KiwiEd

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

KiwiEd is a homebased network that operates seven days a week. A qualified owner is responsible for governance of the service and is supported by a qualified visiting teacher. Most children attending the service are of Asian heritage, and there a small number of children who identify as Māori. This is the first ERO review of the service since it opened in 2021.

Summary of Review Findings

Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. The service’s curriculum respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture and encourages children to understand and respect other cultures.

The curriculum is consistent with the prescribed curriculum framework that applies to the service. It is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation that demonstrates children’s learning, their interests, whānau, and life contexts. Parents and whānau are contacted on a regular basis with regards to their child’s learning and development.

Actions for Compliance

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

• Maintaining an attendance record that shows the times and dates of every child’s attendance at the service; and meets the requirements outlined in the Early Childhood Education Funding Handbook (GMA10).

During the review, the service provided ERO with evidence that shows it had addressed the following non-compliances:

• Having floor surfaces that are safe and suitable for the range of activities to be carried out (PF6).

• There is an outdoor activity space that is safe, and suitably surfaced for a variety of activities (PF11).

• Heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured (HS6).

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• Deepening educator’s understanding of Te Whāriki (2017) through more targeted professional learning and development.

• Increasing opportunities for children to hear and speak te reo Māori in meaningful learning contexts.

Next ERO Review

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

Filivaifale Jason Swann
Director Review and Improvement Services (Northern)
Northern Region | Te Tai Raki

23 January 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.