Montessori

The Montessori approach to education was first developed by Italy’s first female medical doctor, Maria Montessori, a century ago and was based on her own direct observations of children.

Children flourish in our child centred environment, which allows them to work at their own pace through the Montessori curriculum. Children achieve very good results in the Montessori setting, and make excellent progress. Our teachers know them very well through their individual observations and assessments. Visitors often comment on the independence, confidence and happiness of our pupils.

Today Montessori nurseries and schools alike educate children around the world. The approach is holistic, child-centred and inclusive. Based on a profound respect for children, practicioners understand what young people are capable of. The Montessori ethos promotes joy in learning and enables children to realise their full potential. Maria Montessori believed are the future custodians of our planet, and to have respect for the natural world around them. This ethos remains relevant over 100 years on!

Birthday Circle

We like to celebrate each child’s birthday milestone. Birthdays help children understand the importance of giving, as well as receiving. To help develop their concept of time, from their third birthday onwards each child presents a pictorial timeline of their life. This shows their development from a baby through each year of their life. Parents also provide anecdotes such as their first words, favourite foods and significant moments in their life.

Children are also invited to donate a book of their choice to the school library in their name.

Grace and Courtesy

The Gower School believes that grace and courtesy promote intellectual and physical development, enabling the children to respond to their environment. This lays the foundation for later academic achievement and is an integral part of our school community.

Children are expected to use their manners, open doors for adults, tidy up their materials and help their peers. Children are expected to use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as well as saying ‘good morning’ and ‘good afternoon’ at the beginning and end of the day. We encourage children to use the names of adults when speaking to them and to make eye contact.  Looking after their personal appearance, using table manners and good behaviour on outings are all key areas of grace and courtesy that children learn throughout their days at The Gower School.

Special Helpers

Each child gets the opportunity to be ‘Special Helper’ on a regular basis. This allows them to develop a sense of responsibility and initiative, and boosting their confidence. The role involves helping at lunchtime, bringing in a healthy snack, a music CD or favourite book to share with the class and other tasks, such as taking messages and counting children for the class register. The children love the system and are very excited when their turn comes round!

In addition, we have our own five Golden Rules, which are:

• Be calm and use a soft voice.
• Respect others and their work.
• Be kind and caring to others.
• Respect the school environment.
• Walk at all times.

The Gower School prides itself on a high teacher to child ratio, far exceeding most other schools.

The children’s social skills are strongly developed by the experience of learning in groups mixed according to subject and interest as happens in life, rather than age. A strong emphasis is placed on developing each child’s independence, and they are encouraged with pouring drinks, putting on shoes and coats, choosing their own activities and being able to do things for themselves.

Each child gets the opportunity to be ‘Special Helper’ on a regular basis, giving them the opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility and initiative, and boosting their confidence. The role involves helping at lunchtime, bringing in a healthy snack, a music CD or favourite book to share with the class and other tasks, such as taking messages and counting children for the class register. The children love the system and are very excited when their turn comes round!

Every child’s birthday is celebrated with a ‘Birthday Circle’ where they share memories of their life to date, with photos of them growing up and anecdotes and memories of momentous events, such as their first word and favourite foods.

Grace and courtesy are an integral part of The Gower School community. Children are expected to use their manners, open doors for adults, tidy up their materials and help their peers. Children are expected to use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as well as saying ‘good morning’ and ‘good afternoon’ at the beginning and end of the day. We also encourage children to use the names of adults when speaking to them and to make eye contact.

We wish to work in partnership with parents and at the nursery there are “Introduction to Montessori Education” workshops each autumn for parents and each term there are a range of curriculum talks.