Aranui Montessori Preschool

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

Aranui Montessori Preschool is a privately-owned education and care service. The qualified service provider is responsible for governance and management while a leader has been employed to oversee the curriculum. Together they manage a team of two qualified teachers and three unqualified staff. Children enrolled are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Summary of Review Findings

Teachers provide a curriculum that is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. They engage in meaningful, positive interactions to nurture reciprocal relationships. Positive steps are taken to respect and acknowledge the aspirations held by parents and whānau for their children.

The service curriculum 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.

Consistent monitoring of the systems and practices for meeting regulatory standards are required to ensure these are met and maintained at all times.

Actions for Compliance

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

• first aid kits that are easily recognisable and meet the requirements of Appendix 1 of the Licensing Criteria
• excursion records that consistently document all requirements outlined under the criterion
• a record of the written authority from parents for the administration of medicine in accordance with the requirement for the category of medicine outlined in Appendix 3 of the Licensing Criteria
• a record of safety checks and their results for every children’s worker employed or engaged by the service, that meet the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, PF28, HS17, HS28, GMA7A.

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

• Keeping a record of information and guidance sought from agencies/services to enable adults providing education and care to work effectively with children with diverse needs (C13).
• Having an outdoor activity space that is enclosed by structures designed to ensure children are not able to leave the premises without the knowledge of adults providing education and care (PF13).
• Heavy furniture and fixtures being appropriately secured (HS6).
• Reviewing the emergency management plan at least annually and implementing improved practices as required (HS7).
• Maintaining records of the times each child attending the service sleeps, and checks made by adults during that time (HS9).
• The identification and elimination of hazards to children’s safety and a documented risk management system (HS12).
• Ensuring the supervision of children during mealtimes (HS22).
• Keeping a record of training provided to adults who administer medicine to children while at the service (HS29).
• Showing how the service will have regard for the Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities within the annual plan (GMA8).
• Maintaining attendance records that meet the requirements of the Early Childhood Education Funding Handbook (GMA11).

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.

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

17 April 2024

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.