Montessori Children's House Wagga 3.09

The Montessori philosophy recognises that education starts at birth and that the first six years, being the most formative both physically and mentally, are the more important. During these years each child goes through sensitive periods at their own pace. By acknowledging these periods, children are engaged in a variety of activities meaningful to their own individual stage of development.
Our style of education is all about engaging the child and providing them with the gift of lifelong learning. Our aim is to create independence and responsibility in each child through developing life skills, self-expression, persistence, coordination and self-direction. It nurtures development of independence, positive self-esteem, concentration, memory and fine and large motor skills.
The approach is based on ‘following the whole child’ and fosters a love of learning in children. It helps them build self-confidence, inner discipline and a sense of self-worth, guiding them towards positive, desirable social behaviour. While encouraging self-reliance and a questioning mind, it also develops a respect for other people and a caring attitude toward their environment. This is all achieved in an orderly, beautifully prepared environment unique to Montessori early childcare centres.
Our active learning approach provides a hands-on experience where children learn through reality. Our environment mirrors a home environment, hence, the ‘children’s house’ concept. Our children use every day real life equipment in the classroom. They have real cups for drinking, set the table for lunch and wash their own dishes.

We provide a recognised and approved pre-school program
• Our classrooms have mixed age groupings from 3 years to school age
• Our materials are designed with a purpose and are self-correcting (fine motor skills)
• Our inside work cycle does not include free play but does include cooking, art/craft, music, singing, dancing as well as the 5 curriculum areas
• Our outside learning environment provides open free play areas including a water course, digging patch, two sandpits, swings, soft fall play area and equipment, sensorial bike track, home corner, dress-ups, blocks etc (gross motor skills).
• We educate children individually or in small groups of 2-3 children
• Individualised programs per child are developed being mindful of an holistic approach with an independent learning focus
• Our group time is with no more than 8 children and is focussed on projects and areas of interest to the child – not adult driven.
• We provide half hour of sports/physical activity per day using a variety of mediums including dance, drama, exercise, ball skills, running.

We provide education sessions for parents on Tuesday evenings where we demonstrate the purpose of the materials within the classroom, have a tour of the facility and explain the benefits of a Montessori early childhood education. Once parents see our materials, experience our classrooms and facility, and open their minds to a Montessori education, very rarely do they not enrol their child! Our numbers are growing for 2016 and we already have a waiting list for the toddler room for 2017!