46 Eddystone Street, Kaitangata
View on mapAkarangi | Quality Evaluations evaluate the extent to which early childhood services have the learning and organisational conditions to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. Te Ara Poutama Indicators of quality for early childhood education: what matters most and Early Childhood Education (ECE) Improvement Framework (teacher led services) are the basis for making judgements about the quality of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. Evaluations for improvement | Ngā Aronga Whai Hua is integrated across all of the above domains.
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.
Regulatory standards | ERO’s judgement |
| Curriculum | Meeting |
| Premises and facilities | Meeting |
| Health and safety | Meeting |
| Governance, management and administration | Meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Kai Kids Preschool is a privately owned early learning centre in rural South Otago. It was opened in 2018 and this is its second review. The November 2019 ERO report found the service was not meeting some of the regulatory standards. These have been addressed. There have been staffing changes since the previous report.
The service curriculum is informed by assessment, planning and evaluation that is aligned to the principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Adults engage in positive interactions to nurture trusting relationships. A range of experiences are provided that reflect tamariki interests and life contexts. The design and layout of the premises supports effective adult supervision and safe places for infants and toddlers to explore.
Whānau and kaiako are provided with opportunities to contribute to the development and review of the operational documents, such as the philosophy. Suitable systems are in place to support the health and wellbeing of tamariki.
Next steps include:
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
14 June 2021
| Early Childhood Service Name | Kai Kids Preschool |
| Profile Number | 47473 |
| Location | Kaitangata |
| Service type | Education and care service |
| Number licensed for | 36 children, including up to 10 aged under 2. |
| Percentage of qualified teachers | 80%+ |
| Service roll | 30 |
| Ethnic composition | Māori 13, NZ European/Pākehā 11, Other ethnicities 6. |
| Review team on site | May 2021 |
| Date of this report | 14 June 2021 |
| Most recent ERO report(s) | Akanuku | Assurance Review, November 2019. |
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.
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:
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:
As part of an Akanuku | Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through:
Regulatory standards | ERO’s judgement |
| Curriculum | Not meeting |
| Premises and facilities | Meeting |
| Health and safety | Not meeting |
| Governance, management and administration | Not meeting |
At the time of the review, ERO identified non-compliance with regulatory standards that must be addressed.
Kai Kids Preschool opened in May 2018. The owner/manager leads a team of five qualified teachers and a number of support staff. Two age-based areas cater for children from infants to school age. The service provides a van service and food for children. This is the first ERO review.
Teachers provide a positive learning environment. They have warm, responsive relationships with children. The centre premises and facilities provide sufficient space and resources for a range of activities so children have choices in their play and learning. The layout of the indoor and outdoor spaces supports good supervision of children. The service is not meeting regulatory standards in a number of areas. Developing the curriculum and the consistent implementation of health and safety practices is required. An appraisal system for staff needs to be established.
ERO found areas of non-compliance in the service relating to:
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, C2, C6, C11, GMA3, GMA4, GMA6, GMA7, HS6, HS8.
Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence to show that it takes all practical steps to protect children from exposure to inappropriate material.
Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS32.
ERO recommends the Ministry follows up with the service provider to ensure that non-compliances identified in this report are addressed promptly.
The next ERO review of Kai Kids Preschool will be in consultation with the Ministry of Education.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tini
18 November 2019
| Early Childhood Service Name | Kai Kids Preschool |
| Profile Number | 47473 |
| Location | Kaitangata |
| Service type | Education and care service |
| Number licensed for | 36 children, including up to 10 aged under 2 |
| Percentage of qualified teachers | 80%+ |
| Reported ratio of staff to children under 2 | 1:4 - Better than regulatory standards |
| Reported ratio of staff to children over 2 | 1:8 - Better than regulatory standards |
| Service roll | 47 |
| Gender composition | Male 25, Female 22 |
| Ethnic composition | Māori 13 NZ European/Pākehā 26 Other ethnicities 8 |
| Review team on site | October 2019 |
| Date of this report | 18 November 2019 |
Most recent ERO report
| First ERO review of the service |
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.
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:
As part of an 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:
As part of an Assurance Review ERO also gathers and records evidence through: