Approval

STAR Logo

Approval at Phase Three and Four is for education providers keen to host staff training, facilitate teaching courses and tutor trainees through a range of sector qualifications. This may include for example an established and expertly staffed educational setting with staff-based in the locality, preparing to host CPD and internal training events to support on-going recruitment of staff.

Once applications are started, MCI oversees this provision, offering quality assurance and verification services as standard. It is necessary that applicants looking to offer training, courses and qualifications from the MCI portfolio, adhere to blended learning to support a firm, standardised, commitment to the “flipped classroom” approach, enabling learners to develop autonomy over their learning experiences.

All taught delivery seeks to model “best practice” and include reflective practice as an integral feature in all provision. All Tutors, Assessors and Mentors are committed to facilitating individual development and directed learning experiences that are worthwhile, engaging and relevant to all courses and qualifications.

In summary the features of Phase Three STAR include:

  • Initial application form with Self-Assessment

  • Business case submission (as necessary)

  • Environment & Materials inventory (as applicable)

  • Interviews and testimonials from staff and trainees (as necessary)

  • Peer-panel scrutiny

  • Specific dedicated host space on our website

  • Annual monitoring invitations

For education providers, these stages of STAR are seen as an opportunity for well-established, experienced accredited settings (with at least one successful re-accreditation activity (three-year cycle) achieved plus on-going successful annual monitoring activity. This is a desk-based process with compulsory on-site visit(s) as necessary.

As above, applications must be accompanied by a full business case to convey the position of Montessori training within the overall business offer at the setting/ educational provider. It is expected that phase three/four applications will have first-hand accreditation and endorsement experience to draw upon in terms of maintenance of high-quality standards of Montessori and/or Montessori-inspired provision; where this is not the case, the host centre approval process may require named expert trainers to be specified/contracted to the provision.

Please note:

for Beacon Centre status, applications are via invite only and must be accompanied by a fully formed business plan to convey the intentions for secure, high-quality delivery and a firm commitment to position of Montessori / Montessori-inspired training within the overall business offer at the setting/ educational provider. Additional due diligence may be necessary at this level. Annual monitoring activity (desk-based with on-site visits) is necessary each year (there is a fee for this service) and every three years it is necessary to re-apply to continue to hold Beacon Centre status; this process will also take into consideration course outcomes; student satisfaction surveys and staff evaluations.

MCI courses and qualification are now accessed by a wide diverse audience, building national and international communities who can give back to their local children and families.

Karen Chetwynd, Chief Operating Officer

MCI courses and qualification are now accessed by a wide diverse audience, building national and international communities who can give back to their local children and families.

Karen Chetwynd, Chief Operating Officer