Happy Sprouts Educare Putaruru

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

This is the first review for Happy Sprouts Educare Putaruru, previously known as Abbey’s Place Childcare Centre, since a change in ownership in September 2021. There have been significant staff changes. The majority of children attending are Māori and a small number of Pacific heritage are enrolled.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are given opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The service curriculum acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua.

The service curriculum is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation, documented and undocumented, that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning, their interests, whānau and life contexts. A language rich environment is provided to support children’s learning.

Health and safety practices have been strengthened to meet all aspects of regulatory requirements. Centre leaders must ensure that policies and procedures are followed to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory standards.

Actions for Compliance

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

• provided sufficient quantity and variety of outdoor equipment and materials that are appropriate for the age and ability of children attending

• ensuring sufficient spaces for outdoor resources to be stored safely

• identifying, eliminating, minimising, or isolating hazards, including the fixing of equipment that could topple and cause harm in the bathroom area

• ensuring designated assembly areas for evacuation purposes outside the building keep children safe from further risk

• implementing a documented risk management system that includes how accident/incident records are analysed to identify hazards and appropriate action is taken

• ensuring parents’ prior written approval of their child's participation and approval of the proposed ratio for regular excursions is given at the time of enrolment and for special excursions prior to the excursion taking place

• ensuring prior written permission approving the mode of transport for special excursions is gathered from parents

• ensuring written parental acknowledgement of the date and time medicine was administered and who by is gathered

• ensuring that adults who are administering medicine to children (other than their own) are provided with information and/or training relevant to the task and documented.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008: PF4, PF8, HS6, HS7, HS12, HS17, HS18, HS28, HS29]

Next ERO Review

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

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

23 January 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.