1 MacDonald Street, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga
View on mapAkarangi | Quality Evaluation evaluates the extent to which this early childhood service has the learning and organisational conditions to support equitable and excellent outcomes for all learners. Te Ara Poutama Indicators of quality for early childhood education: what matters most are the basis for making judgements about the effectiveness of the service in achieving equity and excellence for all learners. Judgements are made in relation to the Outcomes Indicators, Learning and Organisational Conditions. The Evaluation Judgement Rubric derived from the indicators, is used to inform ERO’s judgements about this service’s performance in promoting equity and excellence.
ERO’s judgements for Little Einsteins Montessori (MacDonald Street) are as follows:
Outcome Indicators(What the service knows about outcomes for learners) |
Whakawhanake Sustaining |
|
Learning Conditions Organisational Conditions |
Whakawhanake Sustaining Whakawhanake Sustaining |
Little Einsteins Montessori (MacDonald Street) is a privately-owned, all-day education and care service located in Mount Maunganui. The owner leads an established teaching team of six, in three open-plan, aged-based settings. Teachers collaboratively enact the service’s philosophy, vision, goals and priorities for learning.
The combined philosophies of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum and Montessori successfully promote positive learning outcomes for children. Māori children are affirmed in their language and culture through intentional teaching and learning. Infants and toddlers experience a calm unhurried environment and responsive care. Transitions into, through and beyond the service are individually tailored for each child. Parents and families actively contribute to an inclusive and responsive programme that values and recognises their culture. Children show a strong sense of wellbeing and belonging.
Children’s learning and development in play-based contexts are well supported through caring and respectful interactions with teachers. They know children well and gather a range of relevant individual information to support learning and progress over time. Each child is responded to as a capable and competent learner in thoughtfully prepared and resourced settings. Children show a strong sense of independence and exploration.
Shared responsibilities and open communication among teachers cultivate a strong team culture. A commitment to continuous learning and development strengthens culturally responsive practice. The centre manager and teachers work well together to build their professional knowledge and understanding of practice to foster equitable outcomes for all children.
Leaders effectively manage and govern the centre. Aligned strategic and annual plans guide day-to-day operation. The centre manager and teachers continue to strengthen their understanding and processes for effective internal evaluation.
Little Einsteins Montessori (MacDonald Street)will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:
consistently documenting the languages and cultures of all children in assessment practices, to reflect their home contexts and uphold and enhance their learner identities
fore fronting evaluative questions within internal evaluation, to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of improvement actions designed to achieve equitable outcomes for all children.
Before the review, the staff and management of Little Einsteins Montessori (MacDonald Street) 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.
During the review, ERO looked at the 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 registration; ratios)
evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
Shelley Booysen
Acting Director Review and Improvement Services
Central Region | Te Tai Pūtahi Nui
12 April 2022
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Early Childhood Service Name |
Early Childhood Service Name |
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Profile Number |
46671 |
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Location |
Tauranga |
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Service type |
Education and care service |
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Number licensed for |
75 children, including up to 15 aged under 2 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
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Service roll |
40 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori 5, NZ European/Pākehā 31, Other ethnic groups 4 |
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Review team on site |
February 2022 |
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Date of this report |
12 April 2022 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review, October 2017 |
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Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Little Einsteins Montessori is located in an industrial area in Mount Maunganui. The centre provides all-day education and care for children from birth to 6 years of age. There are three separate areas, for babies, two to three year olds, and for older children up to school age. The roll has recently increased due to the closure of a nearby Montessori centre that was under the same ownership. Three teachers also transferred from the nearby centre. The current roll of 70 children includes six who identify as Māori.
The core values that unpin the centre philosophy are relevance, respect and relationships. Children have freedom to choose their own activities within the environment. Teachers aim to foster children's natural desire to learn, to inspire them to be curious and develop thinking and problem solving skills, enabling them to grow up as competent and confident learners.
Teachers are both Montessori and early childhood trained. This is the first ERO review of Little Einsteins Montessori.
Effective governance and leadership are providing the centre with clear direction. The philosophy is clearly documented and shared with all who are involved in the service. Planned and spontaneous self review are ongoing and lead to improvement.
