Kids Cove Infant & Toddlers Albany

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

Kids Cove Infant & Toddlers Albany opened in November 2018. Governance is provided by a director who is the owner. Staff include a qualified centre manager and eight qualified teachers. Children are provided for in two areas, one for infants and one for toddlers aged two to three. A fourth area is used as an indoor gym. This is the first ERO review of the service.

Summary of Review Findings

The service curriculum is responsive to children’s interests and preferences. Regular opportunities are provided for parents to communicate with teachers about their children’s learning. The design and layout of the premises support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences for the learning and abilities of the children attending.

Actions for Compliance

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed the areas of non-compliance in relation to:

• securing heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage (HS6)
• ensuring that any area of glass accessible to children is either made of safety glass or covered by an adhesive film (PF7)
• providing a designated space to support the provision of restful sleep for children under the age of two and in the toddlers’ room that allows effective adult supervision (PF37).

Next ERO Review

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

Steve Tanner

Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)

Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

12 February 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.