Montana Early Learning Centre

Montana Early Learning Centre specialises in the respectful care and education of tamariki/children from birth to five years and is licensed for 35 tamariki. The centre is divided into three developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor areas, which meet the needs of our children and their continual learning.  

Montana’s strong culture of aroha/love and respect is based on our committed team of teachers who value the warm, communicative relationships they have with each other, the children and their parents and whanau. We appreciate the unique bicultural heritage of Aotearoa and also the richness and diversity of our multi-cultural community. As part of the University we have access to the beautiful grounds and gardens, and we often go on expeditions around campus.

Nursery

The nursery is designed for infants aged up to two years old, with a maximum of 8 pēpi/babies at any one time with two teachers. The teachers' practice is inspired by the RIE and Pikler approaches to early learning, and based on secure attachment, responsive caregiving and freedom of movement and play in an inviting and engaging environment.

Toddler area

Our large toddler area caters for busy toddlers aged from 18 months till around four years. Our qualified teachers continue with the same approach as the nursery, with key teachers supporting the holistic learning and development of each individual child. Tamariki are free to choose from a wide variety of play activities which support their physical, social, and cognitive development.

Pre-school area

Our pre-school area aims to provide a learning environment that is interactive, engaging and relevant to the children’s interests. This helps promote cognitive, social and emotional growth through both teacher-directed play and child-lead play. As this is a specialised area, one of the key focuses is to support our children as best we can for their transition to school. There is a strong focus on developing the fundamental social and co-operative skills that will create a solid foundation for their future learning and relationship building. We also aim to introduce some of the concepts learnt in their first year of primary school, however our main priority is to allow children to problem solve through their play and for children to take charge of their own learning.