Montessori & EYFS

What is Montessori?

Montessori is an educational philosophy and method developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, in the early 1900s. The Montessori method emphasizes child-led, experiential learning in a carefully prepared environment that fosters independence, creativity, and curiosity. It’s widely used in early childhood education but can extend to older children as well.

Here are the key principles of the Montessori method:

1. Child-Centered Learning

Montessori education is tailored to the child’s interests and developmental stage. Instead of the teacher leading the class, the child is encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace. Children choose activities based on their interests, promoting a sense of independence and self-motivation.

2. Prepared Environment

The learning environment is crucial in Montessori education. Classrooms are designed with carefully arranged materials that are accessible and scaled to the child's size. Montessori classrooms are often calm, orderly, and filled with hands-on learning tools that encourage active exploration and self-directed learning.

3. Hands-On Learning

Montessori uses manipulatives (tangible learning materials) to teach abstract concepts in a concrete way. For example, children might use wooden blocks to learn math or sensory materials to explore texture and shape. Learning is focused on practical life skills, sensorial activities, math, language, culture, and the arts.

4. Mixed-Age Classrooms

Montessori classrooms typically group children of different ages. This fosters a sense of community where younger children learn from older peers, and older children reinforce their knowledge by teaching younger ones.

5. Role of the Teacher (Guide)

In Montessori, the teacher acts as a guide rather than a traditional instructor. They observe the child, introduce appropriate materials, and support the child's learning journey without directly controlling the learning process. The goal is to empower the child to take ownership of their education.

6. Focus on Independence and Responsibility

A key objective is to help children become independent learners. Activities are designed to teach them practical life skills like dressing themselves, cleaning up after activities, and solving problems independently. This fosters confidence and responsibility.

7. Respect for the Child

Montessori places a strong emphasis on respecting each child’s individuality. The philosophy recognises that children are naturally curious and capable, and it encourages learning without external rewards or punishments.

8. Development of the Whole Child

Montessori education focuses on more than just academic development. It aims to nurture the child’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth, promoting well-rounded development.

Benefits of Montessori

Promotes self-discipline, independence, and a love of learning.
Children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills.
Hands-on learning fosters deep, experiential understanding of concepts.
Encourages intrinsic motivation and curiosity.

Montessori education is widely respected for fostering creativity, independence, and a love for learning in children, making it a popular choice for early years education worldwide.

In Our Montessori Pre School @ The Fruit Tree Day Nursery we plan a comprehensive curriculum for our children using the Montessori Curriculum a ground breaking approach to Early Years education, this is delivered alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage – EYFS Curriculum. Many principles from the EYFS Curriculum stem from Montessori teaching.

What will my child be learning through the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)?

Your child will be learning skills, gaining knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven areas of development in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This will be achieved using resources, through activities and play, and through music and songs.

The three prime areas most crucial for a child’s healthy development are:

Communication and Language
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Physical Development

Being secure in the above three prime areas will help them to develop skills in the further following four specific areas:

Literacy
Expressive Arts & Design
Mathematics
Understanding the World

How can I find out how my child is progressing?

It is important that we work together and communicate with parents; there will be ongoing discussions and conversations regarding activities that will benefit your child. These conversations will be with your child’s Key Person.

Your Key Person will continually observe and formally assess your child and record feedback in a Learning Journey – you can request to see this observational feedback about your child at any time.

Progress checks

There are also two formal assessments as well. The first formal check takes places sometime between your child’s 2nd and 3rd birthday. This check will assess your child against the three prime areas. It can also ensure early identification of any developmental issues so that the right kind of interventional support can be provided to keep your child on track with the expected level of age appropriate development.

If you would like to talk to us in further about the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact us.