Whitianga Explorers Ltd t/a Mercury Bay Preschool

Education institution number:
30303
Service type:
Education & Care Service
Total roll:
34
Telephone:
Address:

58 Kupe Drive, Whitianga

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Whitianga Explorers Ltd t-a Mercury Bay Preschool

1 ERO’s Judgements

Akarangi | Quality Evaluation evaluates the extent to which this early childhood service has the learning and organisational conditions to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. Te Ara Poutama Indicators of quality for early childhood education: what matters most are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. Judgements are made in relation to the Outcomes Indicators, Learning and Organisational Conditions. The Evaluation Judgement Rubric derived from the indicators, is used to inform ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence. 

ERO’s judgements for Whitianga Explorers Ltd t-a Mercury Bay Preschool are as follows:

Outcome Indicators

(What the service knows about outcomes for learners)

Whāngai Establishing

Ngā Akatoro Domains

 
Learning Conditions
Organisational Conditions

Whāngai Establishing

Whāngai Establishing

2 Context of the Service

Whitianga Explorers Ltd, trading as Mercury Bay Preschool, is one of two services operating under the same ownership. There have been significant and ongoing staff changes since the change of management in 2022 and ERO’s last report. The service’s philosophy values aroha, kindness and respect. Almost half of the roll are Māori.

3 Summary of findings

Children are provided with a range of opportunities which encourage them to lead their own learning. Teachers consider children’s diverse learning needs. This enables all children to participate in the curriculum. Through these experiences children’s social and emotional needs are fostered and supported.

Younger children experience a calm, unhurried environment where the interactions of teachers are respectful and responsive to their needs. Intentional teaching strategies support children’s dispositional and emergent learning in a play-based context. Māori children have some opportunities to hear te reo Māori and experience aspects of tikanga Māori within the daily curriculum. Teachers are working towards a shared understanding of how to use the valued learning outcomes in Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum.

Individualised assessment and planning processes are in place. These are not yet consistently implemented over time or by the whole team. Assessment and planning is beginning to consider children’s cultures, languages, and identity. This is supported by positive relationships with parents and whānau which provide opportunities for them to be involved in their child’s learning. Pacific children’s culture, language and identity is yet to be intentionally responded to within individual planning or the curriculum.

Collaboration among the new teaching team is being established. New processes for professional growth have been developed and are now in the implementation stage. They do not yet consistently focus on building teachers’ knowledge and their capabilities to positively impact children’s learning.

Leaders have identified the need to refine established systems that evaluate practices to build professional knowledge. These systems are yet to effectively reflect the benefits of changes and monitor the outcomes for individual and groups of children.

4 Improvement actions

Whitianga Explorers Ltd t-a Mercury Bay Preschool will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:

  • Continue to build teacher capability to show:
  • assessment, planning and evaluation that documents children’s progress over time, and their developing capabilities in relation to the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki
  • the visibility of children’s individual learner identity by incorporating their home languages and cultures into the curriculum.

5 Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Whitianga Explorers Ltd t-a Mercury Bay Preschool completed an ERO 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.

During the review, ERO looked at the 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; safety checking; teacher registration; ratios)
  • relevant evacuation procedures and practices.

All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

6 Actions for Compliance

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

  • Completing daily hazard checks which include but are not limited to all areas within the licensing criteria list.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008, HS12

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

18 July 2024

7 About the Early Childhood Service 

Early Childhood Service NameWhitianga Explorers Ltd t-a Mercury Bay Preschool
Profile Number30303
LocationWhitianga
Service type Education and care service
Number licensed for 39 children, including up to 10 aged under 2
Percentage of qualified teachers 80-99%
Service roll37
Review team on siteApril 2024
Date of this report18 July 2024
Most recent ERO report(s)Akanuku | Assurance Review, October 2022; Akanuku | Assurance Review, December 2020

Whitianga Explorers Ltd t/a Mercury Bay Preschool

ERO’s Akanuku | Assurance Review reports provide information about whether a service meets and maintains regulatory standards. Further information about Akanuku | Assurance Reviews is included at the end of this report.

