Little Kiwi Explorers

ERO’s Judgement

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

Background

Little Kiwi Explorers is a privately-owned centre which opened in September 2017. A separate centre for over two year-olds is on an adjacent property. Most teachers are qualified and the day-to-day operation is the responsibility of the centre manager.

The centre provides education and care for up to 20 children aged from six weeks to two years of age. This is the first review of Little Kiwi Explorers.

Summary of Review Findings

Children have easy access to the outdoors where exploration of the environment is encouraged. Useful information is available to parents and whānau about how the centre operates and how they can be involved. Teachers’ should continue to develop their confidence and competence in the use of te reo Māori in everyday practice. Leaders should increase the level of monitoring of documentation related to health and safety practices.

Actions for Compliance

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

• monitoring the implementation of health and safety practices related to centre hygiene, daily hazard checks and administering of medication
• administering medication not provided by the parent and with no written authority prior to administering
• evidence of parental acknowledgment that the medication has been administered
• te reo Māori being spoken and heard in everyday practice.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS1, HS12, HS28, C5.

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

• providing information to parents about the amount and details of expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service
• having an annual plan that identifies who, what and when in relation to the key tasks that guides the services practice
• securing heavy furniture and equipment that could fall and topple and cause serious injury or damage
• identifying what safety and emergency supplies and resources are available and how these will be maintained
• excursion information that clearly shows the signature of the Person Responsible for giving prior approval for the excursion to take place
• stating explicitly that no person on the premises uses or is under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that has a detrimental effect on their functioning or behaviour during the service’s hours of operation.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA3, GMA8, HS6, HS7, HS17, HS33.

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 Little Kiwi Explorers will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)

Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

25 October 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.