Montessori

Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870. She became the first woman doctor in her country’s history. Her early work was with retarded and poor children. By close observation and experiment, the system which she devised enabled these deprived children to attain levels of learning normally associated with average children. Her great triumph came when her ‘retarded’ pupils took state examinations along with ‘normal’ children - and passed! The educational establishment of the day was forced to recognise a ‘break through’.

The Montessori Method is different from other educational systems. It is based on a realistic balance between freedom and a structure specifically designed to help the young child explore and experience the world around them.

There are three parts to the Montessori Method- the child, the environment and the teacher/directress. The Montessori Method is based on an understanding of the child as he/she is; and Dr Montessori then created an environment designed to help the child develop as a total person. Within this environment the role of the teacher is to direct the child’s activity, so we prefer the term directress rather than teacher. 

The Montessori Method allows your child to learn in a way that he/she feels most natural - by doing things him/herself. Gradually the child builds up a strong sense of independence coupled with an ability to sustain concentration. Confidence grows as this range of skills increase. The Method is founded on the child’s natural curiosity and love of learning, and it helps the child to follow his/her normal rate of development, encouraging attempts on new projects as the ability increases. 

The Montessori environment is the real ‘teacher’ since by using a wide range of Montessori materials in the company of other children, the child is helping to teach him/herself. The environment is attractive to children in being generally simple, child-sized and capable of correction by themselves. In this way, there is no need for an adult to point out a mistake and perhaps injure the child’s self-esteem. 

A Teacher/Directress has many tasks. Often she is hardly noticeable among the children at work. Her experience and training make her keenly aware of each child’s fundamental needs for development. She is available to every child as a sympathetic helper, giving guidance in the proper use of the materials and equipment. 

When a child starts at Oakfields Montessori School we take care to ensure that he/she is safe and happy to be at school.