Little House Montessori Preschool Central

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

Little House Montessori Central is one of four services under the same ownership. A centre manager, supported by two team leaders, is responsible for the daily operation. The service roll and teaching team are culturally diverse. This is the first ERO review of this service.

Summary of Review Findings

The service's curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and Montessori philosophy. Adults providing education and care engage in positive interactions with children. Leaders and teachers respect and acknowledge the aspirations held by parents and whānau for their children. The curriculum respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture.

Parents of the children attending the service have opportunities to contribute to the service’s operational documents. Operation of the service is guided by a philosophy and annual plan. Compliance documentation needs to be closely monitored to ensure the service continues to meet regulatory requirements.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

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

Compliance

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

• Ensuring heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage have been secured or items removed (HS6).

• Having a written emergency plan that includes a list of safety and emergency supplies and resources sufficient for the age and number of children and adults at the service, and details of how these will be maintained and accessed in an emergency; details of the roles and responsibilities that will apply during an emergency situation; evidence of review of the plan on at least an annual basis; and implementation of improved practices as required (HS7).

• Having evidence of how the evaluation of emergency drills have informed the emergency management plan (HS8).

• Having a record of the time each child attending the service sleeps, and checks made by adults during that time (HS9).

• Ensuring furniture or items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers, or mattresses) are arranged and spaced when in use so that adults have clear access to at least one side (meaning the length, not the width) (HS10).

• Having a record of serious injuries, illnesses and incidents that occur at the service that includes the name of the person providing first aid and evidence that parents have been informed (HS27).

• Having a record of the written authority from parents for the administration of medicine (HS28).

• Having a written child protection policy that contains provisions for the service’s identification of child abuse and neglect, and information about practices the service employs to keep children safe from abuse and neglect (HS31).

Next ERO Review

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

21 June 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.