Kindercare Learning Centres - Palmerston North

Here is the latest report for the Governing Organisation that this service is part of.

ERO’s judgement

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

Background

Kindercare Learning Centres - Palmerston North is one of 46 centres, privately owned and operated, under the umbrella of Kindercare Ltd. The teaching team is guided by the centre director and the wider Kindercare support group. Recent re-licensing increased the number of children under two years able to attend the service.

Summary of review findings

The programme for children is underpinned by the service’s philosophy and Te Whāriki. Children engage in a range of child-initiated, play-based experiences during their time at the centre. Management and teachers work collaboratively to provide a welcoming, inclusive learning environment for children and families.

Governance and management support the centre’s operation. Leaders implement an appraisal process to strengthen teachers' capability and improve the quality of learning outcomes. Quality assurance and communication processes guide leadership, teaching and legislative expectations.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review of Kindercare Learning Centres - Palmerston North is likely to be an Education Review.

Phillip Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services Central Region

12 April 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
• 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.

ERO undertakes an Assurance Review process in any 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.