87 Atawhai Drive, Atawhai, Nelson
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 Nelson Montessori are as follows:
Outcome Indicators(What the service knows about outcomes for learners) |
Whāngai Establishing |
Ngā Akatoro Domains |
|
Learning ConditionsOrganisational Conditions |
Whakaū Embedding Whakaū Embedding |
Nelson Montessori is one of three privately-owned early childhood centres collectively known as The Bays Montessori. The service owner supports the team leaders. The curriculum is based on the Montessori approach which emphasises a child-led, experimental, and collaborative way of learning. A high percentage of children attending the service are from diverse nationalities. This evaluation was one of a cluster of three reviews of The Bays Montessori.
Tamariki engages in sustained conversations with kaiako about things of importance to them. Kaiako work effectively alongside tamariki noticing their interests and extending on these through the learning programme. Outdoor learning opportunities are intentionally designed to promote exploration and investigation of the living world. The curriculum is reflective of the Montessori appraoch and Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum.
Collaboration with parents and whānau is highly valued. Their perspectives about what matters for their tamaiti contributes to kaiako understanding the cultures and identities of tamariki. Leaders and kaiako actively include experiences that celebrate the values and beliefs of tamariki and their whānau.
Some te reo Māori and aspects of tikanga Māori are reflected in daily practice. The values of the service, including whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, aroha, kotahitanga and whakamana, are evident in the curriculum. Leaders and kaiako continue to build capacity around their bicultural curriculum that reflects local hapū and iwi perspectives.
Kaiako use assessment information to design a responsive curriculum built upon the interests and strengths of tamariki. There is some evidence the learning outcomes in Te Whāriki are used to evaluate progression of learning over time. However, there is still more work required to establish a shared understanding of the use of the learning outcomes across the teaching team.
Review and research are used well to explore aspects of practice and inform ongoing improvements. A framework to guide internal evaluation has been established. Leaders and kaiako should continue to embed quality improvement systems such as:
internal evaluation by deepening understanding of internal evaluation for improvement
the professional growth cycle and appraisal of teachers.
Relational trust has been established. Kaiako have opportunities to share professional practice across the three services.
Nelson Montessori will include the following actions in its Quality Improvement Planning:
increase opportunities for tamariki to hear, speak and experience te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in meaningful learning contexts
support kaiako understanding and use of the learning outcomes from Te Whāriki to inform assessment for learning processes and show consistently children’s developing capabilities in relation to these outcomes over time
develop a bicultural approach that considers how cultural perspectives of local hapū and iwi are integrated into the local curriculum
deepen leaders and kaikao understanding of the internal evaluation framework and the associated evaluative thinking and reasoning.
Before the review, the staff and management of Nelson Montessori completed an ERO 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; safety checking; teacher registration; ratios)
relevant evacuation procedures and practices.
All early childhood services are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.
Dr Lesley Patterson
Director Review and Improvement Services (Southern)
Southern Region | Te Tai Tin
8 December 2022
|
Early Childhood Service Name |
Nelson Montessori |
|
Profile Number |
65409 |
|
Location |
Whakatū | Nelson |
|
Service type |
Education and care service |
|
Number licensed for |
50 children over 2 years of age |
|
Percentage of qualified teachers |
80-99% |
|
Service roll |
27 |
|
Review team on site |
August 2022 |
|
Date of this report |
8 December 2022 |
|
Most recent ERO report(s) |
Education Review, July 2018; Education Review, February 2015 |
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Nelson Montessori provides full-day education and care for children from two and a half to six years old. It is located in a local heritage park complex. It is one of three privately-owned centres, collectively known as The Bays Montessoris. The owner provides leadership across the three Bays Montessoris centres.
This service is licensed for up to 50 children with diverse cultures. Children learn in two mixed-age classrooms, sharing a spacious and well-resourced outdoor area. Leaders take responsibility for each classroom and the attached outdoor areas.
The owner and leaders are trained Montessori educators. The teachers are qualified early childhood or primary teachers. Most teachers are trained in the Montessori approach or are in training.
Since the last 2015 ERO review, there have been changes in leadership and teaching teams. The centre has improved the ways children are known as learners, their access to the outdoor environment and transition to school.
This review was part of a cluster of three Montessori centre reviews of The Bays Montessoris group.
The Montessori philosophy is strongly evident in all aspects of the curriculum. Children experience a rich and broad curriculum aligned to Te Whāriki. The value for biculturalism is evident in the way te ao Māori concepts are integrated in centre practices.
Children are effectively supported to achieve the key priorities for learning described by the centre. They are provided with real world contexts, resources and activities to help them make sense of the world that surrounds them. With well-timed support from teachers, they develop independence and confidence in themselves (whakamana), in each other (whanaungatanga), and skills for engaging in the world around them. This includes, helping to prepare food and serve daily (e.g. kai time), when children were observed contentedly sitting and talking together for sustained periods of time.
Children learn in a calm, respectful, supportive environment. They have settled time for focused, productive learning. Teacher interactions are respectful, responsive and empowering. They effectively engage in children's activity of interest. They know when to intervene or remain as observers. They support children's inquiry in learning and problem solving.
Children exhibit a strong sense of belonging, security and care. The mixed-age classrooms provide multiple opportunities for reciprocal learning (ako), leadership for older children (tuakana-teina) and social skills for younger children.
A feature of the programme is the rich experiences provided in and outside the centre. The indoor and outdoor areas are spacious and well resourced and intentionally designed to promote specific skills and learning. A respect for nature, the natural world and sustainable practice is a key platform for learning. Children's skills, understanding and ability to interact effectively in the world that surrounds them (kōtahitanga) is effectively supported. They learn in a holisitic way, about themselves and their wellbeing, and how to respect, care and help sustain the world around them.
