Brightlands Childcare Centre, Airport Oaks

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

Brightlands Childcare Centre, Airport Oaks, previously known as Airport Oaks Montessori Preschool, was relicensed under new ownership in August 2021. An operations manager and a centre manger lead a team of three qualified teachers and two support staff. More than half of the children enrolled have Pacific heritages. A small number of children attending are Māori.

Summary of Review Findings

The service curriculum is based on Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. It respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture and encourages children to understand and respect other cultures. Positive steps are taken to acknowledge the aspirations held by parents and whānau for their children. There are opportunities for parents and whānau to be involved in their children’s learning.

The service provides children with a range of experiences and opportunities to enhance and extend their learning and development, both indoors and outdoors, individually and in groups.

A philosophy statement and annual plan guide the service's operations. Consistent implementation of health and safety practices is required to maintain regulatory standards.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• Improving the extent to which assessment information shows children’s progress and learning over time

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

Actions for Compliance

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

• Identifying hazards to the safety of children and taking appropriate action to eliminate, isolate and minimise these (HS12).

• Ensuring water stored in any hot water cylinder is kept at a temperature of at least 60°C (HS14).

• Maintaining records to show the type of food provided and ensuring these are available for inspection for three months after the food is served (HS19).

Next ERO Review

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

3 July 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.