ERO’s Judgement

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

CurriculumMeeting
Premises and facilitiesMeeting
Health and safetyMeeting
Governance, management, and administrationNot meeting

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

Background

Whitianga Explorers Ltd trading as Mercury Bay Preschool is one of two services operating under Whitianga Explorers Ltd. There has been a recent change of service ownership and there have also been significant staff changes. Nearly a quarter of the roll identify as Māori, and a small number as Pacific. The areas of non-compliance identified in the 2020 ERO report remain non-compliant.

Summary of Review Findings

Tamariki learning is supported within a language-rich curriculum. Māori are acknowledged as tangata whenua. Positive steps are taken to respect parent aspirations. Kaiako support tamariki learning through positive interactions and nurture reciprocal relationships.

The layout of the premises supports different types of indoor and outdoor experiences for tamariki. They have access to a sufficient quantity and variety of learning equipment suitable to their ages and stages.

Practices and policies are in place to maintain health and safety requirements.  Aspects of governance, management and administration are yet to be consistently implemented.

Actions for Compliance  

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

  • recorded outcomes from evaluation processes
  • implementing a system of regular appraisal.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008, GMA6, GMA7]

During the review, the service provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the following non-compliances:  

  • ensuring every children’s worker is safety checked every three years (GMA7A).

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 is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

11 October 2022 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service NameWhitianga Explorers Ltd t-a Mercury Bay Preschool
Profile Number30303
LocationWhitianga
Service typeEducation and care service
Number licensed for39 children, including up to 10 aged under 2
Percentage of qualified teachers80-99%
Service roll45
Review team on siteSeptember 2022
Date of this report11 October 2022
Most recent ERO report(s) Akanuku | Assurance Review, December 2020; Akanuku | Assurance Review, July 2019

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 Akanuku | 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 Akanuku | 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 Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO assesses whether the regulatory 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; safety checking; teacher certification; ratios)
  • relevant evacuation procedures and practices.

As part of an Akanuku | 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.

Mercury Bay Preschool (2018) Ltd - 04/12/2020

ERO’s Akanuku | Assurance Review reports provide information about whether a service meets and maintains regulatory standards. Further information about Akanuku | Assurance Reviews is included at the end of this report.

ERO’s Judgement

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

CurriculumMeeting
Premises and facilitiesMeeting
Health and safetyMeeting
Governance, management and administrationNot meeting

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

Background

Mercury Bay Preschool (2018) Ltd is a privately owned service. Since the July 2019 ERO Akunuku | Assurance Review, there have been changes in leadership and teachers. ERO identified areas of non-compliance in the July 2019 report relating to teacher appraisals, excursion records and emergency drill records. Some progress is evident.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are provided with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development. They are involved in decisions about their learning experiences. Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions that nurture reciprocal relationships.

The quantity and variety of resources provided are appropriate for the learning and abilities of children attending.

Procedures are in place to manage health and safety requirements including excursions and emergencies.

Processes for reviewing and evaluating teaching and learning practices require strengthening. Appraisals of the centre manager and teachers are yet to be implemented.

Actions for Compliance

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

  • an ongoing process of self-review that maintains and improves the quality of education and care
  • implementation of a system of regular appraisal.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA6, GMA7]

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.

Phil Cowie

Director Review and Improvement Services

Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui

4 December 2020

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service NameMercury Bay Preschool (2018) Ltd
Profile Number30303
LocationWhitianga
Service typeEducation and care service
Number licensed for39 children, including up to 10 aged under 2
Percentage of qualified teachers80%+
Service roll44
Gender compositionFemale 24, Male 20.
Ethnic compositionMāori 14, NZ European/Pākehā 21, Pacific 3, Other ethnic groups 6.
Review team on siteNovember 2020
Date of this report4 December 2020

Most recent ERO report(s)

 

Akanuku | Assurance Review, July 2019; Education Review, December 2015.

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 Akanuku | 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 Akanuku | 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 Akanuku | 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 Akanuku | 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.