Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre

Education institution number:
50048
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
33
Telephone:
Address:

17 Liverpool Street, Whanganui

View on map

Bright Beginning Childcare Centre

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 are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. Judgements are made in relation to the Outcomes Indicators, Learning and Organisational Conditions. The Evaluation Judgement Rubric derived from the indicators, is used to inform ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence.  

ERO’s judgements for ​Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre​ are as follows: 

Outcome Indicators 

(What the service knows about outcomes for learners) 

​​Whakaū Embedding​ 

Ngā Akatoro Domains 

 
Learning Conditions 
Organisational Conditions 

​​Whakaū Embedding​ 

Whakaū Embedding​ 

2 Context of the Service 

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre, located in Liverpool Street, is one of two privately owned centres under the same ownership. A team leader, with the support of the manager and owner, leads a mix of established and new teachers across the two age-based rooms. Most of the children enrolled are of diverse European heritages, and a small number are Māori

3 Summary of findings 

Children confidently lead their own learning. They are able to contribute to the curriculum in ways that brings complexity to their play. Teachers work collaboratively with children to plan for and extend their learning. This enables the learning conditions to positively promote outcomes for children. 

Trusting and respectful teaching practices nurture the wellbeing of infants and toddlers. Children with additional learning needs have equitable opportunities to fully participate in the curriculum.  

Assessment of children’s learning is reflective of children’s interests and what they can do over time. Teachers know their children well and intentionally scaffold their learning. A clear focus on evaluation of individual and group planning is required, to further identify what worked well, and for whom.  

Deliberate engagement in professional development has supported teachers to build their collective understanding of te ao Māori and Pacific cultures. Te reo Māori and Pacific languages are heard within the classrooms. Children’s cultures, languages and identity are affirmed. 

A professional growth cycle has been established. It is improvement focused and supports teachers to reflect and grow their teaching practice. Ongoing mentoring, along with relevant professional development opportunities, will further deepen teachers’ understanding of the curriculum and assessment practices.   

A collaborative internal evaluation framework is embedded. Refining and using robust process indicators is required to better support effective evaluation, that identifies progress and improvement of outcomes for learners. 

Those with roles in governance and management demonstrate relational trust. Effective systems and processes guide the service’s practices, enabling equitable positive outcomes for all learners.  

4 Improvement actions 

​Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre​ will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning: 

  • Undertake evaluation of individual and group planning to inform intentional teaching practices and identify what worked well, and for whom. 
  • Identify robust process indicators when engaging with systematic internal evaluation and evaluate the impact of changes made on outcomes for learners.  

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements 

Before the review, the staff and management of ​Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre​ completed an ERO 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; safety checking; teacher registration; ratios) 
  • relevant evacuation procedures and practices. 

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)  

​17 November 2023​   

6 About the Early Childhood Service  

Early Childhood Service NameBright Beginnings Childcare Centre
Profile Number 50048
Location Whanganui
Service type  ​Education and care service​ 
Number licensed for  29 children, including up to 12 aged under 2 
Percentage of qualified teachers  ​80-99%​ 
Service roll 34 
Review team on site September 2023 
Date of this report ​17 November 2023​ 
Most recent ERO report(s) ​​Akanuku | Assurance Review​, ​September 2022​; ​Education Review​, ​August 2020​ 

 

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre

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

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Not meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

At the time of the review, ERO identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.

Background

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre is one of two privately owned early learning services and is located in Liverpool Street, Whanganui. Of the children enrolled a small number identify as Māori. Children learn in two age-based rooms. The owner and centre manager oversee operations across both rooms.

Summary of Review Findings

Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, is highlighted through the service’s philosophy and implementation of the curriculum. Children’s learning, interests, whānau, and life contexts inform individual and group assessment, planning and evaluation. Their learning is nurtured and enhanced through respectful positive interactions alongside peers and adults.

Children experience a curriculum that acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. Suitable provision for teacher’s professional development is evident.

An ongoing process of self-review and internal evaluation is implemented.

Increased monitoring of health and safety practices is required.

Actions for Compliance

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

  • evidence that parents have been informed/notified of injury, illness or incident that occur at the service

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centre 2008, HS27].

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

  • equipment, premises and facilities are checked on every day of operation for hazards to children [HS12]
  • heating systems that ensure rooms used by children are kept at a temperature no lower than 18°[PF12]
  • maintaining room temperatures, no lower than 18° Celsius (at 500 mm above the floor) while children are attending [HS24]

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 is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

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

23 September 2022 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre

Profile Number

50048

Location

Whanganui

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

29 children, including up to 12 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

35

Review team on site

July 2022

Date of this report

23 September 2022

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, August 2020, March 2017  

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.

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre - 05/08/2020

1 Evaluation of Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre

How well placed is Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre requires further development to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre - Liverpool Street requires further development so that leaders and teachers ensure compliance with all health and safety licensing requirements, as outlined in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations and the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008.

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre, Liverpool Street, is one of two privately owned early learning services based in Whanganui. It is licensed for 29 children, including 12 up to the age of two years. The centre provides all-day education and care for children from birth to school-age. At the time of this ERO review, 44 children were enrolled and six are Māori.

An owner is the operations manager. A centre manager oversees daily organisation across the two centres. Staffing the services during 2019 has been a key consideration.

The revised philosophy of the centre is to have respectful, open and reciprocal relationships between staff, children, family and whānau to provide a home away from home.

The centre has responded to many aspects identified for improvement in the March 2017 ERO report. Improving internal evaluation remains a priority.

The Review Findings

During the onsite phase of the review ERO found non-compliances in relation to children's health and safety. Governance, management and leadership need to revisit and establish clear roles, responsibilities and reporting requirements for wellbeing, accountability and improvement.

Positive interactions and nurturing relationships with children and whānau support their sense of belonging. Teachers support children’s growing social and emotional competence. Children are curious and confident to explore their environment. They know and understand the routines and rituals of the centre. Children seek adults for help and ideas.

Infants and toddlers are given time and space to lead their own learning. Teachers are responsive and respectful of children’s verbal and non-verbal cues and parents' preferences. Children form strong and secure attachments with teachers.

Children's decision-making and readiness for engaging in play across the two age-based areas are respected. Transitions into, through and beyond the centre are well supported for children and their whānau.

The curriculum is child-led and based on their interests, local events and cultural celebrations. Children's learning portfolios reflect and celebrate these. Clear communication supports parents to know, understand and participate in the life of the centre. Te reo Māori is increasingly evident throughout learning resources, planning and assessment. Teachers need to continue to grow their knowledge and understanding of effective assessment, planning and evaluation. Alongside this, leaders need to develop clear expectations to guide a consistent approach that enhances and extends children’s learning and development.

Leaders model the philosophy, vision and goals of the organisation. A more cohesive approach across the Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre organisation is emerging. Collaborative ways of working are fostered with teachers.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre 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.

Actions for compliance

ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to health, safety, premises and facilities. To meet requirements the service needs to improve its performance in the following areas so that:

  • heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured

  • equipment, premises and facilities are checked on every day of operation for hazards to children. Accident/incident records are analysed to identify hazards and appropriate action is taken

  • children are supervised while eating and staff or adults must sit with the children, so attention is on the children and not on completing other tasks

  • outdoor activity space is easily and safely accessed by children and ensure that children have easy access to the outdoor environment

  • toilet access and design are important for children’s sense of well-being in a centre and provide children with a sense of privacy.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008, HS6, HS12, HS22, PF13, PF12]

To improve current practice, the early childhood service management should ensure:

  • policies, procedures and practices are reviewed and improved to ensure compliance with all licensing requirements and regulations as outlined in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations and the Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008 to inform and monitor expected practice

  • medicines are disposed of or sent home with the child’s parent after the specified time or before the expiry date of the product

  • cultural differences in children’s sleep requirements are respected and the centre’s procedure is followed.

Since the onsite phase of the review the centre has undertaken an audit to ensure all objects that may fall or topple and cause serious injury have been removed or secured.

Development Plan Recommendation

ERO recommends that the service, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, develops a plan to address the key next steps and actions outlined in this report.

Phil Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)

Central Region - Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

5 August 2020

The Purpose of ERO Reports

The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Liverpool Street, Whanganui

Ministry of Education profile number

50048

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

29 children, including up to 12 aged under 2

Service roll

44

Gender composition

Female 22, Male 22

Ethnic composition

Māori
NZ European/Pākehā
Other ethnic groups

6
34
4

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:7

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

March 2020

Date of this report

5 August 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Education Review

March 2017

Education Review

March 2013

Education Review

April 2009

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:

Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children

Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children

Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children

Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.

Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.

ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.

A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.

For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.

ERO’s Overall Judgement

The overall judgement that ERO makes will depend on how well the service promotes positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed

  • Well placed

  • Requires further development

  • Not well placed

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.