Little Coasties by Busy Bees

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

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 found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Little Coasties is a purpose-built centre which opened in 2018. A centre manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the service with the support of an area manager from the organisation that owns the service. Seven qualified teachers and five support staff complete the team. This is the service’s first ERO review.

Summary of Review Findings

The service curriculum reflects an understanding of learning and development that is consistent with current research, theory and practices in early childhood education.

The design and layout support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences, including quiet spaces and areas for physically active play. Furnishings and resources support a safe and suitable learning environment.

Premises, facilities and resources are kept hygienic and maintained in good condition. Policies and procedures promote the good health and safety of children enrolled at the centre.

An ongoing process of self review helps the service maintain and improve the quality of its education and care.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• deepening teacher response to parent aspirations to enhance their involvement in decision making concerning their child
• continuing to support children to be confident in their own culture which will be reflected in documentation of their learning.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)

Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

27 January 2021

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 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 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.