Tiny Nation Bay of Plenty

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

Homes in this Tiny Nation service are located in the Bay of Plenty. The philosophy values strong relationships and well-resourced learning environments. Professional leaders and visiting teachers provide guidance and support to educators, children and their families. At the time of the review, a small number of children enrolled were identified as Māori or of Pacific heritages. 

Summary of Review Findings

Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum underpins the service’s philosophy. Educators engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture respectful relationships.

Children learn in a language-rich environment where their preferences are respected, and they are involved in decision making about their learning experiences. 

The curriculum is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation that demonstrate an understanding of children's learning and interests. Children have access to a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning. Regular opportunities are provided for parents to communicate with educators about their child’s learning.

Management systems and processes provide ongoing guidance for the implementation of the service’s operation 

Key Next Steps 

Next steps include:

• strengthening the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their identity, languages and cultures
• embedding the use of the learning outcomes of Te Whāriki through assessment, planning and evaluation. 

Next ERO Review 

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

17 November 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.