Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz

Education institution number:
50123
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
57
Telephone:
Address:

22 Ngata Street, Palmerston North

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Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz

1 ERO’s Judgements

Akarangi | Quality Evaluation evaluates the extent to which this early childhood service has the learning and organisational conditions to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. Te Ara Poutama- indicators of quality for early childhood education: what matters most (PDF 3.01MB) are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. The Akarangi Quality Evaluation Judgement Rubric (PDF 91.30KB) derived from the indicators, is used to inform the ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence.

ERO’s judgements for Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz are as follows:

Outcome Indicators

ERO’s judgement

What the service knows about outcomes for learners

Whakaū Embedding

Ngā Akatoro Domains

ERO’s judgement

He Whāriki Motuhake

The learner and their learning

Whakaū Embedding

Whakangungu Ngaio

Collaborative professional learning builds knowledge and capability

Whakawhanake Sustaining

Ngā Aronga Whai Hua

Evaluation for improvement

Whakaū Embedding

Kaihautū

Leaders foster collaboration and improvement

Whakaū Embedding

Te Whakaruruhau

Stewardship through effective governance and management

Whakaū Embedding

2 Context of the Service

Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz is a privately owned education and care centre. The centre owner oversees day to day operations. A head teacher leads a teaching team who guides learning across two age-based spaces. The centre has relocated to new purpose-built premises since the February 2020 ERO review.

3 Summary of findings

Children effectively lead their own learning through a play-based curriculum consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers’ strong reciprocal and respectful relationships with children, parents and whānau enhance positive learning outcomes for children. Whānau voice is gathered in a range of ways that strengthen learning focused partnerships. Children’s learning and development is well supported by adults in the service. A sense of well-being and belonging is enhanced because of kaiako knowing children and their whānau well.

Infants and toddlers are nurtured in a calm, caring and responsive environment. Their sense of security is promoted. Children’s verbal and non-verbal cues are effectively responded to in a language rich environment. Children’s learning is scaffolded, supported by kaiako’s active participation in their play.
The centre is at the beginning stages of integrating te reo me ngā tikanga Māori into the curriculum. Assessment recognises children’s interests and makes learning visible. Assessment, planning and evaluation practice is yet to consistently respond to all children’s languages, cultures and identities.

Leaders and kaiako engage in deliberate, improvement focused evaluation. Kaiako challenge their practices and beliefs with effective engagement in professional development and critical reflection. Appraisal processes clearly articulate expectations and align to organisational priorities reflecting kaiako professional growth. High levels of relational trust support mentoring, leading to growth in kaiako and leadership capabilities. Evaluation is yet to identity what is making the most difference for children and their learning.

Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz contributes to positive social and community outcomes for children by actively ensuring equity of access and participation. Children and whānau benefit from leaders in the service who promote equitable opportunities for them to learn and be a part of centre life.

4 Improvement actions

Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:

  • monitor the implementation of improvement actions and evaluate their impact, to better understand what is working, and for which groups of children
  • build kaiako capability in assessment, planning, and evaluation, to better respond to children’s languages, cultures and identities
  • prioritise and align overarching strategic goals with improvement practices, to support focused ongoing growth of the centre.

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz 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.

During the review, ERO looked at the 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; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

Shelley Booysen
Acting Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

21 December 2021 

6 About the Early Childhood Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz

Profile Number

50123

Location

Palmerston North

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

65 children, including up to 15 aged under 2.

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

66

Ethnic composition

Māori 27, NZ European/Pākehā 27, Pacific 5, African 4, Other ethnic groups 3

Review team on site

November 2021

Date of this report

21 December 2021

Most recent ERO report(s)

Akanuku | Assurance Review, February 2020; Education Review, December 2018.

Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz - 27/02/2020

ERO’s Judgement

Regulatory standards
ERO’s judgement

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz is privately owned and located near the central business district of Palmerston North. The centre manager leads a team of ten educators. The December 2018 ERO report identified that the service required further development to support effective teaching and learning. Sufficient progress has been made in response.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The indoor and outdoor environments are suitably set up allowing children access to a range of learning experiences. Property developments have been made to the premises and facilities to meet Ministry of Education requirements. Resources are appropriate for the children attending.

Leaders and teachers have engaged in professional development with external providers to build their curriculum capability. A suitable appraisal process has been developed and is implemented. Health and safety procedures, policies and systems are in place and monitored.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.

Darcy Te Hau

Acting Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)

Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

27 February 2020

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name Learn A Lot Kindy Kidz
Profile Number 50123

Location

Palmerston North

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

50 children, including up to 10 aged under 2.

Percentage of qualified teachers (delete if not applicable)

80%+

Reported ratio of staff to children under 2

1:4 Better than regulatory standards.

Reported ratio of staff

1:7 Better than regulatory standards.

Service roll

43

Gender composition

Male 23, Female 20

Ethnic composition

Māori 7, NZ European/Pākehā 30, Other ethnic groups 6

Review team on site

January 2020

Date of this report

27 February 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

These are available at www.ero.govt.nz

Education Review, December 2018, Education Review, June 2015

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 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 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 Assurance Review ERO assesses whether the regulated 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; police vetting; teacher certification; ratios)
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

As part of an 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.