Children benefit from parent support and expertise. Teachers and leaders actively encourage parents to be involved in and contribute to their child's learning. Parents' opinions are regularly sought to inform programme improvement.
Teachers know the children in their classroom well. They work collaboratively, ensuring each child's holistic development. They regularly share information about the children. This helps ensure continuity in learning for each child and a consistent focus for supporting learning. Teachers interact positively and respectfully with the children and their parents. Children with additional learning needs are identified and well supported.
The centre owner ensures that teachers receive relevant professional learning, including deepening their understanding of the Montessori approach. She works collaboratively with the centre leaders, building leadership capability and sustainable practice. There is increasing collaboration across centres.
The leaders meet regularly to discuss and share best practice. Long-term planning usefully guides development within and across centres. Internal evaluation is being increasingly well implemented to inform improvement, within and across centres. A recent review of the key priorities for learning in each of The Bays Montessoris centres is now being used to guide teaching and learning at each centre.
ERO and centre leaders agree that the key next steps for teachers are to continue to:
Before the review, the staff and management of Nelson Montessori 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 Nelson Montessori will be in three years.
Lesley Patterson
Deputy Chief Review Officer Southern
Te Waipounamu - Southern Region
19 July 2018
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.
|
Location |
Nelson |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
65409 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education & Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
50 children, aged 3 years and over |
||
|
Service roll |
37 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Girls: 20 Boys: 17 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori |
3 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80%+ Based on funding rates |
80% + |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Over 2 |
1:8 |
Better than minimum requirements |
|
Review team on site |
May 2018 |
||
|
Date of this report |
19 July 2018 |
||
|
Most recent ERO report(s)
|
Education Review |
February 2015 |
|
|
Education Review |
December 2011 |
||
|
Education Review |
November 2008 |
||
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.
|
Not well placed |
Requires further development |
Well placed |
Very well placed |
Nelson Montessori is well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.
ERO's findings that support this overall judgement are summarised below.
Nelson Montessori is one of three privately owned Montessori preschools. The owner and educators have specialist training and an in-depth understanding of Montessori principles and practices. The Montessori philosophy is strongly evident in all aspects of the curriculum.
The preschool has two separate classrooms and an outdoor education programme. All children attend a minimum of five mornings each week, with some children also attending the afternoon sessions. Children and families from a diverse range of cultures attend the preschool. The blend of older and younger children learning together fosters a sense of family and community.
The preschool owner and educators have made good progress since the December 2011 ERO review. This includes improving assessment practices and introducing an online communication system to help strengthen the involvement of parents and whānau in children’s learning. Educators are active participants in a national pilot project on self review which is strengthening self-review practices.
This review was part of a cluster of three reviews in the Montessori Preschools' service.
Children benefit from the wide range of opportunities for learning that are promoted through a good blend of the Montessori philosophy and Te Whāriki , the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum. This includes:
Children have increasing opportunities to learn about the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa and Te Ao Māori, particularly in the outside environment. There is a strong focus on environmental education. Children are well supported to learn about sustainable practices and caring for the natural world. Educators make good use of the local community to widen children’s learning experiences.
Some educators are becoming skilled at integrating the culture, language and identity of children in the programme and in individual stories about the child as a learner. This practice now needs to be strengthened across the team.
Educators work with children in calm and unhurried ways. Teaching practices are based on careful and ongoing observations of the child. Educators make the most of teachable moments and encourage children to be independent, creative thinkers and successful learners. Educators model care and respect for children and support them in developing positive relationships with others.
The teaching team is highly reflective. Shared understandings of the role of the educator in a Montessori setting is supported by regular professional discussions. Involvement in professional development has helped educators use self review to promote ongoing improvements more successfully. The views of parents are valued and well used.
The owner provides suitable support for the efficient management and operation of the service. Recent developments in strategic and annual planning have helped clarify the service’s priorities and associated goals towards achieving its vision. The owner and educators are strongly focused on providing positive outcomes for children.
The owner and educators have identified, and ERO agrees, that some aspects of self review could be further refined and strengthened, particularly in regard to evaluating learning outcomes.
Teachers are in a good position to build on relationships with local schools to form stronger professional partnerships that promote a shared knowledge of the child as a learner and support transition planning.
The key next step for the managers is to consider ways that children could have better access to the outside environment.
Since the onsite stage of the review, the manager has begun to provide ways that educators from all three preschools can more regularly share strengths and build on best practices.
Before the review, the staff and management of Nelson Montessori 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:
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 Nelson Montessori will be in three years.
Graham Randell
Deputy Chief Review Officer-Southern
26 February 2015
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.
|
Location |
Atawhai, Nelson |
||
|
Ministry of Education profile number |
65409 |
||
|
Licence type |
Education and Care Service |
||
|
Licensed under |
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 |
||
|
Number licensed for |
50 children aged two years and over |
||
|
Service roll |
47 |
||
|
Gender composition |
Girls 24 Boys 23 |
||
|
Ethnic composition |
Māori Pākehā Other Ethnicities |
7 31 9 |
|
|
Percentage of qualified teachers 0-49% 50-79% 80% Based on funding rates |
80% |
||
|
Reported ratios of staff to children |
Under 2 |
||
|
Over 2 |
1:10 |
Meets minimum requirements |
|
|
Review team on site |
November 2014 |
||
|
Date of this report |
26 February 2015 |
||
|
Most recent ERO reports
|
Education Review |
December 2011 |
|
|
Education Review |
November 2008 |
||
|
Education Review |
October 2005 |
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.