Scuola Montessori (Masterton)

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

Scuola Montessori (Masterton) is one of three Montessori early childhood services under common private ownership. The centre opened in February 2020, and this is its first ERO review. The owner manages the business. A head teacher takes responsibility for day-to-day operation, and teaching and learning. A small number of the children enrolled are Māori.

Summary of Review Findings

The curriculum provides children with a variety of experiences to extend their learning and development, both indoors and outside. A sufficient range of Montessori and other equipment and materials is provided, appropriate to the age and abilities of those attending. Planning for learning is based on children’s interests and progress through the Montessori curriculum.

A policy framework and annual plan guide centre operation and direction. Health and safety practices are suitably implemented and monitored. Governance and management systems meet legislative requirements.  

Key Next Steps

Next steps include continuing to develop:

• teachers’ confidence and skills to provide a culturally responsive curriculum for all children, with a particular focus on te reo me ngā tikanga Māori 

• a team approach to planning for learning linked to the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum, and that includes increased collaboration with parents/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

13 September 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.