ECC Member Survey - Monitoring Experiences

Introduction

The ECC is concerned that the level of monitoring activity and subject commentary officials in the Ministry of Education and ERO has increased over recent months. While that alone is not an issue and may be welcomed by many, the approach is proving to be problematic for some members, with experiences including feeling like being ambushed and/or bullied by officials, nit-picking and deliberately seeking non-compliances, and (occasionally) misinterpretation of regulations and/or licensing criteria.

We want to engage with the Ministry and ERO to collect examples of what is working well with the increased monitoring effort, what is not working well, and our suggestions for improving the process moving forward. To do that, we need your help.

Your responses to the survey will enable us to have meaningful conversations with these agencies. While we promise to keep your responses confidential, we do ask at the end of the survey if you are willing to allow your experience to be identified so the Ministry and ERO can properly investigate. This option is your decision to make and we will respect your decision either way.

Please answer on behalf of a centre that has experienced a Ministry of Education Audit or ERO Assurance Review.

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* 1. Has your centre been audited for compliance by the Ministry of Education, or have you participated in an Assurance (compliance) Review – Akanuku by ERO in the last six months?

Yes - MoE

Yes - ERO

Yes - both

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* 2. Is your centre...

Privately-owned?

Community-owned?

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* 3. Is the centre that was audited/reviewed located in:

Northland

Auckland

Waikato

Taranaki

Hawke's Bay / East Coast

Manawatu / Wanganui

Wairarapa - Horowhenua

Wellington

Nelson / Marlborough

West Coast

Canterbury / South Canterbury

Otago

Southland

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* 4. If this was a Ministry audit, did it follow a separate complaint received by the Ministry?

Yes

Not a Ministry audit

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* 5. Were you given details of the complaint prior to the Ministry’s investigation?

Yes

N/A

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* 6. What went well with the audit / review?

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* 7. What did not go well with the audit / review?

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* 8. Please rate the following aspects of your audit / review

	Very Poor	Poor	Neither poor nor excellent	Good	Excellent
We were told why we are being audited by the Ministry	We were told why we are being audited by the Ministry Very Poor	We were told why we are being audited by the Ministry Poor	We were told why we are being audited by the Ministry Neither poor nor excellent	We were told why we are being audited by the Ministry Good	We were told why we are being audited by the Ministry Excellent
We were treated with respect by the Ministry officials	We were treated with respect by the Ministry officials Very Poor	We were treated with respect by the Ministry officials Poor	We were treated with respect by the Ministry officials Neither poor nor excellent	We were treated with respect by the Ministry officials Good	We were treated with respect by the Ministry officials Excellent
We were given the opportunity to explain any contributing circumstances	We were given the opportunity to explain any contributing circumstances Very Poor	We were given the opportunity to explain any contributing circumstances Poor	We were given the opportunity to explain any contributing circumstances Neither poor nor excellent	We were given the opportunity to explain any contributing circumstances Good	We were given the opportunity to explain any contributing circumstances Excellent
We were given the opportunity to fix any minor compliance issues	We were given the opportunity to fix any minor compliance issues Very Poor	We were given the opportunity to fix any minor compliance issues Poor	We were given the opportunity to fix any minor compliance issues Neither poor nor excellent	We were given the opportunity to fix any minor compliance issues Good	We were given the opportunity to fix any minor compliance issues Excellent
We were not made to feel guilty	We were not made to feel guilty Very Poor	We were not made to feel guilty Poor	We were not made to feel guilty Neither poor nor excellent	We were not made to feel guilty Good	We were not made to feel guilty Excellent
We were given the details of any complaint that led to the audit / review	We were given the details of any complaint that led to the audit / review Very Poor	We were given the details of any complaint that led to the audit / review Poor	We were given the details of any complaint that led to the audit / review Neither poor nor excellent	We were given the details of any complaint that led to the audit / review Good	We were given the details of any complaint that led to the audit / review Excellent
We felt we could question and seek more information for any unfamiliar requirement	We felt we could question and seek more information for any unfamiliar requirement Very Poor	We felt we could question and seek more information for any unfamiliar requirement Poor	We felt we could question and seek more information for any unfamiliar requirement Neither poor nor excellent	We felt we could question and seek more information for any unfamiliar requirement Good	We felt we could question and seek more information for any unfamiliar requirement Excellent

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* 9. If the audit / review did not go well for your centre, was it:

The process?

The officials

Why? (please specify)

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* 10. Were there aspects of the findings that you accept you need to correct?

Yes

Some

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* 11. Were there aspects of the findings that you felt were inaccurate or unfair?

Yes

Some

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* 12. Were you given sufficient time to fix identified issues?

Yes

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* 13. Did you feel unnecessarily pressured or bullied?

Yes

Some

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* 14. Was your license reassessed from full to provisional?

Yes

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* 15. Was your license suspended for a period of time?

Yes

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* 16. Were you offered support or advice (eg: SELO)?

Yes

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* 17. How easy do you feel it is to deal with Ministry of Education Officials currently?

Very easy

Easy

Somewhat easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Somewhat difficult

Difficult

Very difficult

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* 18. Do you believe it has got easier or harder to work with Ministry officials/ERO officials compared to 12 months ago?

Much easier

Easier

Neither easier or harder / no change

Harder

Much Harder

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* 19. How easy do you feel it is to deal with ERO reviewers currently?

Very easy

Easy

Somewhat easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Somewhat difficult

Difficult

Very difficult

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* 20. What one thing would you change about the Ministry's approach to improve it?

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* 21. What one thing would you change about ERO's approach to improve it?

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* 22. We are interested in your story. If you have more to say, e-mail ceo@ecc.org.nz

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* 23. Are you happy to be identified when we talk to the Ministry / ERO? If so, please enter your e-mail address and name below

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* 24. Do you believe that if you stand up to the Ministry or ERO, or challenge their view, you will be penalised?

Yes

Maybe

Not sure

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* 25. Any last comments?

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* 26. Are you willing to help the sector by telling your story more publically? We will help you, but we need examples to back up our concerns. Will you help us out? Leave your name and e-mail and mobile below