Liberty Montessori

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 

​​At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards. ​ 

Background 

Liberty Montessori provides education and care to an ethnically diverse roll that reflects the community. A small number of Māori children attend. The service, previously known as Mamma Bear, came under new ownership in February 2022 and merged with the recently closed Little Sweethearts Montessori.  

Summary of Review Findings 

The unique place of Māori as tangata whenua is acknowledged. Children have the opportunity to develop knowledge of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Teachers engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships.  

The curriculum is informed by assessment, planning, and evaluation that demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning, interests, and life contexts. Positive steps are taken to respect the aspirations held by parents and whānau for their children. An ongoing process of self-review and internal evaluation helps the service maintain the quality of education and care.  

Key Next Steps 

Next steps include: 

• continuing to develop the local curriculum and centre philosophy to reflect the priorities for learning that matter to children and their families, teachers, and the community 
• increasing opportunities for parents and whānau to become more involved in their child’s learning at the service. 

Next ERO Review  

​​The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation. ​ 

​​Phil Cowie​
​​Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)​ 
​​Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui​ 

​​12 October 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 regulatory 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; safety checking; teacher certification; ratios) 
• relevant evacuation procedures and practices. 

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.  

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

At the time of the review, ERO found the service was taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

Mamma Bear Childcare in Tauranga is a privately owned and operated education and care service, previously known as Juni Uni. The newly appointed and experienced centre manager leads a team of four qualified and registered teachers and one teacher in training. This is the centre’s first ERO review as Mamma Bear Childcare.

Summary of Review Findings

Children are seen as competent and confident learners in a responsive and inclusive learning environment. They are encouraged to make choices and learning is planned around their interests. Children’s relationships and interactions with their teachers are positive and respectful, leading to meaningful learning opportunities. Free flow between indoors and outdoors supports children’s decision making and developmental learning. Parents are encouraged to be involved in their children’s learning. Policy review is consistent with regulations and supports centre-wide improvement. A strategic and annual plan guide daily centre operation. Health and safety procedures are monitored, and changes made when required. Careful resourcing that provides for the learning and abilities of children has been considered.

Key Next Steps

Next steps include:

• strengthening bicultural practice to support children’s understanding of the dual heritage of Aotearoa, New Zealand
• ensuring children’s cultures are more visible in their learning and throughout the centre.

Next ERO Review

The next ERO review is likely to be an Akarangi | Quality Evaluation.

Phil Cowie
Director Review and Improvement Services (Central)
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
11 March 2021 

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 (PDF 1MB).  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.