What is Montessori education and why should I send my child to a Montessori school?

This unique educational experience was developed over one hundred years ago by Dr. Maria Montessori and is now used and celebrated worldwide. Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian doctor, turned educator. Her aim was to develop a system that ignited a child's innate desire to learn, while recognizing that every child is a unique individual with innate talents and abilities upon which to build.

The Montessori approach to teaching children respects the intelligence and individuality of each child and allows the freedom to explore and express him or herself in a nurturing, prepared environment. With this approach the child who is given the freedom to explore in their own way, at their own pace, and who is supported and challenged in the process, not only learns about the world but will also develop a strong sense of confidence and independence. A Montessori education is described "as an aid to life, as a means of supporting a continual unfolding of each child's personality."

 The Montessori Method provides the crucial framework a child needs to make the most of his/her precious early years. It enables children to develop their motor and social skills; to learn handwriting, reading and basic numeracy; and to grow into a capable, confident young person, eager to explore the fascinating world around him/her.

Montessori is an education for life, not a nursery school. The best time to start your child’s education is between the ages of 2.5 to 3 years of age, when most of a child’s intelligence and social characteristics are formed. Fifty percent of a child’s mental development occurs at age 4.