Good Beginnings Early Learning Centre

Education institution number:
46891
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
27
Telephone:
Address:

28 Shamrock Street, Palmerston North

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Good Beginnings Early Learning Centre

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

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

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

Background

Good Beginnings Early Learning Centre is privately owned.  Previously known as Little Ferns Childcare, new owners began operating in May 2021. Children learn within a mixed age setting. A centre manager is responsible for governance and management. The head teacher is responsible for day-to-day operations and the curriculum.

Summary of Review Findings

Infants, toddlers, and young children engage in meaningful and positive relationships with teachers. They engage in a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development.

Children experience a curriculum that is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation. Teachers demonstrate an understanding of children’s interests, whānau and life contexts.

Children’s preferences are respected and they are involved in decisions about their learning experiences as confident, competent learners. A philosophy statement guides the service’s operation.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

  • strengthen the extent to which information documented about children’s learning reflects their identity, language and culture.

Next ERO Review

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

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

18 July 2022 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name

Good Beginnings Early Learning Centre

Profile Number

46891

Location

Palmerston North

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 10 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80-99%

Service roll

33

Ethnic composition

Māori 11, NZ European/Pākehā 16, Other ethnic groups 6

Review team on site

May 2022

Date of this report

18 July 2022

Most recent ERO report(s)

Akanuku | Assurance Review, June 2019; Education Review, January 2018

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. https://www.ero.govt.nz/assets/Centre-Assurance-Statement-Master-January-2017.pdf. 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.

Little Ferns Childcare - 10/06/2019

ERO’s judgement

Regulatory standards

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

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

Background

The owner/manager of this privately-owned service oversees daily operation and leads a team of four qualified teachers, one in training and a support teacher. All teachers are new to the service since the January 2018 ERO report that identified further development was required. Sufficient progress has been made in response.

Summary of review findings

The curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki. It is inclusive and responsive to children as confident and competent learners. It provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities. The quantity and variety of resources and equipment are appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending.

Health and safety systems are monitored. Parents and whānau are consulted about their child’s learning, as well as service operation.

The service is appropriately governed and managed. Professional learning and development and an ongoing process of self review supports teachers to improve the quality of education and care for children attending the service.

Next ERO Review

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

Phillip Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services

Central Region

10 June 2019

Information about the service

Early Childhood Service Name

Little Ferns Childcare

Profile Number

46891

Location

Palmerston North 

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

30 children, including up to 10 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4 – Better than regulatory standards

Over 2

1:6 – Better than regulatory standards

Service roll

34

Gender composition

Girls 22, Boys 12

Ethnic composition

Māori 14
Other ethnic groups 6
NZ European/Pākehā14

Review team on site

May 2019

Date of this report

10 June 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

January 2018

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:

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.