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PROSPECTUS 2015

Montessori Children’s House

ABN 86 010 125 470

19 Wienholt Street, Auchenflower 4066

Telephone: (07) 3371 7090

Email:

Website: www.montessori-auchenflower.com.au

A Kindergarten affiliated with Lady Gowrie Queensland

A Queensland Government

Kndergarten

Approved Program provider

and a member of

The Montessori Australia Foundation (MAF)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. STRUCTURE 3

2. THE CENTRE'S PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3

3. MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE 4

4. THE AIMS OF THE MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE LTD...... 6

5. GOALS FOR THE CHILD 6

6. STAFF 7

7. MANAGEMENT OF CENTRE...... 9

8. THE OPERATION OF THE CENTRE 9

9. PARENT INVOLVEMENT 10

10. DAY TO DAY PRACTICALITIES 13

11. HEALTH 17

12. safety emergency and evacuation procedures...... 18

13. compliance log book 189

14. TERM DATES 2013 AND PUPIL FREE DAYS 19

15. ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAMME 19

16. MONTESSORI IN THE HOME 21

17. PARENT LENDING LIBRARY 22

18. SUGGESTED READING LIST 22

19. FEES AND LEVIES 23

20. STRATEGIC PLAN 2012-2016...... 26

1. STRUCTURE

The Montessori Children's House (MCH) is a non-profit parent run Kindergarten, affiliated with Lady Gowrie Queensland and supported by an Early Childhood Education and Coordinator (ECECC). A Committee of parents, elected by parents at the Annual General Meeting, holds office for the ensuing year and is responsible for the management of the Montessori Children's House.

Adjacent to MCH and under its umbrella is the Montessori Infants’ House (MIH). It is a non-profit Playgroup for children aged 0-3 years. Parents and children are guided by an experienced Montessori guide through a range of experiences in a Montessori environment.

The Montessori Children’s House is licensed by the Department of Education and Training under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011.

MCH must meet the requirements set down for the children’s educational learning, experiences and programmes, ratios of staff to children and staff member’s qualifications according to the legislation.

The Office for Early Childhood Education and Care phone number is (07)3634 0532.

2. THE CENTRE'S PHILOSOPHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

2.1  Montessori

The Children's House follows the Montessori Method of education. This method was developed by Dr Maria Montessori (1870-1952), who was the first female Italian medical doctor. She developed the method over many years working with and observing children in the learning process. Being a scientist with an open-minded approach to education, Dr Montessori was able to make her great discoveries.

Dr Montessori observed stages of development within the individual and from this evolved her method comprising an educational pedagogy and accompanying teaching materials. This method is based on individual guidance according to the child's specific and immediate needs.

Dr Montessori described the child's mind as the ABSORBENT MIND because of the great ability of the child to learn and assimilate effortlessly and unconsciously from the world around. She observed what she described as SENSITIVE PERIODS in the child's life when special concentration of effort is shown by the child to acquire certain capabilities, and these are the optimum periods for learning particular concepts. She also observed the child's need for order, independence and repetition in mastering a skill.

At the Children's House an atmosphere of cheerful orderliness, calmness and purposeful work is fostered. The child is free to choose activities from practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language and cultural materials. The child works individually or in small groups, being careful not to interrupt another child at work. The child enjoys and learns from repetition. The teacher, sensitive to the child's development and progress, introduces new materials at the appropriate time. When a child finishes an activity, he/she is expected to re-arrange it in its place, ready for the next person to use.

Independent effort is encouraged and protected, concentration is allowed to grow and individuality is honoured. Dr Montessori believed that children have an innate positive attitude towards learning. This is fostered at the Children's House.

The dignity and the rights of the child are respected at all times. Positive guidance is used to assist a child to substitute appropriate for inappropriate behaviour.

2.2  Lady Gowrie Affiliation and Curriculum

The Children’s House is affiliated with Lady Gowrie and as such has embraced the curriculum known as Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines.

The Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines is based on the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) and embraces the inclusive vision that all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life.

The guideline describes a set of five learning and development areas that relate to the five broad learning outcomes identified in the EYLF:

Identity Children have a strong sense of identity

Connectedness Children are connected with and contribute to their world

Wellbeing Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Active Learning Children are confident and involved learners

Communicating Children are effective communicators.

3. MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

On top of a hill in Auchenflower, there is a horse stable surrounded by gardens, where forty children gather to learn ...

“The horse stable on top of the hill in Wienholt Street in Auchenflower, Brisbane has a long history, which always has been related to education. It was built in 1865 as the original stable of Randall MacDonnell's great Rathdonnell Estate. A neighbouring estate called Auchenflower, meaning "field of flowers", later gave its name to the area.

Randall MacDonnell was born in Dublin and trained there as a teacher. In 1854, he immigrated to Sydney and established a private school. In 1860, he moved to Queensland where, for the remaining 17 years of his short life, his advocacy for improved education for the State's children was most significant. MacDonnell was appointed General Inspector of Primary Schools in 1860, and Secretary to the Board of General Education in 1870. In 1875, he became the first General Inspector of the newly established Department of Public Instruction, and held that position until he died of tuberculosis the following year.

We trust that Randall MacDonnell would be happy with what he would find in his stable today....

Rathdonnell Estate was sold and subdivided in 1911, and by 1913, the Auchenflower Presbyterian Church was established in the stable. In 1957, the stable became the church hall of a newly built, wooden Auchenflower Presbyterian Church.

