Busy Bees Wellington Street

ERO’s Judgement

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

Background

Sticky Fingers Childcare and Education Centre was relicensed under new ownership in October 2019. The new owners, Provincial Education Group Ltd, took over ownership approximately one month before this evaluation. The centre manager leads a teaching team with 11 who are qualified teachers.

Summary of Review Findings

A philosophy and an annual plan guide the service’s operation. Information and guidance is sought when necessary from agencies to enable adults, working with children providing education and care, to work effectively with children and their parents. Teacher appraisal and internal evaluation processes are established. Suitable human resource management practices are in place. Aspects of teaching practices and the service’s premises do not meet regulatory standards.

Actions for Compliance

ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to: curriculum and premises and facilities.

To meet the Curriculum Standard the service must ensure:

• the practices of adults providing education and care demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning and development, and knowledge of relevant theories and practice in early childhood education

• the service curriculum respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture and encourages children to understand and respect other cultures.
  [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C4, C6]

To meet the Premises and Facilities Standard the service must ensure:

• the design and layout of the premises support effective adult supervision so that children’s access to the licensed space (indoor and outdoor) is not unnecessarily limited

• a sufficient quantity and variety of (indoor and outdoor) furniture, equipment, and materials is provided that is appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending

• outdoor activity space is connected to the indoor activity space and can be easily and safely accessed by children

• toilet and associated handwashing/drying facilities intended for use by children are designed and located to allow children capable of independent toileting to access them safely without adult help

• there are safe and stable nappy changing facilities that can be kept hygienically clean. These facilities are located in a designated area near to the handwashing facilities, and are adequately separated from areas of the service used for play or food preparation to prevent the spread of infection. The design, construction, and location of the facilities ensure that: some visibility from another area of the service is possible.
  [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF2, PF4, PF13, PF20, PF25] [Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, 46 (1a), 47 (1c, (i), (ii)]

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

• provision of suitable bedding, furniture or items intended for children to sleep on; facilities or alternative arrangements available for the preparation and cleaning up of paint and other art materials; any windows or other areas of glass accessible to children are now covered by adhesive film designed to hold the glass in place in the event of it being broken; provision of suitable facilities for washing sick or soiled children, and a procedure outlining how hygiene and infection control outcomes will be met when washing sick or soiled children.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS10, PF7; PF10, PF26].

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 Sticky Fingers Childcare and Education Centre will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Darcy Te Hau

Acting Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)

Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

7 April 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 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.