Our Teachers

 Our teachers are caring qualified teachers who provide opportunities for all children’s learning needs to be met.  Children’s ideas are valued, their creativity to be inspired and interests to be supported.   Our teachers work alongside your child in their play and skillfully extend and stimulate children’s thinking.

We have a stable workforce with long standing staff.  They work diligently to create a challenging, nurturing environment for all children that attend Natural Steps.

Trained in caring for infants, we embrace The Pikler Approach which is based on a respectful relationship between an adult and infant, through choreographed tender care moments, that are enjoyable and unhurried.  Older children experience teachers who a inspired by the Reggie Emilia Approach.

Supported by management and a robust appraisal system teachers are constantly evaluating their practice and seeking improvement to improve children’s learning outcomes.

Our teachers are supported by the owner, Maria Anstis (DipTchg(ECE)) and Regional Manager, Tiffany Sutherland (B.A.Ed GradDipBus).

PAY PARITY FOR OUR TEACHERS Natural Steps has opted-in to the government pay parity scheme for all qualified and certificated teachers in ECE.  “Pay Parity means the same pay scale as school teachers, that reflects teaching qualification, the same teacher registration and the same professional certification requirements. A teacher is a teacher!”  

Natasha Bankier - Manager   
Hi, my name is Natasha Wallace. I hold a Bachelor of Education (ECE) and have over six years’ experience. My husband Shane and I are the parents of two wonderful children Me’a and Jacob. I am dedicated to providing a loving and nurturing environment for all children at Natural Steps Ellerslie Village.