Early Impressions Childcare

Education institution number:
60190
Service type:
Education and Care Service
Definition:
Not Applicable
Total roll:
40
Telephone:
Address:

3 Frankmoore Avenue, Johnsonville, Wellington

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Early Impressions Childcare

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

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

CurriculumMeeting
Premises and facilitiesMeeting
Health and safetyNot meeting
Governance, management and administrationNot meeting

At the time of the review, ERO identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed. 

Background

Early Impressions Childcare is a community-based service. There are two centre managers who oversee the education and care of children. Johnsonville Community Centre subcommittee is responsible for the governance. One third of children identify as Māori and a small number are of Pacific heritage within an ethnically diverse roll.

Summary of Review Findings

The service provides a language-rich environment that supports children’s learning. The curriculum promotes children’s developing social competence and understanding of appropriate behaviour. Adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships. Teachers’ practice demonstrates an understanding of children’s learning and nurtures reciprocal relationships. 

The design and layout of the premises support the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor experiences, including a range of spaces for individual and group learning experiences.

Strengthened understanding and oversight of health and safety, and governance and management criteria is required to maintain regulatory standards. 

Actions for Compliance

ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:

  • analysing accident/incident records to identify hazards and take appropriate action
  • ensuring that the offsite service provider and committee chairperson are safety checked as required by the Children’s Act 2014, and that the date on which each step is taken is recorded. 

[Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS12, GMA7A]

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

  • having a procedure for the changing of nappies that aims to ensure that children are treated with dignity and respect (HS3)
  • ensuring, and maintaining a record of, relevant emergency drills being carried out on an at least a three-monthly basis (HS8)
  • ensuring records of illnesses that include the child’s name, date, time, description of illness, actions taken and by whom, and evidence that the parents have been notified/informed (HS27)
  • ensuring notification of serious injury is sent to a specified agency and the Ministry of Education (HS34)
  • showing how key tasks will have regard to the Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities (NELP) in the service’s annual plan (GMA8).

Next ERO Review 

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

31 January 2024 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service NameEarly Impressions Childcare
Profile Number60190
LocationJohnsonville, Wellington
Service typeEducation and care service
Number licensed for25 children, including up to 5 aged under 2
Percentage of qualified teachers 80-99%
Service roll49
Review team on siteNovember 2023
Date of this report31 January 2024
Most recent ERO report(s)Akanuku | Assurance Review, February 2021; Education Review, May 2018

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. 

Early Impressions Childcare

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

Regulatory standards

ERO’s judgement

Curriculum

Meeting

Premises and facilities

Meeting

Health and safety

Meeting

Governance, management and administration

Meeting

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

Early Impressions Childcare is a community based, non-profit service in Johnsonville. The centre manager and head teacher oversee the daily administration, and education and care of children. The Johnsonville Community Centre Management Committee is responsible for the governance.  

The May 2018 ERO report identified that the service required further development to promote positive outcomes for children. Progress is evident.  

Summary of Review Findings

Children have access to a range of indoor and outdoor experiences and opportunities to enhance their development and learning. Positive, warm and responsive interactions are promoted. The curriculum is reflective of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum and the quantity and variety of resources provided are appropriate for the learning and abilities of children attending.

A philosophy statement guides the service’s operation. Parents are provided with the opportunity to contribute to the review of the service’s organisational documents, such as the philosophy, policies and procedures. Annual planning guides service’s operations and improvements.

Actions for Compliance

Since the onsite visit the service addressed the following non-compliances:

  • heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured
  • the temperature of warm water delivered from taps in the bathroom is comfortable for children to use
  • water stored in any hot water cylinder is kept at a temperature of at least 60°C and is available in the kitchen
  • any windows or areas of glass that are accessible to children are covered by an adhesive film designed to hold the glass in place in the event of it being broken or effectively guarded by barriers which prevent a child striking or falling against the glass.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services 2008, HS6, HS13, HS14, PF7.

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

18 February 2021 

Information About the Service

Early Childhood Service Name Early Impressions Childcare
Profile Number 60190
Location Wellington

Service type

Education and care service

Number licensed for

25 children, including up to 5 aged under 2.

Percentage of qualified teachers

80%+

Service roll

49

Ethnic composition

Māori 9, NZ European/Pākehā 29, Chinese 3, Other ethnic groups 8.

Review team on site

December 2020

Date of this report

18 February 2021

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review, May 2018, April 2015

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.

Early Impressions Childcare - 07/05/2018

1 Evaluation of Early Impressions Childcare

How well placed is Early Impressions Childcare to promote positive learning outcomes for children?

Not well placed

Requires further development

Well placed

Very well placed

To improve outcomes for children the development of assessment for learning, curriculum planning and evaluation are priorities for improvement.

ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.

Background

Early Impressions Childcare is a well-established community based, non-profit early childhood education centre located in Johnsonville.  It is licensed to operate from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 2.30pm for 25 children, including five children aged up to two years. Of the current roll of 69 children, seven identify as Māori and 21 from other nations.

Most children attend two to three days each week, usually on the same days. A core group of teachers support children's learning and development.

