What is Montessori?

Maria Montessori 1870-1952 was the first woman doctor and psychologist, she worked with disadvantaged children in San Lorenzo. Through her observations she realised that each child had a great untapped intellectual potential and that through her system all children could achieve their full potential.

Montessori education is child-centred, in order that each child can:

  • progress at his/her own pace
  • learn in a supportive and sympathetic environment
  • be encouraged to develop his/her own individual strengths.

The Montessori Method offers a wide curriculum to the child through the unique combination of:

  • freedom of choice of activities
  • high teacher/pupil ratio
  • being within an ordered and structured environment.

"The goal of early childhood education should be to cultivate the child's own natural desire to learn"
Maria Montessori

The best way to summarise the approach of Montessori education is from the child's perspective "Show me how to do it for myself".