Small Wonders Childcare Centre

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

Small Wonders Childcare Centre is an education and care service managed by the owner, who is supported by two head teachers. Opened in 2018, two separate rooms support learning for infants and toddlers, and older children. A small number of children are Māori or of Pacific heritage.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum is designed to be inclusive and responsive. Children’s preferences are respected, and they are involved in decisions about their learning experiences. A language-rich environment supports learning. They are provided with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development – both indoors and outdoors, individually and in groups.

Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children's learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. 

Those responsible for governance and management need to develop an in-depth understanding of the licensing criteria and ensure coherent systems and processes are implemented to maintain the regulatory standards.  

Key Next Steps

Next steps include strengthening the quality of planning and assessment for learning, particularly in relation to:   

• reflecting children’s language, culture, and identity 
• showing progression of children’s learning over time in relation to Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, learning outcomes.

Actions for Compliance

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

• Stretchers that will be used by more than one child over time being securely covered with a non-porous material that does not allow liquid to pass through that protects from soiling, is easily cleaned and is not a suffocation hazard.
• Evidence of review of the emergency management plan on an, at least, annual basis and implementation of improved practices as required.
• Consistently undertaking earthquake drills, and any other relevant drills with children on a three-monthly basis; and evidence of how evaluation of the drills has informed the annual review of the emergency plan.
• Accident/incident records being analysed to identify hazards and appropriate action taken. Daily hazard checks must include all aspects as specified by the licensing criterion. Implementing a documented risk management system that consistently records that the identified hazards to the safety of children are eliminated, isolated or minimised.
• Having a record of the written authority from parents for the administration of category (iii) medicine. 
• Ensuring a safety check as required by the Childrens Act 2014, is completed before a person is employed or engaged as a children’s worker, and for every children’s worker every three years. A detailed record of each component of the safety check must be kept, including the date on which each step was taken and the date of the risk assessment after all relevant information is obtained.
  [Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, PF30, HS7, HS8, HS12, HS28, GMA7A]

Next ERO Review 

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

28 March 2024 

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 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.