The Johnsonville Community Centre Management Committee is responsible for governance of the service.  A centre manager and a head teacher manage the daily administration, teaching, learning and care of children.

The April 2015 ERO report indicated the need to strengthen the evaluation of programme effectiveness for children's learning. Although this has not yet been implemented, teachers have been engaged in self-review activities. They have strengthened their knowledge and response to children's cultures.

The Review Findings

The centre staff diligently consider the needs of the wider community. Over time this has been a strength and continues to evolve as changes are made that impact on how the service is organised. The extended hours of the service has been responsive to families' requests and needs. Administration and resourcing of recent changes have been well managed.

Children's sense of belonging is fostered by staff. Relationships and interactions between adults and children are respectful, nurturing and positive. As children do not attend every day, to support the building of positive relationships with each child, a lead teacher is designated as a child's primary caregiver with oversight of their wellbeing and learning. During the day all teachers care for all children.

Children are friendly and play well together. Teachers work cooperatively with each other while caring for children. They reflect daily on children's learning experiences and make appropriate changes to the programme.

Children aged up to two years old are appropriately supported through carefully considered, sensitive interactions. They play with children of all ages across the centre.

Children with diverse needs and their families are known to staff and are well catered for.

Staff acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua. The centre philosophy reflects this. Teachers provide all children with exposure to the bicultural nature of Aotearoa New Zealand. They participate in opportunities to further their professional learning around te ao Māori.

Families are communicated with regularly. They are welcomed and warmly invited into the centre. Teachers seek to extend this relationship so that families respond to children's learning more readily through the online documented system. Information from families should contribute to assessment for learning, curriculum planning and evaluation to inform daily curriculum activities.

At the time of this ERO review, staff have begun to consider how to effectively plan for all children who attend the service. Managers agree additional professional development should support teachers to use focused and deliberate assessment, planning and evaluation practices.

The programme requires considerable attention to better meet children's learning needs. Teachers should provide a responsive curriculum that is inclusive of children's deep interests.  The service's valued outcomes for children's learning are not yet visible in teachers' planning.

Self review has been a useful vehicle for teachers to share expectations, practices. It is timely to now extend the practice to better analyse outcomes and to strengthen the evaluation of programme effectiveness for children's learning.

Key Next Steps

Leaders have identified areas where they will continue to strengthen outcomes for children. These include:

  • assessment, planning and evaluation processes that provide teachers and children with clear direction
  • networking with other community-based services to share professional understandings of good quality practices
  • building an organisational culture that supports ongoing improvement.

ERO has identified through its external evaluation process that the service should:

  • seek support to design and plan daily programmes to better meet the needs of individual children in line with their patterns of attendance
  • further develop internal evaluation for improvement
  • develop and implement an appraisal system that strengthens teachers' inquiry in to practice to align with the service's valued outcomes for children's learning.

Management Assurance on Legal Requirements

Before the review, the staff and management of Early Impressions Childcare 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.

During the review, ERO looked at the 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 registration; ratios)
  • evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All early childhood services are required to promote children’s health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements

Development Plan Recommendation

ERO recommends that the service, in consultation with the Ministry of Education, develops a plan to address the key next steps and actions outlined in this report. 

Next ERO Review

When is ERO likely to review the service again?

The next ERO review of Early Impressions Childcare will be within two years.

Patricia Davey
Deputy Chief Review Officer Central (Acting)

Te Tai Pokapū - Central Region

7 May 2018

The Purpose of ERO Reports

The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning. 

2 Information about the Early Childhood Service

Location

Johnsonville, Wellington

Ministry of Education profile number

60190

Licence type

Education & Care Service

Licensed under

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008

Number licensed for

25 children, including up to 5 aged under 2

Service roll

69

Gender composition

Boys, 36, Girls 33

Ethnic composition

Māori
Pākehā
Asian
Other ethnic groups

  7
41
16
  5

Percentage of qualified teachers

0-49%       50-79%       80%+
Based on funding rates

80% +

Reported ratios of staff to children

Under 2

1:2

Better than minimum requirements

Over 2

1:5

Better than minimum requirements

Review team on site

March 2018

Date of this report

7 May 2018

Most recent ERO report(s)

Education Review

April 2015

Education Review

March 2012

Education Review

March 2009

3 General Information about Early Childhood Reviews

ERO’s Evaluation Framework

ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:

  • Pou Whakahaere – how the service determines its vision, philosophy and direction to ensure positive outcomes for children
  • Pou Ārahi – how leadership is enacted to enhance positive outcomes for children
  • Mātauranga – whose knowledge is valued and how the curriculum is designed to achieve positive outcomes for children
  • Tikanga whakaako – how approaches to teaching and learning respond to diversity and support positive outcomes for children.

Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau. 

ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.

A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.

For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.

ERO’s Overall Judgement and Next Review

The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:

  • Very well placed – The next ERO review in four years
  • Well placed – The next ERO review in three years
  • Requires further development – The next ERO review within two years
  • Not well placed - The next ERO review in consultation with the Ministry of Education

ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.

Review Coverage

ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.