Gumboots Early Learning Centre - 23/10/2019

• On this page:

• ERO’s Judgement
• Background
• Summary of Review Findings
• Next ERO Review
• Information About the Service
• General Information about Assurance Reviews

At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Gumboots Early Learning Centre is an Education and Care Service. It has operated under a new ownership and licence since December 2018. This is the centre’s first review.

The owner oversees the day-to-day operations. A centre manager, 12 registered teachers, and eight staff make up the team. The other centre owner is a registered teacher and supports the team. A philosophy statement guides the service’s operations.

Children are separated into four age-related rooms and three outdoor play spaces. Small numbers of children from Māori and other ethnicities attend the centre.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning and engage in positive interactions with them. Children have opportunities to develop an understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

There are processes in place to monitor health and safety requirements. Parents are provided with opportunities to contribute to the development and review of the service’s operational documents. An ongoing process of self review helps the centre to improve the quality of its education and care.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)

Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

23 October 2019

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.