations. Consistent monitoring of health and safety aspects is required to ensure that all areas of the regulatory standards are maintained.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• building teacher capability to use the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki, to analyse and interpret significant learning and use this information to inform a rich and relevant curriculum for every child.

Actions for Compliance

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

• furniture or items intended to sleep on are arranged and spaced when in use so that the area surrounding each child allows sufficient air movement to minimise the risk of spreading illness [HS10]

• a complaints procedure that includes the option to contact the local Ministry of Education office and provides contact details [GMA1]

• risk assessments are signed and dated for all staff. [GMA7A]

Next ERO Review

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

Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Acting, Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
22 February 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.