Happy Sprouts Educare Ltd

ERO’s Judgement

At the time of the review, ERO identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.

Background

Learning Adventures is a privately owned, all-day, education and care service. It caters for children from infants to school age in a mixed aged setting. The qualified owner/managing director leads a team of three qualified teachers and two unqualified staff.

Summary of Review Findings

The service is not meeting the regularity standards in a number of areas.

Children experience positive relationships with teachers and their peers. Children’s developing social and emotional competence is supported by teachers. The curriculum is informed by assessment and planning that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning and interests. Teachers seek information and guidance from external agencies to support children with additional learning and development needs.

A philosophy statement guides centre operations. Professional learning and ongoing development is contributing to internal evaluation that is helping staff monitor aspects of centre operations.

Actions for Compliance

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

• implementing all aspects of the Fire Evacuation Scheme
• reviewing the emergency plan annually and implementing improved practices as required
• evaluating all emergency drills and evaluations informing the annual review of the emergency plan
• prior parental approval for the proposed ratios for excursions
• there is written parental acknowledgement of administration of medication.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS4, HS6, HS8, HS12, HS17.

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

• fostering children’s independence during nappy changing
• displaying a current procedure for the changing of nappies near the nappy changing facilities
• the building having a current Fire Evacuation Scheme approved by the New Zealand Fire Service
• securing heavy furniture and equipment that could topple and cause serious injury or damage
• ensuring sufficient emergency supplies and resources for the age and number of children and adults at the service
• a sleep procedure that ensures children are checked for breathing, warmth and general well-being, and implementation of these checks
• analysis of accidents and incidents to identify hazards
• monitoring and maintaining rooms used by children at a comfortable temperature
• written authority from parents for the administration of medicine in accordance with the requirements for category (i) and (iii).

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF25, HS3, HS4, HS6, HS7, HS9, HS12, HS24, HS28.

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review of Learning Adventures will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Darcy Te Hau

Acting Director Review and Improvement Services

Central Region - Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

18 June 2020

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.