OUR APPROACH
What is a Montessori?
Maria Montessori (1870–1952) was one of the first Italian women to train as a doctor, working as a psychologist with 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.
HOW WE WORK
Montessori Education
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
OUR METHOD
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 best way to summarise the approach of Montessori education is from the child’s perspective “Show me how to do it for myself”.
Infant and Toddler Community
The Montessori teacher is termed a directress, because her role is to direct and guide the child’s studies. With the younger children she plays a more active role when demonstrating the use of equipment and presenting opportunities for development.
As the approach recognises that children under 3 years old use their senses as their most important learning tool, our Infant and Toddler Community focuses on the sensory areas by encouraging the child’s independence and spirit of exploration. The directress intervenes less and less as the children develop.
We aim to encourage their independence and exploration by offering appropriate activities, such as:
Treasure baskets
Singing, stories, rhymes and movement
Messy play, playdough and painting
Sorting and jigsaws
Snack times and preparation
These activities will change to reflect the interests and needs of the children, whilst also building on varying topics. Our staff work hard to develop relationships within the setting, as we acknowledge that babies and toddlers particularly need the stability and security of close carer bonds, in order to gain confidence to access the environment and further learning.
EYFS
Children’s House
Our Children’s House is organised into 5 specific areas, identified by Montessori and underpin the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Practical Life
Gaining independence in daily activities, instilling care for self, others and the environment. It also develops muscular control and concentration, which are the foundation for all other areas of learning.
Sensorial
Refining and ordering the senses and clarifying impressions through a range of sensory experiences using a variety of equipment.
Language
Introducing children to the phonetic alphabet, beginning with sandpaper letters enabling children to link sounds to letters and move on to build words. Children will have access to a wide range of texts and mark making.
Mathematic
Introducing children to numbers and shapes in their concrete form, allowing them opportunities to investigate and reason, eventually in more abstract forms. This work gives a solid understanding to develop problem solving capabilities.
Cultural
Using a cross-curricular themed approach to begin learning about:
Geography, Biology, History, Art, Food Technology, Music and Movement
Outdoor Environment
Our children have regular access to the outdoor environment, where we have a large sandpit, playhouse, mud kitchen, tuff tray activities, climbing apparatus and a range of small apparatus. This has been designed to develop gross-motor skills and allow children to refine their spatial awareness.
Children are encouraged to take care of our environment by looking after plants and trees and observing wildlife and seasonal changes. There will also be opportunities to investigate the properties of water and how it can be used to keep our environment clean.
KITCHEN
Food Technology
Our children are encouraged to be involved in food preparation, serving and eating together. They also have access to a wide range of foods from different cultures and are able to contribute ideas to our weekly menu, which is clearly displayed.
“The goal of early childhood education should be to cultivate the child’s own natural desire to learn.”
- Maria Montessori
FEES
Our Charging Policy
Honeybeez Childcare accept government funding for eligible parents, up to 30 hours per week, 38 weeks per year. The maximum available hours annually are 1140. These can be stretched across the year, any additional hours are charged for at the hourly rate.
April 2025 Fees (reviewed annually)
£7.50 per hour
£65 per full day (This is from 0800–1730)
Sibling discount rate of 10% is also applied
Our funded places include all meals, snacks and drinks. Additional charges may be levied for events such as visits — these are not covered by the government funding, this is at the discretion of the management. We charge an additional monthly fee to cover the cost for nappies.
Payments are to be made by the due date shown on your invoice via bank transfer or through the Tax Free Childcare Scheme. Information about this can be found at: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Amazing!
My daughter has been going here for a month now and she absolutely loves it. She cannot wait to go in the morning and always comes out excited. Communication is excellent and I always feel up to date with how she is getting on. She is so much more confident and becoming such a clever little cookie! I couldn’t recommend Honeybeez enough. Claire is brilliant!
by chip0706