All About Children - Opaheke

ERO’s Judgement

At the time of the review, ERO identified areas of non-compliance with regulatory standards that are an unacceptable risk to children, that have since been addressed.

Background

All about Children – Opaheke is owned by a private trust and opened in June 2018. It is one of nine services operated by this company in the North Island. At the time of the review the service had an acting centre manager and there have been some other changes to staff. Children, families and staff come from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Summary of Review Findings

ERO identified that the service was not able to demonstrate that it has maintained compliance with many of the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services (2008). In particular, several significant concerns were identified in providing a suitable curriculum consistent with the prescribed curriculum framework, and ensuring the premises are kept in a clean and in a hygienic condition. Significant concerns were evident in the management of health and safety practices. Some aspects of governance and management also required attention. The non-compliances relating to premises and facilities, health and safety, and governance and management at the time of the review have since been addressed.

Actions for Compliance

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

• provision of a rich, bicultural curriculum that is inclusive, and responsive to children as confident and competent learners, supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture and encourages children to understand and respect other cultures
• respecting and acknowledging the aspirations held by parents and whānau for their children

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C5, C6, C8, C11.

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

• assessment, planning and evaluation that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning, their interests, whānau, and life contexts
• respecting children’s preferences, and involving them in decisions about their learning
• safe storage of equipment and resources, including first aid supplies, bedding, resources
• internal fencing that allowed infants to leave the designated outdoor play area unnoticed by adults
• children aged under two having access to medication in an unsecured fridge
• facilities for washing sick and soiled children not suitably maintained for immediate use, and guidance not readily available for staff to meet the service’s expectations
• premises, furniture, fitting, equipment and materials being kept safe and hygienic and maintained in good condition
• sufficiency, quantity and variety of furniture, equipment and materials provided that are appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending
• carrying out relevant emergency drills
• emergency planning
• effective implementation of systems for monitoring sleep, safe storage and administration of medication, maintenance of first aid supplies and checking of hazards
• provision of drinking water that is easily accessible to children
• child protection policy needing to provide staff with greater guidance for identifying suspected abuse
• adults being suitably trained to administer medication
• service licence displayed does not show the date of issue
• clearly showing the procedure people should follow if they wish to complain about non-compliance with the Regulations or Criteria
• providing written information for parents showing amount and details of expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C2, C3, C4, C7, C9, PF4, PF5, PF8, PF13, PF16, PF17, PF26, PF 28, PF31, HS1, HS2, HS6, HS7, HS8, HS9, HS11, HS12, HS 17, HS21, HS28, HS29, HS30, HS31, GMA1, GMA3.

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.

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)

Southern Region - Te Tai Tini

6 May 2020

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 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.