Understanding what it truly takes to provide high-quality early learning environments Kia ora e te whānau, Welcome back to The Inside Scoop , where we aim to unpack what’s happening in the early childhood education sector and help families understand how national decisions shape daily life for tamariki, kaiako and centres like ours. Today, we’re diving into an issue facing many centres across Aotearoa: the growing gap between what it costs to run a high-quality early learning service and the...

Building calm, confident, capable children through intentional practice Kia ora e te whānau, Welcome back to The Inside Scoop  — where we unpack what’s happening in early childhood education and what it means for your tamariki. Today we’re exploring something that sits at the heart of our Horizons Montessori philosophy: how Montessori supports children to develop independence and emotional regulation . In the early years, children are forming the foundations of who they are — how they see...

How teacher-to-child ratios shape emotional safety, behaviour, learning and belonging When parents select an ECE service, ratios are often viewed as a technical regulation rather than a crucial factor in their child’s wellbeing. But the truth is, ratios are one of the most powerful elements of quality early childhood education . Better ratios allow: More individual time  for each child Greater emotional connection and responsiveness More time for meaningful observation and learning support...