As children move towards statutory school age our Montessori approach continues to support their learning through a broad-based curriculum which includes and exceeds the expectations of the National Curriculum.
Our teachers are all highly trained observers, and they are committed to providing each child with an individual plan of work that challenges them and follows a steady learning programme. Each classroom at our school is very well resourced with high quality learning materials, to enable a wide range of educational learning through practical activities to take place.
This ensures that the foundation skills of numeracy, literacy & investigation are well developed, in a quiet, firmly controlled, yet happily informal atmosphere.
Children work on a one to one basis with their teacher each day, where they are introduced to new concepts and gain confidence working with the specially designed Montessori learning materials. Children move at their own pace, and teachers can support children who find an area difficult, whilst other children are not held back waiting for others to reach their stage, in order to move onto new challenges.
Once they are confident enough to use the materials alone the activities form part of their regular work cycle. Freedom of choice is a key theme, so although children are encouraged to work with some activities to ensure that their individual learning is balanced, they have freedom to choose their work and to organise themselves during their work cycle.
The length of the work cycle is key - children are uninterrupted for several hours as they work, and they are able to concentrate on quite complex tasks, allowing their personal knowledge and interest to develop.
Children are welcomed into Les Dauphins (the Dolphins) from three to five years old. There is one Montessori teacher for every eight children.
The Montessori classroom Les Dauphins is equipped with the very best resources from which your child can learn. Our learning materials are scientifically designed to a high standard by Maria Montessori, and are made from natural materials. Les Dauphins have a beautiful learning environment, and as Maria Montessori said: “the child has to be seduced by the beauty of the classroom.”
Montessori is split into different areas. Practical life; sensorial; language; maths; culture. Our Montessori teachers work closely with each child to develop an individual plan of activities based on his or her preferences.
We meet all of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and our experience shows that children who start of in our nursery are usually assessed as being ahead of national standards by the time they reach the reception class.
Encouraging children to be independent and self reliant is at the heart of Montessori ethos. In Les Dauphins, a snack table is available where children can prepare their own healthy snacks and help themselves to them throughout the morning. Each day [check each day?], a different child is appointed as the Special Helper, a role that comes with special responsibilities. The Special Helpers assist with serving lunch to their friends, they bring in a healthy snack to share with friends and they can also bring in a favourite CD or book. Each week there is also a special flower helper who brings in flowers and arranges them to decorate the classroom.
Our curriculum is enhanced on an age-appropriate basis by courses of study in music (including singing, listening, optional instrumental lessons, music history, performance, theatre and opera; plus creative movement and fitness, art, ICT, and world languages and cultures. Also, there is a variety of clubs for children to join; among those that have been offered are Choir, cookery, design & technology, action ball, environment, healthy living, tennis, knitting and sculpture.
Specialist, professional teachers visit each week, and the children enjoy music lessons with Sarah, French with Isabelle, guitar with Louise and football with Danny. There are also weekly trips to the Islington Tennis Centre for tennis lessons.
All staff have been training in yoga and run a weekly optional yoga session. There are trips to the library, park or pet shop, arts and crafts and cookery lessons.
In Les Dauphins, children build up to a five day week, and we expect them to attend every day for a minimum of 6 session (five mornings and an afternoon or three full days) by the time they are three and half.
Children in Les Dauphins wear a simple uniform in preparation for school. A weekly progress card is emailed out to parents, letting you know what Montessori activities and project work your child has done that week, and updating you on your child's development.