Little Explorers Early Learning Centre Waiuku

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

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

Background

Waiuku Montessori Preschool is one of three Montessori early learning centres owned and operated by a private provider. An area manager supports the centre supervisor with the day-to-day operation of the service. The centre caters for children from 6 months old to school age. It serves an ethnically diverse community. This is its first review.

Summary of Review Findings 

The philosophy expresses the service's beliefs, values and attitudes about the provision of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum and Montessori approaches. Annual planning and the philosophy guide the operation of the service. The design and layout of the premises support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences, this includes quiet spaces for Montessori activities, areas for physically active play, and space for a range of individual and group learning experiences. Parents are advised how to access information about their child’s learning and the operation of the service.

 Actions for Compliance

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

• an item of furniture  that could fall and cause serious injury or damage was permanently removed from the centre
• a food record was developed and implemented.    

 Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008; HS6, HS19.

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

4 March 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.