Regulatory standards |
ERO’s judgement |
Curriculum |
Meeting |
Premises and facilities |
Meeting |
Health and safety |
Meeting |
Governance, management and administration |
Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Seashells Early Childhood Centre has operated at Coopers Beach since May 2014. It is part of the nationwide Provincial Education Group. The centre is licensed to provide for up to 56 children, including up to 16 aged under two years. Seven of the 13 staff, including the manager, are qualified teachers. Two-thirds of the children enrolled have Māori heritage.
Children learn in a language-rich environment with teachers who engage them in positive, meaningful interactions. Teachers plan and implement a curriculum that is inclusive and responsive to children as confident and competent learners. Teaching practices are underpinned by a good understanding of children’s learning and development and relevant early childhood education theories. The curriculum acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua.
The service is managed effectively. Human resource management practices are suitable. An ongoing process of review keeps the service focused on improving outcomes for children. The premises support easy access to resources and the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences. Health and safety practices are appropriately documented and monitored.
Next steps include:
The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.
Steve Tanner
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki
9 October 2019
Early Childhood Service Name |
Seashells Early Childhood Centre |
Profile Number |
46403 |
Location |
Mangonui, Northland |
Service type |
Education and care service |
Number licensed for |
56 children, including up to 16 aged under 2 |
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80% |
Reported ratio of staff to children under 2 |
1-4 - Better than regulatory standards |
Reported ratio of staff to children over 2 |
1-8 - Better than regulatory standards |
Service roll |
70 |
Gender composition |
Girls 41 Boys 29 |
Ethnic composition |
Māori 47 |
Review team on site |
August 2019 |
Date of this report |
9 October 2019 |
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review January 2016 |
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.
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:
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:
As part of an Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through: