MEET OUR AMBERLEY STAFF
The Little Oaks staff are passionate about childhood development and deliver an extremely high standard of early childhood education.
Staffing levels exceed Ministry of Education guidelines, making the ratio of teachers to children high, while ensuring the best possible environment for learning.
"To become an ideal teacher we need knowledge, experience with children, intuition and inspiration which, in turn, gives unlimited patience, unquestionable hope, and faith that works miracles" Latha Gopinathan
Little Oaks strive to provide continual support and training to our staff along with regular appraisals, goal setting sessions and professional development. If you have a compassionate approach to teaching which recognizes the needs of each child and their path to self-education Little Oaks would love to hear from you.
Debbie Watts
Head Teacher
Debbie successfully completed a Aperfield Montessori Diploma and Early Childhood Degree
Debbie leads the programme at Little Oaks Pre-school following Montessori & Regio inspired learning.
Outdoor Adventure outings are a weekly activity for our 4 year olds.
Early Childhood Degree & Montessori Qualified Teacher
Juliet Hunter
Assistant Teacher
Adriane Stone
Manager
Diploma of Teaching Early Childhood Education, Dunedin Teachers College, 1991
Adriane's extensive teaching experience includes being a teacher aide to children with special needs, an under 2's teacher and programme leader, teaching in a multi-cultural centre (maori, polynesian and immigrant) in Wellington and 6 years as Head Teacher at Koputai Early Childhood Centre in Port Chalmers. Adriane moved to Christchurch in August 2009 and Greta Valley in January 2011. Her husband is the Principal at Greta Valley School, she has 5 step-children and 6 grand-children.
Her personal teaching philosophy is based on responsive, reciprocal relationships with children and families; responding to children's interests and learning dispositions in literacy and numeracy rich environments; with programmes based on ongoing child assessment and programme evaluation.
Jo Macfarlane
Owner/Licensee
Diploma in Teaching and Learning (ECE)
London Montessori Diploma
Always passionate about quality early childhood Jo started Abberley Park Montessori Preschool in 1988, being one of the first early childhood centres in Christchurch where she lived in the back bedroom, taught and managed. Now married with 3 adult children Jo has continued her passion for high quality centres by opening Cheviot Little Oaks Preschool in 2000 and Amberley Little Oaks Montessori in 2007.
The Montessori philosophy of freedom, love, respect and good work ethics enables children to thrive, learning through specially designed toys and a unique beautiful prepared environment. "I'm passionate about giving every child that walks through our doors the best possible start in the adventure that is life"
