Windsor Montessori Preschool

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

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed non-compliances and is now taking reasonable steps to meet regulatory standards.

Background

This is the first ERO review of Windsor Montessori Preschool which opened in August 2020. The centre owners oversee the day-to-day operations. The service curriculum is informed by the Montessori philosophy where children are provided with an environment where they are given freedom to choose work based on their developmental needs and interests. A Montessori qualified owner/centre manager and head teacher oversee a small teaching team of fully qualified staff, including one Montessori qualified teacher. Children are from a range of diverse cultures including a small number from Pacific heritages.

Summary of Review Findings

Children experience a Montessori-based curriculum, aligned to Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Teachers respect children’s preferences and support them in their decision making. They have opportunities to learn about their own and other cultures, including te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. The curriculum is informed by assessment and planning.

The design and layout of the premises supports the provision of different types of indoor and outdoor activities and a range of individual and group learning experiences.

Health and safety policies are implemented and mostly monitored. Governance and management oversee day-to-day operations. There is an ongoing process for review and evaluation.  

Actions for Compliance

Since the onsite visit, the service has provided ERO with evidence that shows it has addressed non-compliances:

• furniture, fixtures and equipment that could fall or topple and could cause serious injury or damage are secured

• information is provided to parents about the amount and details of the expenditure of any Ministry of Education funding received by the service.

Licensing Criteria for Early Childhood Education and Care Centres 2008, HS6, GMA3.

Next ERO Review

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

Patricia Davey
Director of Early Childhood Education (ECE)

 22 May 2023 

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.