The Montessori Curriculum

Parents are the child’s first educators and need to be respected. We encourage parental involvement and regard this as paramount in enabling children’s development. Partnership with parents gives children opportunities to develop their full potential and become unique, strong and independent individuals with consideration for themselves and others.

“Little children between three and six years of age have a special psychology. They are full of love. They are only without love if they are ill-treated. If they are badly treated their real nature is altered. They are full of love themselves and need to be loved in order to grow.” – Maria Montessori.

Early Years Foundation

The Early Years Foundation Stage has embraced many Montessorian principles and teaching methods. The areas of learning which is split into six are: Practical Life/Life skills, Communication, Language and Literacy, Mathematical which incorporates problem solving, reasoning and numeracy, Cultural/Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Physical Development and Creative Development. The classrooms provide learning opportunities for mixed age groups. This vertical grouping promotes effective development of social skills. The individuality of each child is respected at all times. From the Montessori perspective, “play is work” and “work is play”. The defining factors are freedom of choice, the exercise of will and deep engagement, which leads to concentration.

How The Montessori Materials Are Used

Once materials have been presented to a child the child can engage in an activity alone, with others or adults. During work cycle children are encouraged to learn spontaneously by having the freedom to select their choice of activities from the open shelves. Once settled children confidently select activities of interest, engage with them and return them back on to the shelf. This demonstrates that they are self-disciplined, self-confident and continues to develop excellent self-esteem. Careful observation, assessment and planning are carried out by our practitioners who are keen to extend children’s learning.

Montessori Teachers

Montessori teachers are frequently referred to as directresses because it is a better summing up of what they do. They direct the child towards learning opportunities rather than teach. The general atmosphere is calm and unhurried creating an environment for excellent concentration.