Poupoutunoa Kindergarten

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

Poupoutunoa Kindergarten is one of five kindergartens in the South Otago Kindergarten Association. A general manager/senior teacher provides professional support and guidance to the teaching team. Twenty percent of the children enrolled identify as Māori. This is the first ERO report for this service.

Summary of Review Findings

The service’s curriculum is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum and is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation that demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning and interests and rural life contexts.

Children have choice within their play and are supported with a range of equipment and materials to choose from. Teachers engage in positive and attentive interactions with children. Parents are provided with opportunities to discuss and contribute to their children’s learning.

A philosophy and an annual plan are used to guide the service’s operation. A self-review process is in place and contributes to improvements. Suitable procedures and practices to maintain health and safety are implemented.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• strengthening the extent that information documented about children’s learning reflects their languages and cultural identities

• continuing to explore and use the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki, to inform curriculum priorities and associated planning.

Next ERO Review

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

Kathy Lye
Director Review and Improvement Services (Acting, Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

21 February 2023 

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.