Shannon Kindergarten - 23/09/2019

• On this page:

• ERO’s Judgement
• Background
• Summary of Review Findings
• Key Next Steps
• Actions for Compliance
• Next ERO Review
• Information About the Service
• General Information about Assurance Reviews

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

Background

Shannon Kindergarten, previously known as Shannon Preschool, was relicensed in November 2018. It is now part of He Whānau Manaaki o Tararua Free Kindergarten Association (the association) which takes responsibility for its governance and management. Senior teachers employed by the association oversee and support the professional practice of the teaching team.

The kindergarten provides education and care for up to 30 children aged from two to five years. All teachers are qualified. This is the first review of this service as Shannon Kindergarten.

Summary of Review Findings

Parents and whānau are provided with opportunities to contribute to the development of the kindergarten’s operational documents. The curriculum offers a language-rich environment that enhances children’s learning. Quiet spaces and areas for physically active play are available to children. There are well established systems for the monitoring of health and safety.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• increasing opportunities for children to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful learning contexts
• developing an internal evaluation process that enables teachers to better measure the effectiveness of the curriculum in supporting children’s learning.

Actions for Compliance

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

• establishing a system for checking that perishable food is kept at a temperature at or below 4 °C.
  Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF16.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Education Review.

Dr Lesley Patterson

Director Review and Improvement Services Te Tai Tini

Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

23 September 2019

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 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 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.