- ERO evaluates and reports on the education and care of children and young people in early childhood services and schools.
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Regulatory standards |
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Curriculum |
Meeting |
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Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
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Health and safety |
Meeting |
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Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Elm Tree Early Learning Centre is a privately owned and operated service. It was established in 2016, and two new co-managers were appointed in November 2018. The service has eight qualified and registered teachers in three age-based learning areas. This is the centre’s first ERO review.
The service’s curriculum is inclusive, responsive and consistent with Te Whāriki. Interactions between teachers and children are respectful and enhance their learning. A range of activities and experiences supports children’s learning and development. Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning. Regular opportunities are provided for parents to communicate about the care and education of their child.
The centre’s philosophy, mission, vision and strategic plan guide the service’s operation. There is a process in place for reviewing policies and improving practice. Policies and procedures are implemented to maintain safe and hygienic practices.
The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.
Phillip Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services
Central Region
11 April 2019
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Early Childhood Service Name |
Elm Tree Early Learning Centre |
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Profile Number |
47108 |
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Location |
Tauranga |
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Service type |
Education and care service |
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Number licensed for |
80 children, including up to 18 aged under 2 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% |
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Reported ratios of staff children |
Under 2 |
1:4 –Better regulatory standards |
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Over 2 |
1:8 – Better than regulatory standards |
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Service roll |
76 |
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Gender composition |
Girls 42 Boys 34 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori 3 |
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Review team on site |
March 2019 |
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Date of this report |
11 April 2019 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
First ERO review of the service |
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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 Home-based Education and Care Services 2008
the Licensing Criteria for Hospital-based 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.
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.
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.