Taeaofou I Puaseisei Preschool - Winthrop

ERO’s Judgement

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

Background

Taeaofou I Puaseisei Preschool – Winthrop provides a Christian-based, gagana and aganu’u Samoa bilingual curriculum. It is one of two services governed by the Christian Congregational Church of Samoa. A centre manager oversees daily operations at the two services and is supported by the director and board of trustees. The centre gained a full licence in May 2018.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. It respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture. A language-rich environment supports children’s learning.

Parents are advised how they can be involved in the service and how to access documents regarding the service’s operations, policies and procedures. Management systems and processes, and an annual plan guide the service’s operations.

Actions for Compliance

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

• a written emergency plan that includes lock-down procedures
• a list of safety and emergency supplies and resources sufficient for the age and number of children and adults at the service and details of how these will be maintained and accessed in an emergency
• details of staff roles and responsibilities during an emergency
• evidence of a review of the evacuation plan on at least an annual basis, and implementation of improved practices as required
• water stored in hot water cylinder is kept at a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS7,14; Education (ECS) Regulations 2008, 45.

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

• suitably surfaced outdoor activity space (PF13).

Next ERO Review

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

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)

Northern Region - Te Tai Raki

27 May 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.