Prospective Parents
One test of the correctness of educational procedure is the happiness of the child. – Maria Montessori
Excellent Care
We provide exceptional quality of care and education and because of this the children at our nursery feel at home and therefore able to learn and enjoy their first taste of school life.
In a recent inspection Ofsted said ‘children separate happily from their parents and are ready to play and explore the environment, demonstrating that they feel safe and secure.’ The school has had eight OFSTED inspections (1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2016 & 2021), and has achieved a high level of grading in all of these.
See the latest report here.
We are registered with Montessori St Nicholas and with the Montessori Schools Association.
Our dedication to safety and first aid & providing high quality care has led us to achieving the Millie’s Mark. Awarded to us by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) in collaboration with the Department for Education and Millie’s Trust, Millie’s Mark is recognition that our nursery goes above and beyond the minimum requirements to keeping children safe & minimising risks and accidents within our setting.
A nurturing & engaging learning environment
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We are a fully equipped, true Montessori setting.
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We provide a warm and understanding educational environment for 2 to 5 year olds.
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We offer the opportunity for children to learn through a range of activities, from simple practical tasks like doing up buttons, to activities which develop reading, writing and mathematical skills.
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Our curriculum complements and fully integrates the complete range of Montessori materials that we use.
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We offer a wide range of activities aimed at each child’s level and with maximum opportunity for their involvement & participation. Although many activities are individual or in small groups, we also plan daily larger group activities. Since nursery school is often a child's first experience in adjusting to a larger group and making friends, this experience is offered with care and understanding so that a sense of security and belonging is nurtured from the start.
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We make full provision for the Early Years Foundation Stage (the DfE’s Early Years Curriculum Guidance) and offer this through topics and themes.
Come and visit our classroom
In addition to the equipment which you would normally associate with a nursery school, such as books, puzzles, art equipment and musical instruments, you will see that our Montessori class has special teaching materials which fall within the following categories:
Practical Life
Activities such as pouring and buttoning which enable children to perfect many skills of daily life, whilst also improving co-ordination, concentration and self-confidence.
Sensory Development
Young children learn mainly through sensory experience. This equipment helps improve children's sensory ability, making them better able to learn. It also shows the fundamentals of the physical world (such as shape, form and colour), a clear understanding of these is the foundation for later, more abstract learning.
Literacy
We have many activities which prepare children for writing and help them recognise the phonetic sounds of our language. Once the foundation is laid, reading and writing are learnt through simple and enjoyable activities.
Mathematics
A range of games give children concrete experience of basic number concepts, with gradual progression being made towards the abstract.
The activities encourage the development of communication skills, creativity, co-ordination and investigative skills.
Outdoor learning
We have a large, sheltered garden, which the children enjoy all year round. In addition we take small groups of children on weekly field trips to explore and learn about their natural environment and extend their indoor activities into nature.
Click here to book a visit with us
