Colville Bay Pre-School

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

Since the onsite visit the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed non-compliances and is now taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Colville Bay Pre-School, a community-based service, is situated in the grounds of Colville School on the Coromandel Peninsula. The centre has a current roll of 17 children over two, with five children identifying as Māori. The centre is governed by a management committee while the head teacher provides professional leadership.

Summary of Review Findings

Since the onsite stage of the review, leaders have addressed non-compliances relating to regulatory standards in health and safety, premises and facilities and governance, management and administration. Ongoing monitoring of systems and processes is required.

The service curriculum is inclusive and responsive to children as competent learners. The programme is consistent with Te Whāriki and children’s developing social competence is intentionally supported. Meaningful and positive relationships between teachers, whānau and tamariki enhance children’s learning.

The curriculum acknowledges the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua through the use of te reo and tikanga Māori practices. Children experience opportunities to understand and respect other cultures.

Actions for Compliance

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

• the premises are located in a building that has a current Fire evacuation scheme approved by the New Zealand Fire Service (HS4)
• equipment, premises, and facilities are checked on every day of operation for hazards to children (HS12)
• when children leave the premises on an excursion, a record of excursions include evidence of parental approval of adult: child rations and the signature of the Person Responsible gives approval for the excursion to take place (HS17)
• a record of all food served during the service’s hours of operation are available for inspection for 3 months after food is served (HS19)
• a procedure for monitoring children’s sleep displayed and implemented and a record of children’s’ sleep times kept (HS9)
• a record of all medicine given to children attending the service with evidence of parental acknowledgment (HS28)
• procedures for human resource management including selection and appointment procedures. All children’s workers who have access to children are safety checked in accordance with the Children’s Act 2014 (GMA7/7a)
• fencing designed to ensure children are not able to leave the premises without the knowledge of adults providing education and care (PF13).

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

18 May 2021 

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 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.