The Salvation Army Early Childhood Education Centre

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

The Salvation Army Early Childhood Education Centre is one of four not-for-profit Christian early childhood centres owned and operated by the Salvation Army. Governance is provided by a management committee. A national consultant provides professional support around aspects of governance, and a centre supervisor is responsible for day-to-day management. The service is in a purpose-built facility opened in 2017.

Summary of Review Findings

Children experience a programme that is consistent with Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Infants, toddlers, and older children experience positive, respectful interactions with adults. Teachers respond to the learning, interests, strengths, and capabilities of the children.

The premises and facilities are designed and resourced to provide for the learning and abilities of the children attending. Strategies are in place to involve parents and whānau in their children’s learning. A policy framework and an annual plan guide the centre’s operations. Teacher appraisal and internal evaluation processes are established. Health and safety procedures are monitored, and changes made when required.  

Key Next Steps

Next steps include strengthening the quality of planning and assessment for learning, particularly in relation to:  

• acknowledgment of children’s cultures, languages, and identities

• showing how parents’ aspirations are used to inform their child’s learning pathway and how children’s learning is progressed over time.

Actions for Compliance

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

• daily hazard checking not including all required items as outlined in the Licensing Criteria.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Services, 2008, HS12. 

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

30 March 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 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.