Children are welcomed into Les Papillons (the Butterflies) from three to five years old. There is one Montessori teacher for every eight children.
Les Papillons is a Montessori classroom, 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 Papillons is 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. Each child makes progress in planned, small steps and gains an inner confidence and surety about themselves and the way that they work. Working individually and in small groups, each child builds up their own repertoire of activities and are encouraged to make independent choices.
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 Papillons, a snack table is available where children can prepare their own healthy snacks and help themselves to them throughout the morning. Each day, two children are appointed as the Special Helpers for that day, 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.
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 Papillons, 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.