2 Dickson Road, Papamoa, Tauranga
View on mapFuture Focus - Papamoa Beach
Future Focus
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 |
At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.
Background
Future Focus is a privately-owned centre, based in Papamoa. It opened in November 2018. The owners manage the service, with support from the centre leader, room leaders and teachers. Three age-based rooms cater for children from infants to school age. This is the centre’s first ERO review.
Summary of Review Findings
The service curriculum is inclusive. Infants, toddlers and older children experience affirming, respectful interactions with teachers. They have opportunities to develop an understanding of the dual cultural heritage of Aotearoa New Zealand. Children’s cultures are respected through the use of their home languages and cultural events. Strategies are in place to involve parents and whānau in their children’s learning.
A policy framework and annual planning guide centre operations. Teacher appraisal and internal evaluation processes are established. The premises are well resourced to provide for the learning of the children attending. Health and safety procedures and practices are monitored, with changes made when required.
Key Next Steps
Next steps are to continue to:
- progress the development of the local curriculum through consultation with whānau.
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
22 March 2021
Information About the Service
Early Childhood Service Name | Future Focus |
Profile Number | 47597 |
Location | Tauranga |
Service type |
Education and care service |
Number licensed for |
80 children, including up to 20 aged under 2. |
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80%+ |
Service roll |
96 |
Ethnic composition |
Māori 22, NZ European/Pākehā 59, Other ethnic groups 15. |
Review team on site |
November 2020 |
Date of this report |
22 March 2021 |
Most recent ERO report(s) | First ERO review of 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.