2 St Albans Grove, Lower Hutt CBD, Lower Hutt
View on mapERO’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.
Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
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Curriculum |
Meeting |
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Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
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Health and safety |
Meeting |
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Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed non-compliances and is now taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre is a community-based early childhood service supported by a charitable trust. A recently appointed centre manager runs the day-to-day operations of the service, supported by two head teachers. The service regained its full licence in June 2021 after addressing areas of non-compliance in governance and management, health and safety, and premises and facilities.
The service curriculum is inclusive and informed by assessment, planning and evaluation aligned to Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. It provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities to support their interests and needs.
The design and layout of the premises support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences. Governance and management implement suitable human resource practices, teacher appraisal and internal evaluation. They promote opportunities to collaborate with parents and whānau about the service operations. An increased level of monitoring of health and safety practices is required.
Next steps include strengthening the quality of planning and assessment for learning, particularly in relation to:
clearly aligning children’s learning to Te Whāriki learning outcomes
consistent acknowledgment of children’s cultures, languages and identities
intentionally evaluate the effectiveness of teaching on outcomes for children.
Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:
a current Fire Evacuation Scheme approved by the New Zealand Fire Service
heavy furniture, fixtures, and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured in the over two years learning area, including the sleep room
consistent records that show daily hazards are undertaken in the under two room
a record of training and/or information provided to adults who administer medicine to children (other than their own) while at the service.
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008; HS4, HS6, HS12, HS29.
The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
23 March 2022
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Early Childhood Service Name |
Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre |
| Profile Number | 60225 |
| Location | Lower Hutt |
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Service type |
Education and care service |
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Number licensed for |
47 children, including up to 15 aged under 2 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
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Service roll |
56 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori 3, NZ European/Pākehā 39, Pacific heritages 4, Other ethnic groups 10 |
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Review team on site |
January 2022 |
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Date of this report |
23 March 2022 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review February 2018, Education Review June 2014 |
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.
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.
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.
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Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre is a long-established, community-based early childhood service. It operates as a not-for-profit centre supported by a charitable trust.
A management committee made up of families and the supervisor undertakes a governance role. The supervisor is also responsible for daily operation. The service is licensed for a maximum of 47 children, including 15 children aged up to two years. Renovations to the inside and outside areas have recently been completed.
The centre philosophy reflects the values of members and families. It supports new teachers to the service to know the teaching team beliefs.
In the 2014 ERO report, next steps included improving teaching and learning, considering success for Māori children as Māori, and developing programme planning. There has been improvement in these areas.
Children show a strong sense of belonging. They are empowered to take ownership of their learning by making decisions and choices. Children and adults are respectful of each other. A positive tone prevails. Children are seen as competent and confident learners. They are given space to develop their learning and time to play at their own pace.
Assessment, planning and evaluation processes have been revised since 2014. Clear expectations have been developed to guide teacher practice. An improved focus on outcomes for children and how teachers notice, recognise and respond to learning is evident. Children's interests are central to the planning and implementation of the service's curriculum.
A wide selection of numeracy and literacy experiences is available. Children engage independently and with teachers to enjoy these opportunities. Routines are flexible to respond to individual needs. Group times are well-considered.
The newly renovated area for up to 2 year olds promotes an environment that is responsive to the needs and attributes of the youngest learners. Teachers deliberately support children's learning and well-being through taking time to learn about their home routines and family expectations.
The service's response to cultural inclusion is ongoing and well considered. Teachers establish a culture in which children are valued, celebrated and affirmed. Significant improvement in the bicultural curriculum is evident and supports all children to grow as New Zealanders in Aotearoa. Leaders agree continuing to develop a shared understanding of a programme that focuses on te ao Māori and reflects the local community is a next step.
Teachers' strengths are acknowledged and they are encouraged to use their expertise for the benefit of the service. A next step is for leaders to further promote and provide opportunities for leadership to be built, shared and distributed.
The centre manager seeks opportunities to professionally interact with other early learning service providers. A priority for the governance team is to review the appraisal system to support teacher development and to meet the Education Council requirements.
Understanding and use of self review and internal evaluation should be strengthened to further promote high quality outcomes for children.
ERO has identified through its external evaluation that the service manager and trustees should continue to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre 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:
During the review, ERO looked at the service’s systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
ERO found an area of non-compliance in the service related to governance and management. The service provider must ensure:
[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA 7].
The next ERO review of Lower Hutt City Childcare Centre will be in three years.
Alan Wynyard
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central (Acting)
Te Tai Pokapū - Central Region
15 February 2018
The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.
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Location |
Lower Hutt |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
60225 |
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Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
47 children, including up to 15 aged under 2 |
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Service roll |
46 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 25, Girls 21 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
9 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates |
80% + |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:3 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Over 2 |
1:6 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Review team on site |
December 2017 |
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Date of this report |
15 February 2018 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review |
June 2014 |
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Supplementary Review |
April 2011 |
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|
Supplementary Review |
February 2010 |
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ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:
Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.
ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.
A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.
For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.
The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:
ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.
ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.