Haywood Cottage Montessori (Nido)

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 identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.

Background

Haywood Cottage Montessori (Nido) is one of two privately owned services providing care and education for infants and toddlers. The owner has responsibility for governance and leads the teaching team to develop and implement the curriculum. Montessori philosophy underpins teaching and learning. This is the first review for this service.

Summary of Review Findings

Teachers providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions that enhance children’s learning and development. They provide a language-rich environment to support the children’s learning.

The curriculum is designed to be responsive to children as confident and competent learners. It   acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māorias tangata whenuabut does not yet provide sufficient opportunities for children to be confident in their own cultures.

A variety of furniture, equipment and materials are provided that are appropriate for the learning of children and their abilities. These align well with the service’s philosophy. Independence is fostered through appropriate facilities.

Actions for Compliance

ERO found an area of non-compliance relating to:

• the curriculum respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture and encourages children to respect and understand other cultures.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education & Care Services 2008; C6.

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

• consideration of hazards, includes windows and other areas of glass on the daily hazard check [HS12]

• the curriculum acknowledging and reflecting the unique place of Māorias tangata whenua. Children are given the opportunity to develop knowledge and an understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties of Te Tiriti O Waitangi [C5].

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

14 April 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. 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.