Curriculum

What is Montessori education?

This is a frequently asked question. Montessori is not just an education it is a philosophy, a way of thinking that focuses on the trust and respect for the child. A Montessori education provides an enabling environment that allows children to use all their senses to explore their natural environment. Including the use of special materials designed to foster practical skills and refined senses.

What is the Montessori Method?

The Montessori Method focuses on The Child, The Teacher and the Favourable Environment.

The Montessori approach is underpinned by the essential principle that learning is inseparable from development, so education centres on each child as a unique individual. The children of Wetherby House Montessori will become motivated and responsible for their own learning.

Dr Montessori observed that the prepared environment was an essential ingredient for the success for development of the child. She realised that children relied completely on the environment for sensorial impressions through which they gain a sense of the world.

At Wetherby House Montessori we pay great attention to the layout and resources available to the child ensuring that everything is easily accessible meeting the dynamic needs of each child.

Dr Montessori’s series of observations established that education was not what the teacher gives but a natural process carried out by each individual child. It is acquired not by listening to words and dictations but by experiences.

The task of the teacher is to maintain order of the environment and to reinforce positive behaviour. They will lead positive examples and provide opportunities for learning.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Children develop quickly in the early years, and early years practitioners aim to do all they can to help children have the best possible start in life. Children have the right, illustrated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to provision which enables them to develop their personalities, talents and abilities irrespective of ethnicity, culture or religion, home language, family background, learning difficulties, disabilities or gender.

Combining EYFS and The Montessori Method

At Wetherby House Montessori, we understand that not all children will be continuing their education in Montessori schools, and that almost all our children will attend traditional independent and state schools.

Taking this into consideration, we adhere to the guidelines set out by the EYFS absolutely, and are regulated by the same authorities as every other setting.

We deliver the EYFS curriculum in full and are able to offer a broad and meaningful base of knowledge to all children in our care.

This document , Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage, is a fantastic resource for understanding the principles and expectations behind the EYFS.

A typical day in a Wetherby House Montessori classroom

Each day children learn through their senses in a carefully prepared environment.

  • Work Cycle: The children carry out a 2-3 hour uninterrupted “work cycle” (purposeful play) in the morning.

  • Outdoor Play: Connection with nature important and children can play outside at least twice a day. We have indoor and outdoor policy where each indoor activity can also be done outside.

  • Extra Curricular Activities: Spanish, STEM (science program), Super Star Sports, Music and movement, Yoga, Mindfulness, Clickit (IT classes) and Gymnastics. Please speak to the nursery manager to see what’s available at your preferred nursery.

The Montessori Method explained in 5 minutes!

If you are new to the Montessori Method, these two short videos do a great job of explaining the method and the impact it has on children. We recommend you watch both to see the long term impact of the Montessori education.

This video explains the principles behind the Montessori Method and provides insight into how Maria Montessori developed the method.

This video does a great job of comparing the differences between Montessori education and traditional education and the long term impact on children.

Education FAQs

Curriculum

  • We base or curriculum on the Maria Montessori Theory.

  • The curriculum was designed by the Director with the support of the Manager’s of each setting and our quality assurance team.

  • The schedule for each classroom varies slightly and you can see a detailed breakdown of each classroom’s daily routines on the curriculum page.

    Below is rough outline.

    • 8:00 - 8:45 Breakfast

    • 8:45 - 9:00 Circle time

    • 9:00 - 12:00 The Montessori Work Cycle

    • 10:00am Rolling Snack

    • 12:00 - 12:30 Lunch

    • 12:30 - 13:30 Free play

    • 13:30 - 15:30 Afternoon Work Cycle / Extra curricular activities

    • 16:00 - 16:30 Tea

    • 16:30- 18:00 Freeplay / Outdoor

  • We have free flow work cycles at each setting so children can take activities outside throughout the day.

  • Children will be exposed to all areas of the curriculum outside. It will mirror the indoor curriculum and themes.

  • We currently teach Spanish.

  • Multi Sports, Mindfulness, Yoga, Spanish and Gymnastics.

  • The timetables are available at each setting. Please contact FOH for more information.

  • We monitor children’s progress using the Famly app and the system is designed to identify any gaps in their learning.

  • We don’t test the children we simply give them a rich environment to learn and develop.

  • We have 2 parents evening a year.

  • The room occupancy varies pending on the setting. We maintain the adult to child ratio in line with the Ofsted Statutory Frame Work.

    • Baby room Educators will have 3

    • Toddler Educators will have 4-5

    • Pre School Educators will have 6-8 key children

  • Qualifications range from Level 2 in Child Care to Masters in Education.

Room Capacity

Team

  • Qualifications range from Level 2 in Child Care to Masters in Education.

  • All staff have had in house Montessori training and others hold either a Montessori Assistance Certificate or Montessori Diploma.

  • On average staff stay at Wetherby House for 2.5 years.

  • The Wetherby House Group is very diverse. Our team is from all over the world.

  • We welcome any one to apply for positions at Wetherby House.