Only 53% of ECE centres meeting the quality threshold.

Let that sink in.

According to Education Review Office findings highlighted by Kelly Seaburg, nearly half of early childhood services are falling short — and more importantly, there are concerns that reviews alone have “no real teeth” to drive improvement.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth 👇

When we talk about quality in ECE, the conversation often centres around:

• Ratios

• Curriculum

• Teaching practice

But one of the most critical and measurable aspects of quality is often overlooked:

👉 The safety and compliance of the outdoor play environment

Why this matters

Outdoor play is not just “nice to have” — it’s where:

• The highest injury risks exist

• The most severe incidents occur (falls, head injuries, fractures)

• The greatest liability sits with centre owners/operators

And here’s the key point:

If your playground is not compliant, your centre is not operating a “quality environment” — full stop.

The gap in the system

The report suggests reviews alone aren’t enough. I agree.

Because what we consistently see across the sector is:

• Playgrounds installed without proper post-installation compliance checks

• Surfacing that looks fine but fails CFH/HIC testing

• Equipment that technically breaches NZS 5828 but is still in use

• Annual inspections missed or treated as a tick-box exercise

This is where the system falls down.

Compliance is not optional governance

Under NZS 5828:

• The owner/operator carries the burden of proof

• Annual inspections are expected

• Impact attenuation must be verified, not assumed

• Hazards like entrapments and fall zones are non-negotiable

No amount of “risk-benefit thinking” overrides that.

If we want to lift ECE quality…

We need to stop separating:

• “Education quality”

• “Physical environment safety”

They are the same conversation.

Because a centre cannot claim to provide a high-quality environment for tamariki if:

• Children are exposed to preventable injury risk

• Play equipment does not meet known standards

• There is no documented compliance pathway

The opportunity

This is actually good news.

Because unlike many areas of ECE quality…

👉 Outdoor play compliance is measurable, fixable, and auditable.

You can:

• Test it

• Certify it

• Maintain it

• Prove it

— Adam Stride

Playsafe Ltd