Barnardos Hornby Pasifika Early Learning Centre

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.

Background

This is the first ERO review for Barnardos Hornby Pasifika Early Learning Centre, a Pan-Pacific service. At the time of this review, leadership challenges and recent staff turnover were being responded to with increased support and oversight from Barnardos management. New staff have been appointed including an acting centre manager.

Summary of Review Findings

Poor professional practice and inconsistent documentation have led to the service not meeting the requirements of the regulatory standards and licensing criteria in aspects of Curriculum, Health and Safety and Governance, Management and Administration. Children have not had sufficient opportunity to engage in a purposeful programme that reflects the early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki and supports and extends their learning. Assessment, planning and evaluation practices do not meet requirements. These issues are well known to Barnardos management. Responsive planning is underway for immediate action and improvements in key areas.

Actions for Compliance

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

• consistency with the prescribed curriculum framework
• assessment, planning, and evaluation (documented and undocumented) that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning, their interests, whānau, and life contexts that inform the services curriculum
• practices that demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning and development, and knowledge of relevant theories and practice in early childhood education
• the service curriculum acknowledging and reflecting the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua
• formal and informal opportunities for parents to share specific evidence of their child’s learning and be involved in decision-making about their learning
• seeking information and guidance from agencies/services to enable staff to work effectively with children and their parents
• securing of heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury
• excursion and risk management processes, including documentation of parental permission
• administration of medication and the provision of staff training
• opportunities for parents of children attending the service to contribute to the development and review of the service’s operational documents
• ongoing self-review processes that help the service maintain and improve the quality of its education and care
• enrolment documentation and records of children’s attendance kept for at least 7 years
• completion and maintenance of attendance records.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C1, C2, C4, C5, C12, C13, HS6, HS17, HS28, HS29, GMA4, GMA6, GMA10, GMA11.

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends that the Ministry reassess the licence of Barnardos Hornby Pasifika Early Learning Centre. ERO will not undertake a further review of this service until the Ministry of Education is satisfied that the service meets regulatory standards.

Next ERO Review

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

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)

Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

30 March 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.