TnT Kidscare

ERO’s Judgement

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

Background

TnT Kidscare provides all-day education and care for children from birth to five years of age. The centre owner is responsible for management of operation and leadership. The June 2018 ERO report found the service was not very well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

Summary of Review Findings

Children have positive interactions with staff, enhancing their learning and development. The curriculum acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. Te ao Māori is acknowledged and valued. Information and guidance are sought to support children with additional learning and development needs. Regular opportunities are provided for parents to be involved in decision-making concerning their child’s learning, interests and strengths. The programme is inclusive of the individual needs of toddlers and young children.

Ongoing external development has contributed to internal evaluation that is helping staff to maintain and improve aspects of centre operation.

Actions for Compliance

ERO found an area of non-compliance in the service relating to:

• the current Annual Building Warrant of Fitness.
  [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF3]

During the time ERO was onsite the service addressed the following non-compliance:

• equipment, including a climbing box, wooden planks, was removed for children’s intended use as it was unsafe [PF4].

Since the onsite stage of this review the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances related to hazards:

• the identification of hazards including the placement of play equipment including safety procedures around the use of the climbing wall and electrical safety sockets [S12]
• the hygienic storage of food and the assurance of keeping perishable food at temperature at or below 4 degrees [PF16].

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 will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Darcy Te Hau

Acting Director Review and Improvement Services

Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

5 June 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.