What is Montessori?
Montessori is a philosophy of learning. Fundamental to the belief is that children have the biggest capacity to learn between birth and age six and that learning should be tailored around respect for each child’s individuality. It champions freedom and confidence. It speaks to many of the aspects of a child’s very special personality including; their desire for structure, the sensitive periods in their development, their sensory way of learning and their thirst for freedom. The Montessori curriculum is based around these principles and at Yorkshire Montessori, our facilities and resources are expertly designed to reflect this way of learning. Children who follow this way of development grow into competent, lifelong learners.
The Montessori Curriculum
We work to two curriculums here at Yorkshire Montessori, the Montessori curriculum and the national standard, EYFS, as inspected by Ofsted. The Montessori curriculum comprises of seven areas: activities for everyday living, sensorial, arithmetic, literacy, cultural and creativity. Children here will experience a method of Montessori learning which suits their stage of development. For our youngest children, Montessori methods are set up in an exploratory environment, not too overstimulating and rich in language and natural resources which motivate them to find solutions and concentrate. In the toddler room, individual interests and developmental readiness is something we act upon, developing lifelong learning skills through creativity, art, food preparation and sensorial experiences. Once in preschool, the children explore the details of mathematics and languages, literacy and cultures, geography, history, science and art.
A brief history of Montessori
Dr Maria Montessori was an Italian physician, educator and one of Italy’s first female doctors. In 1906 she was asked to open a school for deprived children in the centre of Rome, where she was the first person in the world to introduce resources which suited a children’s needs, such as height appropriate tables, chairs and shelves and cutlery small enough for them to hold. This revolutionary approach turned the usual way of teaching children on its head, which had until this point, been dictatorial and authoritative. Dr Montessori went on to develop her methods in hundreds of other settings, write books and lecture around the world.
What does the approach mean for your child?
Children who follow this way of learning develop into competent, lifelong learners. Self-confidence drives Montessori learning and by creating ways for children to self-check their work, a confidence is created within them which is both motivating and liberating. Our nurseries are places where children are filled with wonder, fulfilment and challenge. We train our staff so that they are the best role models that we can offer these young minds, showing respect for what the child needs and wants to learn as well as how it is learned. Free choice is essential here, which creates a positive atmosphere and instinctive respect.