Wairarapa Montessori Preschool on Lincoln Rd has had its licence suspended by the Ministry of Education [MoE], the second Montessori preschool in Masterton to be shut down in the past month.
Parents of the 33 children enrolled there will need to make alternative childcare arrangements until the suspension is lifted.
MoE investigated the centre on August 21 after a parent made a complaint.
The Ministry found the centre to be non-compliant with health and safety requirements in the areas of child protection, safety, checking of staff, emergency planning, providing foods that pose a high risk of choking, no evidence of training provided to staff about administering medications, and heavy furniture, fixtures and equipment that could cause serious injury or damage.
MoE Wellington regional leader Nancy Bell said the centre had its licence suspended on Friday at 5.30pm.
“These non-compliance areas pose a high risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of children,” Bell said.
In a letter sent to parents yesterday, Wairarapa Montessori owner Pauline Harter said the centre would be closed for two weeks or more while it submitted evidence of compliance documents to MoE.
The documents must be submitted by September 15.
Harter said the centre was working on fixing the non-compliances and planned to immediately reopen once MoE was assured the health and safety requirements were met.
“We realise how challenging it will be for you right now.
“You can be sure that we are all working hard to have our centre reopened,” she said.
“We are so sorry this has happened to you and your children and hope to see you back very soon.”
Harter said no fees would be charged while the centre was closed.
The closure comes after Masterton’s only other Montessori preschool, Scuola Montessori in Solway, had its licence suspended in August and has since permanently closed.
Scuola had 48 children enrolled who have since been moved into other preschools; it was not affiliated with Wairarapa Montessori.
Was just a matter of time!
So many kids injured while ours were there.
We pulled them out a couple years ago.
Swore black and blue that we were delusional.
Truth always comes out.