Practical life exercises are designed to teach children life skills, such as tying shoelaces, buttoning coats, cleaning and polishing. Dr Montessori observed that children are instinctively drawn to want to carry out tasks that they see adults performing.The practical life exercises have been shown to develop the child’s independence, concentration and co-ordination.

Not only do they learn to care for themselves, but also they learn to care for others and their environment. Observers have witnessed just how courteous and gracious children are when they have had the benefit of a Montessori education.

Meeting the nursery pony…

Montessori sensorial materials awaken the child’s ability to learn through their senses. For example, the children match and grade sounds, colours, textures and forms.They also learn how to differentiate objects with increasing precision, such as learning to judge weight.

Learning and play go together

The language program begins with oral language work, such as developing vocabulary and recognising different sounds. A phonetic system is used to help the child to understand which sounds go with letters or group of letters. In Montessori, each child uses sandpaper letters and a large moveable alphabet to develop early skills in literacy.

In groups, children enjoy learning to listen attentively and also to express themselves by talking about their own experiences. They make up their own stories and take part in role-plays, which support the development of imagination, teamwork and also language skills.

Such learning is of considerable benefit when the child goes on to enter primary school and begins to address more formal spelling and reading work. It has been found that children, who have had the advantage of Montessori, can often read by the time that they leave nursery.

Early Years Literacy

Communication, Language & Literacy Development

Below is a link to the staff policy document for Communication, Language and Literacy Development at Staunton Montessori, which details our approach to phonics etc. and demonstrates our aim to work with parents as partners in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Communication, Language & Literacy Development

When children in Montessori are introduced to maths they are encouraged to link the abstract with the concrete, for example children learn to see that the number 2 corresponds to two counters.Likewise they link the idea of 2 with a solid 2, surfaced with sandpaper. The use of these sandpaper numbers enables children to learn through feeling which helps them to consolidate basic numeracy.

When the children are able to recognise number, they go on to explore basic addition and subtraction. Children investigate early mathematical language and describe shape, position, size and quantity. They compare, sort, match, order and sequence using everyday objects, drawing together numeracy and practical life learning.

Using the Montessori Cylinders

Specialised Montessori materials are utilised to teach about science, history and geography. The child develops an initial knowledge and understanding of other cultures and the magic of the natural world. For example, children are taken on guided nature walks and learn about plant growth and a variety of animals.

The children are given special opportunities to appreciate the unspoilt natural setting of the school.

Montessori schools also encourage the exploration of the cycle of religious and cultural festivals through the year. The children participate in inspiring projects in this curriculum area, which are great fun and also provided avenues for important learning. Children really thrive in the safety and diversity of the Montessori environment and they are encouraged to fully enjoy the mystery and excitement of being very young.

Going on a nature walk near the School

Various forms of art, craftwork and cookery are introduced to the children. Children are given many opportunities to enjoy producing something for themselves and have a wide range of resources at their disposal.

As the children learn to think and create for themselves, they begin to develop preference, character and a positive self-worth. Children are valued by their needs and efforts, rather than by their results and this non-competitive ethos is the bedrock of the Montessori approach.

Getting messy in a cooking session!

We introduce the children to singing and dance and give them the opportunity to try various musical instruments. Music, along with drama, is often incorporated into our daily circle time.

During this time the whole group works together on a certain task or theme which is directed by a teacher.
A parent shows the children her viola

We offer a spacious and safe outdoor play area with a wide range of equipment, such as wheeled toys, beanbags, balls, balancing and climbing apparatus.

Active and co-operative play is encouraged and the importance of physical development for the early years is given appropriate attention. We recognise that movement, such as jumping, hopping, balancing, catching and kicking balls all aid co-ordination, balance and muscle tone.

Blowing bubbles in the play area

We deliver Early Years French and utilise the excellent La Jolie Ronde educational pack called Entre dans la Ronde.
As with English language teaching, French is taught in an enjoyable way using age appropriate methodologies. Here is an example of one of the rhymes:

Dans mon jardin
Je vois mon lapin.
J’aime mon lapin
Dans mon jardin.

Not only are songs and rhymes used, but a series of puppets and role-plays that help the children remain engaged and enthusiastic about the new language.

Learning together

Although we are a Montessori School we also follow the Early Learning goals set out in the Foundation Stage Curriculum produced by the QCA and inspected by OFSTED. The guidance from the QCA and OFSTED only serves to compliment the Montessori curriculum and for those interested in the detail of how the Montessori and QCA curriculum work together, please contact the school for an information sheet on the subject.

For more details please see
the Assessment Pages

A child’s progress report