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Innovative, inspiring, Intuitive.

The Montessori Method has been enriching the lives of children across the globe for over 100 years. This sustainable educational approach encompasses a holistic world view and lifelong learning, following the natural development of the child based on careful observation within a nurturing environment.

What Is Montessori?

What is Montessori?

A unique, CHILD-CENTRED approach to education.

The Montessori Method is one of the most successful disciplines of learning which carries international recognition. Dr Maria Montessori saw that children learn best through experience and that it encourages a deeper and more consistent understanding of language, mathematics, science, music, social interactions and much more. She found that happy self-motivated learners form positive images of themselves as confident, successful people and created specially designed resources to foster independence and a love for learning from an early age.

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How does a Montessori education help your child?

Development

Supports physical and cognitive development in response to the child’s individual needs.

Confidence

Develops children’s confidence in their emerging abilities, allowing them to take risks and go beyond expectations.

Environment

Provides children with a safe, engaging and nurturing learning environment that is responsive to their needs.

Trust

Encourages children’s trust in themselves, each other and the wider community.

Your questions answered

When following the Montessori approach the child is seen as a dynamic learner, full of creative potential and in need of the maximum possible freedom to be allowed to develop as a happy, confident individual. Montessori schools therefore place greater emphasis on the importance of the learning process rather than the product. Montessori schools are learner-centred, where the inner abilities of the children are trusted. Adults in a Montessori school will not do tasks for a child (such as zipping up a coat or setting a table for lunch) but will show the child how to do the tasks for themselves. Observation of children is key, as through knowing what the child is able to do, and is interested in, the adult is better able to meet their individual needs.

In more traditional schools children are seen to be in need of more active instruction and control from adults, and as a result there is less trust in the child’s own inner abilities and more emphasis on ensuring defined results. Montessori schools are learner-centred, whereas traditional schools tend to be more teacher-centred.

Montessori’s observations led her to formulate a pedagogy that focused on children’s sensitive periods (when they are better able to develop in certain areas), their capacity for active learning through their senses, and education, which takes place in a harmonious and respectful atmosphere. The principles include supporting active learning, respecting each child as an individual, trusting in them and their natural development, and encouraging self-discipline. These principles have been endorsed by neuroscientists of today and are reflected in many current approaches to early year’s education such as the EYFS or Reggio Emilia. The carefully prepared favourable learning environment supporting the individual progress of each child remains at the heart of Montessori education today.

As a pioneer of early year’s education, Maria Montessori (1870 to 1952) has left behind a legacy of early year’s pedagogy that celebrates the individual child. Recognising the child’s capacity for leading his/her learning in a well organised environment, that offers rich learning opportunities under the guidance of a well prepared educator.

The principles which underpin both approaches focus on the child, the learning environment and the relationships within it in promoting children’s learning and development. The synergy in the principles ensures that Montessori early years education works well alongside the EYFS without losing its key focus on following the child.

Tomorrow’s FUTURE is in the classroom today.

Whether you’ve just left school or are seeking a truly inspirational career change, MCI offers a range of training opportunities, including nationally recognised qualifications, to start your journey in Montessori education.

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Every child deserves quality education

We believe every child deserves quality education. Our accreditation services validate and publicly recognise high-quality Montessori settings both in the UK and across the globe.

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Having a passion for life, discovery of self, understanding how a child grows and learns with attention to our sensitivities, abilities to understand others and ourselves… is the answer to my WHY MONTESSORI. It takes you down to the core of your soul and connects you to your own childhood… what better way to relate and understand other children than this. So for me, it was mainly to learn about WHY children are important for our future, HOW can I help guide/follow them and WHAT is the result. The result is magical because you feel absolutely amazing being ‘in service’ to others by following their needs and allowing them to be themselves.

Simona Da Silva | Foundation Degree

A few years ago, I was researching local nurseries and that’s when I really started learning about Maria Montessori and her method. After reading a few articles, I was sure about my next step in life, and I enrolled at MCI. I did the one year course and I haven’t lost a lesson, I was always looking forward to my evening classes and same like the children I do believe we learn from concrete experiences and having to work with the materials was definitely one of my biggest plus. I understood the learning and I felt so confident after studying with the MCI that I went on to open my own home based small Montessori nursery. I have to thank MCI team for giving me this amazing opportunity to learn and grow and giving me a solid base to open my business and being able to support myself.

Giulia Bodhi Tree

I am very honoured to have been awarded a Birts Bursary. For me, this bursary is invaluable and I know that it will help me feel greater freedom and enjoyment whilst I study for the Montessori Diploma over the next two years. It has given me an exciting opportunity that I would not have otherwise thought possible. It has definitely provided me with the best start to my Montessori journey.

Anisah Taylor | Birts bursary recipient

I am very pleased to be starting the Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy in February 2017. Having volunteered at a Montessori school last year, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career as a Montessori teacher. Being awarded a Birts bursary has made this possible and I feel grateful to have this contribution towards my course fees.

Briony Lyons | Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy

I have thoroughly enjoyed the course. The modules are interesting, challenging and supported by fun interactive workbooks on the Virtual Learning Environment.
The workload is manageable if you organise your time well. My personal tutor, Beverley has been wonderful: fun, very supportive and never too busy to help. I have enjoyed the group Skype chats which enables distance learners to share ideas and projects with each other face to face. The two-week apparatus workshop at MCI in London is intensive but you learn so much and it prepares you fully for the assessment. The tutors at MCI are all friendly and do their best to help the students through the sessions. This course is ideal if you want to gain a solid understanding of the Montessori philosophy and learn how to implement this successfully in your school setting. This course requires students to have a tenacious and self-motivated approach to study.

Fiona Ferreira | EYE Diploma

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