Kidspace Early Learning Centre Pakuranga 1 - 29/11/2019

• On this page:

• ERO’s Judgement
• Background
• Summary of Review Findings
• Key Next Steps
• 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

Kidspace Early Learning Centre Pakuranga 1 is licensed for up to 85 children, including 35 under two years of age. The centre is one of three located on a large site. These centres are part of the nationwide Provincial Education Group. The centre manager/licensee is a registered teacher and leads a team of nine qualified teachers, as well as teachers in training and other staff. This is the first ERO review of Kidspace Pakuranga 1 since the change of ownership.

Summary of Review Findings

Teachers engage in meaningful, positive interactions that nurture reciprocal relationships. They support children’s developing social competence and understanding of appropriate behaviour. Teachers provide a language-rich environment that supports children to be confident in their own culture and understand the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua.

A philosophy statement and annual plan guide centre operations. An ongoing process of self review keeps the service focused on improving outcomes for children. There are opportunities for parents to communicate with teachers about the care and learning of their children.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• continuing to build teachers’ capability and embed new systems for planning, assessment and evaluation.

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

29 November 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.