Pukekohe Early Learning Centre

Education institution number:
46911
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
74
Telephone:
Address:

1 Harrington Avenue, Pukekohe

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Pukekohe 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

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.

Background

Pukekohe Early Learning Centre is a privately - owned education and care service. The community is ethnically diverse. The July 2019 ERO evaluation found that the service did not meet a number of aspects of the licensing criteria. Sufficient progress has been made in response.

Summary of Review Findings

The service’s curriculum is inclusive. Infants, toddlers and older children experience positive and respectful interactions with teachers. Children have opportunities to develop an understanding of the dual heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. Their home languages are respected and used by teachers. Cultural celebrations are integrated into the curriculum. The premises and facilities are resourced to provide for the learning and abilities of the children attending. A philosophy, policy framework and annual planning guide service operation. Teacher appraisal and internal evaluation processes are established. Health and safety processes are monitored, and changes are made when required.

Actions for Compliance

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

  • furniture and items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers or mattresses) that will be used by more than one child over time are securely covered or made of a non-porous material.

Licensing criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008, PF 30.

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

3 March 2021 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name Pukekohe Early Learning Centre
Profile Number 46911
Location Auckland

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

97 children, including up to 25 aged under 2.

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%+

Service roll

95

Ethnic composition

Māori 12, NZ European/Pākehā 30, Pacific 9, South African 13, Indian 16, Filipino 5, Other ethnicities 8.

Review team on site

10 November 2020

Date of this report

3 March 2021

Most recent ERO report(s) Akanuku |Assurance Review, August 2019; Education Review May 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 (PDF 1MB). 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.

Pukekohe Early Learning Centre - 07/08/2019

ERO’s judgement

Regulatory standards

Curriculum

Not meeting

Premises and facilities

Not meeting

Health and safety

Not meeting

Governance, management and administration

Not meeting

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

Background

Pukekohe Early Learning Centre is a privately owned, full-day education and care centre situated in Pukekohe. The centre was reviewed by ERO in 2018 and was found to be requiring further development. The Ministry of Education supported the staff employed at the time to access professional development. There have been significant changes in management, leadership and teachers over the last year.

Summary of review findings

The newly appointed operations manager and centre manager are in the process of revising systems and processes. These include assessment and curriculum planning, appraisal and policy review. These need time to be fully implemented. The majority of the teaching team are new to the centre. Teachers are working well together to develop respectful relationships with children and families and to build a cohesive team culture. Leaders and teachers are currently accessing external support to respond to areas identified in the 2018 ERO report. Some of the non-compliances identified in the previous ERO report remain areas to be addressed. Addressing issues relating to the safety of children are priority areas for improvement.

Actions for compliance

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

  • regular emergency drills

  • consideration of hazards

  • assessment and planning of learning

  • strengthening the response to children’s individual language, culture and identity

  • children being viewed as competent, confident learners

  • providing a sufficient range of experiences for children

  • consultation with parents and whānau to review policy

  • human resources management including developing an appraisal policy and process, job descriptions, and an induction process for new staff

  • providing a sufficient quantity and variety of resources.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C2, C6, C7, C9, GMA4, GMA7, HS8, HS12, PF4. Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, Regulation 43 (1) (a), (i, iv) c), 47 (1) (a,b,e) (i&ii), 46 (1) (c,d), (iii).

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends that the Ministry reassess the licence of Pukekohe Early Learning Centre. 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 of Pukekohe Early Learning Centre will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Phil Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services

Central Region

7 August 2019

Information about the service

Early Childhood Service Name

Pukekohe Early Learning Centre

Profile Number

46911

Location

Pukekohe

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

69 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Percentage of qualified teachers

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4 Better than regulatory standards

Over 2

1:8 Better than regulatory standards

Service roll

63

Gender composition

Male 32 Female 31

Ethnic composition

Māori 6
NZ European/Pākehā 21
Indian 8
Chinese 5
Other European 5
Other 18

Review team on site

May 2019

Date of this report

7 August 2019

Most recent ERO report(s)

Supplementary Review May 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.