As a Montessori setting we follow the Montessori philosophy and ethos that comes with the theory, but we have also incorporated the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in to how we work with the children and support them to develop in all areas of learning.
Montessori is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play, our environment allows the children to make their own creative choices for their own learning, while the classroom and practitioners offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process. Children are encouraged to work in groups and individually in order to discover and explore knowledge of the world around them and to develop their maximum potential.
Dr. Maria Montessori discovered that experiential learning in a specific type of environment led to a deeper understanding of language, mathematics, science, music, social interactions to name a few.
All of the resources in our environment supports an aspect of child development, creating a match between the child’s natural interests and the available activities. Children learn through their own experiences and at their own pace. They can respond at any moment to the natural curiosities that exists in all humans and build a solid foundation for life-long learning.
Montessori environments are able to support the learning of children from Birth to 8 years old, and we are very lucky to have resources that are designed for children up to 8 years old in the event a child has progressed tremendously well and needs to next step. We would never hold a child back from what they are naturally able to do but would also support each individual child to meet their own individual next steps at their own rate, by also supporting them through expected development in line the governments expectations.
In a Montessori environment children aged Birth to Three years learning is supported by:
- Providing a safe, engaging and nurturing environment for the child
- Promoting trust in themselves and their world
- Developing confidence in their emerging abilities
- Developing gross motor coordination, fine motor skills and language skills
- Offering opportunities to gain independence in daily tasks
In a Montessori environment children aged Three to Five years learning is supported by:
- Fostering the growth of functional independence, task and persistence and self-regulation
- Promoting social development through respectful, clear communication and safe, natural consequences
- Containing a large variety of materials for the refinement of sensory perception and the development of literacy and mathematical understanding
- Offering opportunities for imaginative exploration leading to confident. Creative self-expression
Montessori environments at all level nurture each child’s individual strengths and interests. Montessori education encourages children to explore their world, and to understand and respect the life forms, systems and forces of which it consists.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes.
The EYFS supports an integrated approach to early learning and care. It gives all practitioners a set of common principles and commitments to deliver quality early education and childcare experiences to all children. As well as being the core document for all professionals working in the foundation years. The EYFS framework give parents confidence that regardless of where they choose for their child’s early education, they can be assured that the same statutory commitments and principles will underpin their child’s learning and development.
