Sunny Days - 09/03/2020

• On this page:

• ERO’s Judgement
• Background
• Summary of Review Findings
• Next ERO Review
• Information About the Service
• General Information about Assurance Reviews

At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Sunny Days is a community-based all-day early learning service operating under the umbrella of the Napier Family Centre. The service is licensed to provide education and care for up to 62 children, including a maximum 14 children aged up to two. A significant number of children enrolled are Māori.

Summary of Review Findings

Children engage in a curriculum where their learning pathways are identified in consultation between parents, whānau and teachers. The curriculum responds to their learning interests, strengths and capabilities. Children’s language, culture and identity are valued.

Teachers engage in professional learning and development focused on providing children with meaningful experiences while enrolled in the service. The governing board’s direction and centre practices are now aligned to support consistent expectations for continuous improvement.

The service philosophy is under review to reflect what matters most at Sunny Days. Collaboration between staff, parents and the governing board identifies priorities for children’s learning.

Next ERO Review

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

Darcy Te Hau

Acting Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)

Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

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.