TOADHALL MONTESSORI NURSERIES AND OUT OF SCHOOL ACADEMY
THE MONTESSORI APPROACH
Maria Montessori
Born 1870 – Died 1952
The Montessori Approach was founded by an inspirational and totally dedicated early years practitioner in 1906; namely Maria Montessori. The first “Children’s House” or “Casa dei Bambini” was opened in Rome, Italy at this time.
After discovering that the young child’s mind from birth to six years of age is like an absorbent sponge, Dr. Maria Montessori set about creating a “special” environment where the child could learn, develop, and flourish. The response of the children within this ideal environment is amazing – almost magical – worthy of our respect and living up to high ideals. Within this environment, the children show us that purposeful activities are preferably to “play” and that they have an innate love of order and thrive in their freedom to choose and to work independently.
The Approach is highly recognised and world renowned for providing children with the very best start in life. It forms the basis of lifelong learning.
A Montessori Child
Please don’t tell me what to love or hate.
Guide me honestly at my own pace.
My years are young, but my spirit is strong;
I don’t need to “fit in”, but I need to belong.
Follow me, and you will see, I can do wonders,
If you will let me be.
Theresa Robinson
What is the Montessori Approach to Teaching and Learning?
“Montessori settings promote hands on, self-paced, collaborative, joyful learning. Children in our Montessori settings, follow their interests, wherever that passion leads; giving them strong academics, leadership, self-discipline, responsibility, independence, initiative and a lifelong love of learning.” Maria Montessori 1907
Children are innately interested in learning about the world around them and through their natural curiosity are able to develop themselves.
By providing an enabling environment that supports natural development, Montessori education enables children to develop the fundamental capacities that they need to become happy and fulfilled adults, who contribute fully, to their communities and to society. The Montessori Approach is ‘learning for life!’
Authentic Montessori environments encompass the following principles:
- Mixed age groups which not only offer a wide range of activities to spark children’s interest but also enable children to learn from others and learn by helping others.
- Freedom for children to work at their own pace, without interruption, choosing from a range of activities that are developmentally challenging and appropriate.
- Exploration is encouraged so that children find things out for themselves, make mistakes and correct them independently.
- Respect for each child as an individual personality with unique talents.
- Respect for others, the community and the environment.
- Free movement to explore, investigate from area to area, wherever their interests take them.
Children at Toadhall Montessori develop many of the skills stated above within a well prepared, pre-planned and enabling environment that offers learning zones related to the following curriculum areas:
Everyday Living Skills (formerly known as ‘Practical Life’)
Sensorial – learning with specially designed Montessori apparatus which develops the use of all of the five senses and is an essential prerequisite for pre reading and pre number understanding
Language
Mathematics and Numeracy
Knowledge and Understanding of the World (formerly known as Cultural)
Creative – including the Arts, Music, Dance, Drama and Crafts
When you walk into Toadhall Montessori, you will find the children busily engaged in their own ‘work’. They have the freedom to move from one area to another – wherever their interests take them, using both the indoor and outdoor learning environments to extend their learning.
You will notice that the children are calm, well-mannered, courteous and gracious, working on their own, in pairs or in small groups – whatever their preference is at any particular time. They show respect, courtesy and tolerance, which develops their ability to be empathetic towards others, which in turn, develops their social and emotional literacy.
You will also notice that the children will come to you and readily greet you with confidence and joy, eagerly wanting to show you around their Montessori setting for themselves!
The staff at Toadhall Montessori are there to enable, guide and direct the children in their own learning. They sensitively observe and assess and empathetically know and understand, when to step in and move the child’s learning forward or when to step back and allow the child to do it for themselves, thus promoting confidence, independence, self-esteem, self-reliance and most of all true resilience.
Children within our Montessori setting say:-
“help me to do it for myself”
Enquiry Form/Book a Visit
Copyright © Toadhall Montessori Nurseries and Out of School Academy
Hosted by NurseryWeb (Footfallcam Company)