In 1983, the church hall became available for lease for educational purposes. Thus was established the Montessori Children's House - a preschool and kindergarten of great significance, not only in the history of education but also in the unending quest to find an appropriate education which might lead to optimal personal fulfilment in later life, and to world peace and understanding. This school provides a superb and enlightened education for 40 children, all in the three-to-six year old Cycle One of the Montessori program. This wonderful facility is a non-profit, parent-run kindergarten, which prepares children for a lifetime of learning.

We look forward with great hope that the Montessori Children's House can continue to contribute to the rich history of both the building that has stood on this site since 1865, and the dream - of excellent children's education - of the man who built it there”.

Excerpt and photograph from Auchenflower – the suburb and the name by John Pearn, Amphion Press, Brisbane. Reprinted with the author’s permission.

The ongoing evolvement of the Montessori Children’s House:

In May 1980, the Montessori Children’s House (MCH) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. This gave the advantage of "limited liability" to members and a committee elected by the parent is responsible for the running of the Children's House. During their term of office, the Committee were the registered directors of the Company.

In September 1980, the Committee began a search for new premises as their St Lucia house was being sold. The house at 17 Cadell Street, Toowong was chosen as it had the best potential for gaining Council approval and would enable MCH to expand.

MCH opened at Cadell Street in February 1981, after a great deal of effort and considerable funds spent on renovations required by Brisbane City Council (BCC). It was able to offer a morning and an afternoon session, both of three hours duration, with approximately 18 children in each session.

The Children's House had to vacate the premises at Cadell Street at the end of 1983 and new premises were found at the Uniting Church, 19 Wienholt Street, Auchenflower. A new annex was built on to the existing church hall in accordance with our needs. MCH was then licensed by the BCC to operate as a Day Care Centre. The Children’s House leased the property from the Uniting Church.

In 1984, the Children’s House was granted affiliation with the Crèche & Kindergarten Association of Queensland (C&K). As well as recognition and professional support from the Association, we were eligible for financial assistance from Government funding. We remained affiliated with C & K until January 2011.

With changes to the funding regime in 2010, government funding for kindergartens became available from a number of “Central Governing Bodies” (CGBs). In February 2011, the Management Committee and Director decided to appoint Lady Gowrie Community Kindergartens as our CGB.

Lady Gowrie Consultants are responsible for monitoring the standards in relation to the educational program, building and playground design as required for ongoing affiliation with the Gowrie Queensland.

As well, the Consultants act as authorized personnel on behalf of the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care (ph 3634 0532). The Consultants are therefore responsible for overseeing the licensing of Lady Gowrie affiliated kindergartens.

The Children's House continued to grow and the ultimate aim was for permanent premises owned by the Children's House and was achieved at the beginning of 2004. The Uniting Church decided to sell the whole block, which included the Children’s House section and the adjacent property and church. The Children’s House purchased the whole block.

A Playgroup had been set up in the church next door. In July 2005, the Playgroup was brought under the umbrella of the Children’s House and it is called the Montessori Infants’ House (MIH). The Infants’ House is open to parents and children, five mornings a week.

Facilities, resources, play areas and gardens continue to be developed throughout the whole block. This ongoing evolvement over the years has been made possible by the strong involvement of parents in working bees, grant applications, generous donations and fundraising.

4. THE AIMS OF THE MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE LTD

(i) Deliver a high quality Montessori based kindergarten program.

(ii) Foster the development, growth and support of the Montessori style of education in

Brisbane.

(iii) Encourage communication with all educationalists so that greater understanding may eventuate.

(iv) Emphasise the necessary commitment and support of parents to the centre.

(v) Provide staff with the best possible conditions to undertake their educational role.

5. GOALS FOR THE CHILD

This centre actively promotes sustainability and encourages children, families and staff to protect the environment in learning techniques and modes of living, which will preserve and restore the environment. For example, careful use of water is encouraged. Paper and other products are recycled where appropriate. Pest control is carried out annually.

All animals, insects and plants are treated with care and respect while appropriate observation for children's information is made. Trees and shrubs indigenous to our particular area are planted to give effective shade and to provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Care is taken of the natural surroundings. This involves the thoughtful disposal of litter, hygienic composting of lawn clippings and fruit waste for soil enrichment and maintenance of vegetable and flower gardens.

We have created an open and reflective curriculum framework to engage children and our Montessori trained Early Childhood Educators collaboratively in the process of learning. Our objective is to affirm meaningful partnerships, embrace the right for all children to peace, dignity, tolerance and equality, to honour the aspirations and unique nature of the individual, and to establish and promote connections and continuities that recognise children’s past, present and future living and learning experiences. We emphasise the importance of play in a child’s educational journey.

The children at the Montessori Children's House will leave with the knowledge of their own self-worth, a love of learning and a strong foundation on which to reach their full potential.

6. STAFF

The Children’s House is fortunate to have the expertise and experience of professional, conscientious and dedicated people on staff and your child will be educated by the following staff in our cohesive single unit facility:-

Director /Educational Leader- Jan Luff

Jan has a Diploma in Teaching, Early Childhood, Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers College and a Degree, Bachelor of Education, QUT Kelvin Grove. She has also completed a Montessori Diploma, Montessori World Educational Institute (M.W.E.I.)

Having travelled in many parts of the world, Jan has worked in London, Paris, Vancouver and Seattle. Cultural aspects of Australia and other countries are developed within the programme at the children’s’ level. The cultural heritage of the parents and children is incorporated in her planning.

At the Montessori Children’s House Jan’s priorities are:

·  To formulate and deliver a high quality, inclusive and educational program incorporating a play based curriculum, which will provide children with a secure nurturing environment.