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Essential Montessori

Hiawatha, IA

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Essential Montessori

Essential Montessori is a licensed child care center in Hiawatha, Iowa. It is licensed by the state.

It describes a Montessori approach, with full-time care, part-time care and preschool. It lists monthly tuition from $172 to $345.

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services made 5 visits in the last 3 years and cited 13 rules across 3 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

MontessoriPosts tuition
Ask when you call: current openings, staff-to-child ratio, whether it accepts child care subsidies and hours.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Ages three through six
Hours today
Not listed
Capacity
Not listed

Hours

Hours

Hours not listed. Call (319) 378-3100 to confirm.
Call to confirmHours it lists: “Morning session: 8:45-11:30 AM; Afternoon session: 12:15-3:00 PM”

Programs

Programs and care

AgesAges three through six
ProgramsFull-time care, part-time care and preschool
ApproachMontessori
Class sizeServing twenty children at one time
StaffDirectress has over thirty years of experience in the Montessori primary classroom
SafetyOutdoor playground
MoreFounded 1992
A daycare without an item may still offer it; ask.

Cost

Tuition and costs

Essential Montessori lists monthly tuition from $172 to $345. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Linn County has a median price of $166 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).

Monthly · program, in its own wordsPrice
five sessions/week$345
four sessions/week$340
three sessions/week$224
two sessions/week$172
4 posted prices. Rates change, so confirm before you enroll.
Linn County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$166
Home daycare$111

Toddler

Center$143
Home daycare$110

Preschool

Center$143
Home daycare$110

School age

Center$114
Home daycare$106

County median full-time prices at centers and home daycares, U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (the latest year). Not this daycare's rates; prices have risen since.

State record

Inspection reports for Essential Montessori

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Center
License number
#25044
See the state's record

Summary

5 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Oct 9, 2025: 8 rules cited

Rules cited on 3 of 5 visits · 13 rules in all

  • Background checks 4
  • Safety and hazards 4
  • Health, medication and illness 2
  • Building, equipment and play areas 2
  • Staff training and qualifications 1

For comparison: 88% of Iowa daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 0.

A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record

See all 7 visits
  1. Oct 9, 2025Inspection8 rules cited
    • Background checks

      109.6(4)d

      “Center repeats national criminal history checks at a minimum of every four years or when aware of additional history that occurs.”
    • Background checks

      109.6(4)c

      “Center repeats Iowa record checks at a minimum of every two years or when aware of additional child abuse or criminal history that occurs.”
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(2)h

      “Signed and dated valid Certificate of Immunization, Certificate of Immunization Exemption, or Provisional Certificate of Immunization, provided by the department must be on file for each child enrolled as required by Iowa Administrative Code 641—7.”
    • Staff training and qualifications

      109.9(1)c

      “All files contain documentation to indicate that ongoing staff training requirements are met, including current certifications in first aid/CPR and mandatory child abuse training.”
    • Background checks

      109.9(1)b

      “All files contain a pre-employment physical exam report completed within six months prior to hire and at least every three years. Physical exams shall be documented on form 470- 5152, Child Care Provider Physical Examination Report.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.11(8)c

      “All centers: Annual inspection prior to heating season of all fuel-burning appliances to reduce risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and shall install one carbon monoxide detector on each floor that conforms to UL Standard 2034.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(4)b

      “Record of monthly inspections of outdoor recreation area and equipment shall be kept.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.10(13)b

      “Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.”
  2. Sep 22, 2025InspectionNo rules cited
  3. May 7, 2025Complaint investigationNo rules cited
  4. Nov 21, 2024Inspection5 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      109.9(1)d

      “All files contain a pre-employment physical exam report completed within six months prior to hire and at least every three years. Physical exams shall be documented on form 470- 5152, Child Care Provider Physical Examination Report.”
    • Background checks

      109.6(6)c

      “Center repeats Iowa record checks at a minimum of every two years or when aware of additional child abuse or criminal history that occurs.”
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      109.11(3)d

      “Record of monthly inspections of outdoor recreation area and equipment shall be kept.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.10(15)b

      “Emergency instructions, phone numbers, and diagrams for fire, tornado, and flood shall be visibly posted and documented at least once a month for fire and tornado. Records shall be maintained for current and previous year.”
    • Safety and hazards

      109.11(7)c

      “All centers: Annual inspection prior to heating season of all fuel-burning appliances to reduce risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and shall install one carbon monoxide detector on each floor that conforms to UL Standard 2034.”
  5. Oct 22, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
  6. Sep 7, 2023InspectionNo rules cited
  7. Oct 21, 2022InspectionNo rules cited

Copied from Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on October 2, 2026; the state's records start around Nov 2021. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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FAQ

Questions about Essential Montessori

Is Essential Montessori licensed?

Yes. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists it as licensed and operating.

When was Essential Montessori last inspected?

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists the most recent visit on October 9, 2025, with 8 rules cited. It lists 5 visits in the last 3 years.

Has Essential Montessori had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 13 rules across 3 of 5 visits in the last 3 years. For comparison: 88% of Iowa daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 0. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.

What are Essential Montessori's hours?

Its hours are not listed. Call (319) 378-3100 to confirm.

How much does Essential Montessori cost?

Monthly tuition from $172 to $345, as it lists it.

What is Essential Montessori's phone number?

(319) 378-3100.

Where is Essential Montessori?

Hiawatha, IA.

Sources: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).