MEAB Newsletter

Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board

Issue 14 May 2014 published three times a year for accredited schools
Dear MEAB accredited schools and nurseries,

Our Leaders Conference is imminent and promises to be another excellent opportunity to hear expert speakers, update
our knowledge of current Montessori initiatives and enjoy that rare pleasure of stopping still to reflect fully on our
direction as leaders. This Conference is for owners and managers of MEAB accredited settings and is pitched at this
level of responsibility, but we will also celebrate the success of those settings who will be awarded their MEAB
accreditation plaques on the day. Full details are given below and availability of places is limited, so if you wish to attend
please apply without delay.

The number of settings currently undergoing initial accreditation or re-accreditation is a staggering 35 schools, ranging
from very small, term-time settings to full day care and those with over 200 children attending. This level of interest and
commitment to the scheme was reflected in the number of visitors who approached the MEAB stand at the MSA
Conference on March 1
st
. We were taken by surprise when we had given out most of the information packs to those
considering or about to commence the MEAB process before the speeches had even begun! And it was interesting to
note that 46% of the schools attending the conference were already MEAB accredited.

Schools undergoing accreditation:
Aldersbrook Primary School and Nursery The Little House Montessori Nursery School
Beckett House Montessori Nursery Little People's Montessori Nursery
Casa dei Bambini / Hartley House Montessori Mace Montessori Schools (Clerkenwell Branch)
Caterpillars Montessori Pre-school Mace Montessori Schools (Hammersmith Branch)
Colourwheel Montessori Mace Montessori Schools (Wandsworth Branch)
Dulwich Montessori Nursery School Manor Grove Montessori
Ealing Green Montessori School Rainbow Montessori School NW6 6RG
Eden Montessori Nursery Rosalita Edwards Montessori Nursery and Daycare
Foxglove Montessori Nursery School St Matthews Montessori School
Hartley House Montessori The Lido Sunflower Montessori Kindergarten
Holly Grange Montessori Nursery (Cuddington) Treasure Montessori Nursery and Pre-school
Holly Grange Montessori Nursery (Stockport) Wetherby House Montessori
Lemon Tree Montessori School York Montessori Nursery (Fulford)
The Lighthouse (Oxon)

We are now thinking ahead to the next round of re-accreditations, which for many will be the third accreditation cycle; as
always, we continue to review the service that MEAB offers and we are looking in particular at ways to acknowledge the
commitment that these settings have demonstrated to the improvement of their practice.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions or suggestions on how we can improve our practice in managing the
scheme.

We very much look forward to welcoming you if you are able to come to the Leaders Conference, and wish everyone a
warm and successful summer term.

Michele Dows-Miller Barbara Isaacs May 2014


this issue
Message from Accreditation Officers p.1
Comparing the EYFS Statutory
Frameworks p.2
MEAB Conference 2014 p.3
Upcoming Events p.4



Comparing the EYFS Statutory Frameworks: 2014 with 2012
What is the effect of the changes?

Clearly there has been an attempt to reduce the number
of policies which providers are required to have. However
in several cases you will still have to show that your
procedures are adequate to cover the situations, so a
policy is a fairly easy way of doing so. Health and safety
policies would still be useful and we will be looking into
the HSEs guidelines and reporting on these. Not to have a
behaviour policy also seems a bit odd, but providers will
still need staff to share practices and so guidelines on this
will be needed. However, the sharper focus on not having
corporal punishment seems good, even if the softer
issues of managing behaviour are not addressed so
directly. Similarly risk assessments and a relevant policy
become the responsibility of the provider to ensure that
appropriate procedures are known and followed by staff.

The reference to the two year old progress check is
sharpened and the reference to integrated working across
professionals is most welcome, but the EYFS Profile retains
its former wording, despite Ministers comments about it
becoming much more optional as the baseline assessment
in YR is rolled out it seems as though the EYFS Statutory
Framework has not caught up with other policy
developments (or else is being overtaken by them).

Some things seem a bit odd the removal of the
requirement to obtain parental approval for children to go
on an outing, for example. It would still appear to be a
good idea to get approval, even if this is a blanket
approval, especially for regular trips, such as to the park.

A regular feature is the reference to childminder agencies,
as might be expected for this new policy.
The dropping of references to appraisals and the
substitution of supervisions is interesting as the former
are generally annual whereas the latter can be fortnightly
or half termly. This seems to fit a bit awkwardly with the
changes in ratios to recognise level 6 qualifications
including Early Years Teacher qualifications. The change to
a 1:13 ratio where a registered setting has a L6 qualified
person is helpful.

The absence of a section directly referring to Equal
Opportunities appears retrogressive.

Beyond the EYFS and more to do with its application, quite
a few independent schools have registered a setting for
under three which Ofsted has given a registered age range
up to five. DfEs independent school registration goes
from 3 upwards. So the 3 to 5 year olds provision is
theoretically subject to two sets of requirements, the
EYFS Statutory Framework and the often much more
loosely worded independent school regulations (except
for complaints procedures where the EYFS is much
simpler). It is not clear which set of requirements should
apply. This will be taken up with Ofsted as the simplest
thing would be for EY registration to cover only the under
threes (or for the DFE school registration to go down to
the youngest children, although this may not be practical
for under twos).

