Essence of the Pacific Early Learning 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

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

Background

This community-based centre is governed by the Rotorua Pacific Island Charitable Development Trust. The six staff include two registered teachers. Most children enrolled are of Pacific heritages, and a small number of tamariki whakapapa Māori. Many currently enrolled children have additional learning needs.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation that demonstrate an understanding of children's learning, their interests and life contexts. It acknowledges the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. Children are confident in their own culture. They are encouraged to understand and respect other cultures.

Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions, nurturing reciprocal relationships. They respond to children as confident and competent learners. Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning.

Strengthening of systems, processes and practices is required to maintain regulatory compliance.

Actions for Compliance

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

• having a procedure outlining how the service will ensure hygiene and infection control outcomes are met when washing sick and soiled children

• having a written emergency plan that includes, at least, all elements required by the licensing criterion

• ensuring relevant emergency drills are carried out with children on at least a three-monthly basis

• gaining written authority from parents for the administration of medicine, in accordance with the requirement for the category of medicine, and evidence of parent acknowledgment that medicine has been given

• having a written procedure for safety checking all children’s workers before employment or engagement of the worker commences that meets the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014; and keeping a record of all safety checks and the results.
  [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF26, HS7, HS8, HS28, GMA7A].

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

• Having a current Fire Evacuation Scheme approved by the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (HS4).

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends that the Ministry reassess the licence issued to this service provider. ERO will not undertake any 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 will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

31 July 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.