Session Options
Children are welcome to start at the preschool from about the age of 2½ years when toilet training is underway. When they are ready and spaces are available children are moved into either morning or afternoon sessions in one of our two fully equipped Montessori classrooms. We maintain a minimum of two teaching staff per class at all times. While a range of options is available, the preschool encourages parents to consider five morning sessions for their child. Montessorians agree that this provides the optimum start for the child developing independence and routines.
We currently offer the following sessions (School term time only):
This programme is designed for children 2½ to 6 years of age. It includes the challenging stimulation of Montessori education in a home-like comfortable environment. This multi-age environment allows younger children the learning advantage of watching and working with older ones, while older students have an opportunity to be leaders and teachers. Offering four or five mornings compared to children attending fewer sessions is consistent with Montessori philosophy. It creates consistency in the classroom and supports children developing routines. Socially, children attending this frequently, helps towards creating a sense of community within the classrooms.
This programme is designed for 2½ year old children to 6 years of age. It was created to continue the morning Montessori programme with lunch, playtime, a rest period, and an opportunity to further explore individual and small group activities. There is a choice of attending Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday till 2.45pm. Friday session finishes at 11.45am.
The Extended Day programme is an excellent preparation for either Montessori or other primary school. These sessions follow the morning sessions on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday afternoon till 2.45pm.
It is offered to children who are about 4½ years of age, with the programme meeting children's needs until age 6. Each child's own personal programme continues during these sessions as well as a programme that extends the Montessori materials and the children's experiences within a peer group situation. This programme includes a variety of small group lesson extensions including: language, maths, science, geography, history, art, drama, outings, baking, and cultures of our world.
This programme is another option for children 2½ through to 6 years of age. Each child is on an individual programme in a fully equipped Montessori classroom. The mixed age groups offer learning advantages for both younger and older children.
