Lollipops Waiwhetu

Education institution number:
46029
Service type:
Education & Care Service
Total roll:
69
Telephone:
Address:

30 Waikare Avenue, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt

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Lollipops Waiwhetu

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

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

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

Lollipops Waiwhetu, based in Lower Hutt, is part of the Evolve Education Group (EEG). This group provides governance and management support. The January 2018 ERO review found that further development was needed to promote positive outcomes for children. It also identified non-compliance relating to self-review and appraisal. Progress in these areas is evident.

Summary of Review Findings

Teachers provide a programme that enables children to make decisions about their learning. Assessment and planning align with the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. The design and layout of the premises support a variety of play for the different age groups of children. Opportunities for collaboration with parents and whānau are provided. The centre is reviewing and further developing its philosophy to provide a more comprehensive basis for teaching and learning.

Actions for Compliance

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

  • documentation for excursions meets requirements.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008, HS17.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
9 March 2021 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name Lollipops Waiwhetu
Profile Number 46029
Location Lower Hutt

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

75 children, including up to 25 aged under 2.

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%+

Service roll

82

Ethnic composition

Māori 8, NZ European/Pākehā 48, Pacific 4, Chinese 7, Other ethnicities 15.

Review team on site

15 September 2020

Date of this report

9 March 2021

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, January 2018; Education Review, July 2014.

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 (PDF 1MB).  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.

Lollipops Educare Waiwhetu - 29/01/2018

1 Evaluation of Lollipops Educare Waiwhetu

How well placed is Lollipops Educare Waiwhetu to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

The July 2014 ERO report identified a number of areas for development. The centre provided ERO with an action plan for the key next steps. There is limited evidence to show these were adequately addressed and many remain priorities for improvement.

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

Lollipops Educare Waiwhetu, in Lower Hutt, came under the umbrella of Evolve Education Group in 2014.

The service is licensed for 75 children including 25 aged up to two years. At the time of this ERO evaluation there were 62 children on the roll, including eleven Māori. Many families with children attending have English as their second language. There are four rooms within the centre catering for infants through to four year old children.

The centre has recently experienced a number of staff changes particularly in the management positions.

This review was part of a cluster of five reviews in the Evolve Education Group.

The Review Findings

Children engage in an environment that is child-centred. Teachers work positively to focus on developing and promoting children's interests. Educators know children well and make links to their home experiences. Consequently, children demonstrate confidence and are encouraged to lead their learning.

Infants and toddlers enjoy their own spaces and familiar surroundings. The programme is flexible and allows them to make choices about their involvement in the wide range of experiences. Adults understand the importance of secure attachments and work alongside these very young children and their families. Close partnerships are formed.

The centre philosophy, planning and assessment require further development. The teaching team has recently begun to review the centre philosophy. This should establish a collective understanding of what is important for children in the service.

Assessment and planning for children's ongoing learning is also being reviewed. Teachers identify and focus on children's interests, making links with families that build relationships with parents and whānau. Parents contribute to their children's learning through the developing learning stories, which are the centre's assessment tool.

There is a focus on building the capability of teachers to lead learning. Staff appraisal and attestation of teachers' Practising Certificates do not meet expected requirements.

A recent restructure within Evolve has led to the introduction of new management roles that aim to provide increased support for centre staff. Staffing changes have been unsettling for staff and centre leaders have been required to do considerable work to develop and maintain a sense of stability across the service.

Evolve managers should continue strengthening systems to provide ongoing guidance and support to centre leaders and teachers for continuous improvement of teaching and learning. There is some way to go for the centre to be well placed regarding the documentation of assessment, planning and evaluation to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

Key Next Steps

Next steps to improve the quality of teaching and learning are to develop and strengthen:

  • assessment, planning and evaluation to promote positive learning outcomes for children

  • self review and internal evaluation for ongoing improvement

  • support for teachers to develop consistent high quality practices through effective appraisal and goal-setting

  • a vision and philosophy that identifies the services curriculum priorities for children.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Lollipops Educare Waiwhetu 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.

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; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)

  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

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

Actions for compliance

ERO identified areas of non-compliance relating to self review and appraisal. To meet requirements the service needs to improve its performance in the following areas:

  • implement an ongoing process of self review to help the service maintain and improve the quality of education and care

  • implement a system of regular appraisal.

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, GMA 6, GMA 7]

Development Plan Recommendation

ERO recommends that the service, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, develops a plan to address the key next steps and actions outlined in this report.

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of Lollipops Educare Waiwhetu will be within two years.

Alan Wynyard

Deputy Chief Review Officer Central (Acting)

Te Tai Pokapū - Central Region

29 January 2018

The Purpose of ERO Reports

The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Lower Hutt

Ministry of Education profile number

46029

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

75 children, including up to 25 aged under 2

Service roll

62

Gender composition

Boys 33, Girls 29

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Other ethnic groups

11
29
22

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:4

Meets minimum requirements

Over 2

1:8

Meets minimum requirements

Review team on site

November 2017

Date of this report

29 January 2018

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

July 2014

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:

  • Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
  • Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
  • Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
  • Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.

Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.

ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.

A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.

For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.

ERO’s Overall Judgement and Next Review

The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.