Scallywaggs Graduation Kindergarten - 03/12/2020

• On this page:

• ERO’s Judgement
• Background
• Summary of Review Findings
• Actions for Compliance
• Recommendation to Ministry of Education
• Next ERO Review
• Information About the Service
• General Information about Assurance Reviews

ERO’s Judgement

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

Background

Scallywaggs Graduation Kindergarten is one of four education and care services owned by Scallywaggs 2017 Ltd. The service is governed and managed by a general manager and operations manager. The June 2019 ERO report identified that the service was not meeting health and safety regulatory standards. Additional non-compliances have been identified that must be addressed.

Summary of Review Findings

Children’s developing social competence and understanding of appropriate behaviour is supported. Adults engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. Children hear te reo Māori and have opportunities to develop an understanding of the cultural heritage of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The curriculum provides a language and early literacy rich environment.

Strengthening the implementation and monitoring of ongoing compliance with regulations and criteria is required.

Actions for Compliance

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

• taking all reasonable steps to promote the good health and safety of children enrolled in the service, including the supervision of children
• a documented risk management system that includes the identification of hazards to children’s safety and how these are eliminated, isolated or minimised
• daily hazard checks include windows and other areas of glass
• records of excursions that include the names of adults and children involved, and the time and date of the excursion.

[Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 Regulation 46, 1 (a). Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care 2008, HS12, HS17]

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

• the procedure for monitoring children’s sleep is displayed HS9
• storage equipment is easily and safely accessible to adults PF8,
• kitchen and cooking facilities are fitted with safety devices to ensure children cannot access them without adult supervision PF17
• the amount and details of expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service is accessible to parents GMA3.

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 will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Phil Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)

Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

3 December 2020

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.