So, I conclude that the insertion of references to
childminder agencies acknowledges that new policy.
Other changes are less substantial than might appear as
they place the onus for identifying what is needed upon
the provider, rather than saying a policy is needed.
Providers will still need to be able to demonstrate to
Ofsted and others that they can meet the requirements.
Documentation such as policies are the easiest way of
doing so, unless you feel able to spend a lot of time
talking to inspectors and others to show what you and
your staff know and do. There are some unfortunate
glitches, notably where providers are inspected by
organisations approved by the Secretary of State and no
mention is made of these.

Dr Martin Bradley
National Chairman
Montessori Schools Association



A full overview of the changes can be found on our
website at the link
http://www.montessori.org.uk/msa__and__schools/msa
/information_for_msa_schools. This comment and
details of changes should be considered in line with the
new EYFS publication and in conjunction with The Guide
to the EYFS in Montessori settings.

The recent report on early years delivered by Her
Majestys Chief Inspector, and his published letter to
inspectors created much media interest and strong
responses from the early years community. Dr Martin
Bradley, Chairman of the MSA, has prepared a
commentary on the report which was published at the
beginning of April. Go to the link
http://blog.montessori.org.uk/2014/04/25/commentary-
hmcis-early-years-report-2012-13/ to view the full
report.





MEAB School Leaders Conference 2014
Third annual conference
Friday 20 June 2014
OTHER NEWS
QAA success for Montessori Centre
International

Montessori Centre International is delighted to
announce it is the first Montessori teacher
training college to have undergone a Review for
Specific Course Designation by the Quality
Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
and has received its final report, which is
available in full at:
www.qaa.ac.uk/InstitutionReports/Reports/Pag
es/RSCDA-SNTC-13.aspx

Montessorian of the Year and Montessorian
Practitioner of the Year 2014

Congratulations to Jane and Graham Lord,
Wharfedale Montessori, for winning the
Montessorians of the Year 2014, as well as to
Angela Euesden, Aldersbrook Primary School, as
Montessorian Practitioner of the Year 2014.
Nominate your colleagues for the 2015 awards,
check out the criteria for nomination
http://www.montessori.org.uk/msa/msa/monte
ssorian_of_the_year and
http://www.montessori.org.uk/msa/msa/monte
ssorian_practitioner_of_the_year_2014

MCI Distance Learning

We are taking new distance learning students
every month so you can start as soon as
possible; contact 020 7493 8300 for more info
http://distancelearning.montessori.org.uk/

USEFUL LINKS
MCI Training Directory 2013-14

Be sure to book in advance for any MCI seminars
and workshops this summer. There are limited
places left. Choose the relevant training for you
and your colleagues and check the dates and
booking details in the Montessori Training
Directory PDF online at http://bit.ly/14wCw5L

Online Montessori course for childminders

If youre a registered childminder, MCI is
offering a specially designed Montessori course
for childminders. This six unit online course runs
for three months providing an opportunity for
childminders to reflect on their practice while
learning about the Montessori approach. Email
childminder@montessori.org.uk to register for
the course.


Programme

10:00 Registration

10:45 Opening Remarks
Barbara Isaacs, Senior Accreditation Officer, MEAB

11:00 Matching education to recent knowledge of brain
development
Dr. Bettina Hohnen, Senior Lecturer at University
College London (UCL)
Lesley Joffick, Founder of London Montessori Centre

12:30 MEAB Awards Ceremony
presented by a Trustee of Montessori St Nicholas
Charity

1:00 Lunch

2:00 MCI Qualifications Update
Penny Johns, Director of Studies, MCI
Jeremy Clarke, Distance Learning Academic Leader,
MCI

2:45 Questions and Answers

3:00 Recent Challenges in delivering high quality Early
Years Care and Education
Dr Martin Bradley, National Chairman, MSA

3:15 Montessori St Nicholas Charity Community
Partners project
Barbara Isaacs, Director of National Strategies, MSN

3:30 Closing Remarks
Michele Dows-Miller, Deputy Accreditation Officer, MEAB


For the last time, the MEAB School Leaders Conference is free
for all MEAB Accredited School Heads and Managers. It may
be possible to bring the key members of your team but please
let us know as soon as possible. The Hall has a limited seating
therefore places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served
basis. Book early to avoid disappointment! The final date for
booking is Tuesday 3
rd
June.

The MEAB Conference will be held at the Jeffery Hall, Institute
of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, London
WC1H 0AL.

Email kristine@montessori.org.uk to book your place!







t
Upcoming Events
3 May 2014 R4 Observation, Planning and Assessment with
Jeremy Clarke

17 May 2014 R10 Gini Trower Bringing the classroom outdoors
and nature

6 - 7 June Childminders - 0-3s in home-based Montessori
settings with Clare Healy Walls

14 June 2014 R12 Nature Workshop with Gini Trower
14 June 2014 R11 Sustained shared-thinking with Sam Sims and
Childrens eating habits and well-being with Tamara
Todd Rigby
20 June 2014 MEAB School Leaders Conference
21 June 2014 R3 Emotional Intelligence/Neuroscience with
Jeremy Clarke

Browse http://www.montessori.org.uk/msa/msa/events_msa for the
full list of events.

Contact your regional chairs to find out more about region events in
your area http://www.montessori.org.uk/msa/msa/msa_regions



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USEFUL LINKS
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Browse through the latest job vacancies at
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