Pasifika 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

At the time of the review, ERO identified areas of non-compliance with regulatory standards that are an unacceptable risk to children.

Background

Pasifika Early Learning Centre is a culturally inclusive centre located in the grounds of Tawhero School in Whanganui. The service provides education and care for children aged from birth to six years. It is one of two centres in Whanganui owned by the Pacific Vision Forum Charitable Trust. The owner/centre manager leads a team of four qualified teachers.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are encouraged to understand and respect other cultures. Adults engage in positive interactions to nurture reciprocal relationships.

The curriculum is not consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers’ practice and knowledge of relevant theories to support children’s learning is not evident. The service is yet to establish governance and management systems, and ongoing self-review to support improvement.

The service is not meeting regulatory standards in a significant number of areas. Consistent implementation of the licensing criteria is required.

Actions for Compliance

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

• implementing a teacher induction procedure
• children having independent access to learning resources and distinct and inviting areas of play
• maintaining a first aid kit that complies with requirements
• ensuring a sufficient quantity and variety of (indoor and outdoor) furniture, equipment, and materials are provided that are appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending
• securing heavy furniture that could fall or topple and cause serious injury
• developing a written emergency plan
• ensuring a procedure stating that children do not have access to food or liquids while in bed is documented
• checking the equipment, premises and facilities every day of operation for consideration of all hazards to the children, including access to nappy changing items
• evidencing parental permission when children leave the premises for excursions, including when travelling by a vehicle
• providing adults who administer medicine to children (other than their own) with information and/or training relevant to the task
• developing a policy to state that no person on the premises 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 Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA7, PF4, PF28, HS6, HS7, HS9, HS12, HS17, HS18, HS27, HS29, H33.

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

• providing children with a range of experiences and opportunities in the curriculum to enhance and extend their learning and development, both indoors and outdoors, individually and in groups (C9)
• ensuring every children’s worker is safety checked every three years and the results of the safety checks are recorded (GMA7A)
• ensuring all indoor and outdoor items and surfaces, furniture, equipment and materials being safe and suitable for their intended use (PF5)
• providing an ample supply of water that is fit to drink for children at all times, and ensuring older children are able to access this water independently (HS21)
• including in policy that children do not come into contact with any person (adult or child) on the premises who is suffering from a disease (HS26)
• including in policy that staff will get immediate medical assistance for a child who is seriously injured or becomes seriously ill and notify a parent; implementing a procedure outlining the service’s response to injury, illness, and incident, including the review and implementation of practices as required (HS27)
• the Child Protection Policy including the steps taken to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material (HS32).

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends that the Ministry reassess the licence issued to this service provider. ERO will not undertake a further review of this service until the Ministry of Education is satisfied that the service meets regulatory standards.

Next ERO Review

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

Steve Tanner
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

15 April 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.