The centre owner and second-in-charge have established a culture in which children are first and foremost valued, celebrated and affirmed for who they are and what they bring to their learning. Leaders access professional learning and development to increase teachers’ individual and collective capability. Teachers effectively reflect on how new learning can improve their practice. Priorities and goals are strongly linked to positive learning outcomes for children.
A well-designed curriculum weaves the Te Whariki and Montessori philosophies together to provide a well-prepared environment, centred around children’s individual interests and strengths. Teachers have developed a good understanding of te ao Māori perspectives and how these integrate within the Montessori philosophy.
Teachers challenge and extend children’s ideas and thinking through individual planning, questioning and in-depth discussion. Assessment is well used to identify individual progress and achievement and those children needing additional support. Teachers have an understanding of each child as a unique learner and effectively support their sense of belonging.
Responsive and respectful interactions between teachers and children support the building of independence, self-confidence and a love for learning. The spacious environment includes a wide range of natural resources and encourages children’s exploration, critical thinking and creativity. Literacy and mathematics are well integrated in the learning programme and teachers are committed to inclusive education for all. Children are engaged in sustained play in a calm and settled learning environment.
Children’s sense of belonging is nurtured during and after transitions into and within the service, and when moving to school. Sustained, shared teaching activities extend children’s thinking and values their contribution to the learning experience.
Teachers show high levels of nurture and care for babies and toddlers. They are responsive to the individual routines and needs of these young children. Well considered resourcing complements children’s developmental stages. Parents are well informed about their children’s interests and development. Babies and toddlers enjoy consistent caregiving that responds sensitively to each child’s changing needs and preferences.
The centre provides many opportunities for parents and whānau to be involved with their children's learning. A daily family whānau time, parent education evenings, social events, parent interviews and regular communication show the respect and value the centre has for parents as first educators. Children benefit from a strong centre/parent partnership.
Management and ERO agree that it is important that the centre continues to develop and consolidate teacher capabilities in bicultural practice.
Before the review, the staff and management of Little Einsteins Montessori (MacDonald Street) 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:
During the review, ERO looked at the 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 registration; ratios)
evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
The next ERO review of Little Einsteins Montessori (MacDonald Street) will be in three years.
Lynda Pura-Watson
Deputy Chief Review Officer
Te Tai Miringa - Waikato / Bay of Plenty Region
30 October 2017
The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department that, as part of its work, reviews early childhood services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. ERO’s reports provide information for parents and communities about each service’s strengths and next steps for development. ERO’s bicultural evaluation framework Ngā Pou Here is described in SECTION 3 of this report. Early childhood services are partners in the review process and are expected to make use of the review findings to enhance children's wellbeing and learning.
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Location |
Mount Maunganui |
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Ministry of Education profile number |
46671 |
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Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
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Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
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Number licensed for |
75 children, including up to 8 aged under 2 |
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Service roll |
70 |
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Gender composition |
Boys 33 Girls 37 |
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Ethnic composition |
Māori |
6 |
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Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates |
80% + |
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Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
1:4 |
Better than minimum requirements |
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Over 2 |
1:8 |
Better than minimum requirements |
|
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Review team on site |
September 2017 |
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Date of this report |
30 October 2017 |
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Most recent ERO report(s) |
No previous ERO reports |
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ERO’s overarching question for an early childhood education review is ‘How well placed is this service to promote positive learning outcomes for children?’ ERO focuses on the following factors as described in the bicultural framework Ngā Pou Here:
Within these areas ERO considers the effectiveness of arotake – self review and of whanaungatanga – partnerships with parents and whānau.
ERO evaluates how well placed a service is to sustain good practice and make ongoing improvements for the benefit of all children at the service.
A focus for the government is that all children, especially priority learners, have an opportunity to benefit from quality early childhood education. ERO will report on how well each service promotes positive outcomes for all children, with a focus on children who are Māori, Pacific, have diverse needs, and are up to the age of two.
For more information about the framework and Ngā Pou Here refer to ERO’s Approach to Review in Early Childhood Services.
The overall judgement that ERO makes and the timing of the next review will depend on how well placed a service is to promote positive learning outcomes for children. The categories are:
ERO has developed criteria for each category. These are available on ERO’s website.
ERO reviews are tailored to each service’s context and performance, within the overarching review framework. The aim is to provide information on aspects that are central to positive outcomes for children and useful to the service.