Hatch Early Learning 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

At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

This is the first ERO report for Hatch Early Learning Centre which opened in 2020. Governance is provided by the owners who are supported by the education manager. There are three separate learning areas, in the purpose-built facility for children aged from birth to school age.

Summary of Review Findings

Infants, toddlers, and young children experience positive respectful relationships with teachers. The service’s curriculum is informed by Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers seek and acknowledge parents’ wishes for their children’s learning.

Teachers provide a range of experiences and opportunities that enhance children’s learning and development. Equipment and learning resources are in good condition, well maintained and suitable to the needs and abilities of children attending.

Health and safety processes and practices are monitored to ensure that children's wellbeing is promoted. A philosophy, annual plan and policy framework help guide the operation of the service. Self -review processes are used to make changes and improvements to aspects of the curriculum and practices.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include teachers:

• making written and verbal te reo Māori more visible in practice and in-service documentation including in children’s learning journals
• exploring and implementing ways that children can independently revisit their own learning while at the service, to see their progress over time.

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

16 March 2022 

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. 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.