First Years Richmond

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

First Years Richmond is a long established, not-for-profit early childhood service. The centre is governed by a board operating under an incorporated society structure. Since the 2021 ERO review, a new manager has been appointed. Of the children attending, around 20 percent are Māori.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum provides children with a variety of experiences to extend their learning and development. Teachers respect children’s preferences and involve them in decisions about their participation and experiences. A sufficient range of equipment and materials is provided, appropriate for the learning and abilities of those attending. Children are given opportunities to develop an understanding of the dual cultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aspects of non-compliance relating to health and safety practices, policy organisation and long-term planning have been addressed since the on-site stage of the ERO review.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• increase the visibility of how teachers are responding to parent’s aspirations in assessment, planning and evaluation information
• explore ways to increase the involvement of whānau Māori in the design, implementation and evaluation of the service’s local curriculum.

Actions for Compliance

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

• An agreed emergency management plan that is reviewed annually [HS7].
• Emergency drills, identified as necessary for the location, carried out consistently on at least a three-monthly basis [HS8].
• Consistent guidance about, and recording of, children’s sleep times and monitoring checks [HS9].
• Recording all required details for the administration of medication to children [HS28].
• Recording information or training provided to adults who administer medication to children while at the service [HS29].
• A written child protection policy that meets the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014 [HS31].
• Safety checking of staff that meets all the requirements of the Children's Act 2014 [GMA7A].
• An annual plan identifying when key tasks will be undertaken [GMA8].

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

21 November 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 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.

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 areas of non-compliance with regulatory standards that are an unacceptable risk to children.

Background

First Years Richmond is a community-based non-profit service. It has been operating for over thirty years and is governed by a parent board. The service has a long-serving manager and a range of
full-time and part-time staff, most of whom are registered teachers.

Summary of Review Findings

The service curriculum is inclusive and informed by assessment, planning and evaluation aligned to the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Infants, toddlers and older children experience positive, respectful interactions with adults within calm, settled environments. 

The premises and facilities are resourced to provide for the learning and abilities of the children attending. Leaders appraisal continues to be an area for development. Consistent implementation and monitoring of health and safety practices and governance, management and administration are required to meet all aspects of the Licensing Criteria.

Actions for Compliance

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

• consistent evidence of approval from the person responsible for excursions 
• evidence that parents have been informed of an accident that occurs at the service
• consistent practices and recording of administration of medication to children 
• records of training and/or information provided to adults who administer medication to children while at the service
• suitable human resource management practices are implemented, specifically a system of regular appraisal for leaders
• procedures and practices that ensure safety checking of workers who have access to children
• an annual plan identifying when key tasks will be undertaken.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, HS17, HS27, HS28, HS29, GMA7, GMA7A, GMA8.  

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

• mirrors that are accessible to children are covered in adhesive film to hold the glass in place if broken
• heavy equipment that could fall or topple and cause serious injury or damage are secured
• evidence of the review of the written emergency plan and management of emergency supplies
• record of emergency drills carried out on at least a three-monthly basis
• a procedure that includes that children must be checked for warmth and breathing while sleeping
• consistent completion of daily hazard checks
• ongoing process of self-review that helps the service to maintain and improve the quality of its education and care.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, PF7, HS6, HS7, HS8, HS9, HS12, GMA6.

Recommendation to Ministry of Education

ERO recommends that the Ministry reassess the licence issued to this service provider. ERO will not undertake a further review of this service until the Ministry of Education is satisfied that the service meets regulatory standards.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.

Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini

1 June 2021 

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.