Little Monkeys at Home

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 identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.

Background

The service is one of four under the Little Monkeys umbrella. The owners and three qualified visiting teachers provide professional guidance to support educators, nannies, families and children across two homebased education and care networks. At the time of the review a small number of Māori children were enrolled.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are provided with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development – both indoors and outdoors. A variety of equipment and materials is provided that is appropriate for the learning abilities of those attending.

Children experience an inclusive curriculum that is responsive to them as capable and confident learners. Educators engage in positive interactions to nurture reciprocal relationships. Opportunities are provided for parents to share their aspirations for their child’s learning.

Consistent implementation of health and safety practices, as well as improved governance and management, is required to maintain all aspects of regulatory compliance.

Actions for Compliance

ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:

• consistently carrying out relevant emergency drills with all children present in the home on an at least three-monthly basis and evaluating these to inform the annual review of the emergency plan

• ensuring children do not have access to food or liquid in bed

[Licensing Criteria for Home-based Education and Care Services HS7, HS8]

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

• ensuring safety checking of all children’s worker meets the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014 (GMA6A).

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

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

3 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.