- January 31, 2022
- /MontessoriMontessori schools
- /ByCarine Robin
Are you looking for a Montessori school in London? Check my list of recommended settings, from early years to secondary schools in the capital.
I have checked their credentials. I know some of their founders personally. Having said that, it's still an non-exhaustive list. I will always advise you to do your own research and to visit as many settings as possible.
Check this blog post about what to look for when you visit a Montessori nursery.
I have listed first the schools I can personally recommend, as I know the owner or I have visited them. Then there is a more general list of London based Montessori schools.
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Rose House Montessori:
Founded in 2005 as a Montessori Pre-School , today Rose House Montessori School operates over three different sites within walking distance, offering mixed aged, beautiful environments for children aged two to eleven years old.
I had the pleasure to do a training with Dawn Nasser, the founder of Rose House Montessori.I love their open door policy. You can visit unannounced (it might have changed due to covid). They have evolve from a small preschool to a primary school.
All teaching staff at Rose House Montessori School hold aMontessori Diploma; teaching staff working primarily with children of primary school age in addition also holdDegree Level qualifications.
Enjoy this interview with Dawn Nasser.
Where is it? Forest Hill, London SE23 2AG
Who is it for? Children aged from 2 and a half to 11 years old.
Who is in charge? Dawn Nasser and Dr Ursula Nerre
How much does it cost? Early years starts £4322.50 per term 9am to 4pm. Primary is £3768.33 per term.
Link: https://www.rose-house-montessori.com/
My Montessori school
I discovered Didi Tonev, the founder of "My Montessori school" on YouTube years ago. She has a little boy and was talking about Montessori, their activities and many other interesting topics. She went on training as a Montessori teacher and founded a Montessori preschool in London!
We had a dream of creating a beautiful and peaceful place where children would love to come and grow.
Where is it?Brook Green, West London, W6 7BL
Who is it for? For children ages 2 to 5
Who is in charge? Didi Tonev, founder and Zara Zafar – Head of school
How much does it cost?From £2990 per term
Paint-pots
Established in 1988, Paint Pots has offered a Montessori education for children through our Nursery Schools and Classes for over 30 years. Paint Pots is a small independent group of Montessori Early Years settings based within central London in Notting Hill, Chelsea and Hyde Park.
I had the pleasure to do a training with the founder, Georgina Hood, about mindfulness in the Montessori classroom. That training led me to train as a yoga and mindfulness teacher for children.
Paint pots is not only a school but they also offer creative classes and parents and child classes.
Where is it? London W11 2RW
Who is it for?Birth to 5 years old
Who is in charge? Founder and Principal, Georgina Hood
How much does it cost? From £2265 per full-time term
Link:https://www.paint-pots.co.uk/pages/about-us
Maria Montessori institute
Maria Montessori institute is the AMI training center. They have 5 schools from aged 2 to 12 years old.
Looking for a nursery or preschool in London? Let your child reach their true potential at our happy and authentic MontessoriChildren’s Houses(nursery/preschool age – 2 ½-6 years) andElementary classes(primary/prep school age – 6-12 years). Established in 1965, we are inBayswater (W2),Hampstead (NW3),Hornsey Rise (N19)(near Crouch End),Notting Hill (W11)orAbbey Road (NW6).
Where is it? Bayswater, Hampstead, Hornsey Rise, Notting Hill, Abbey Road
Who is it for?For children aged 2 to 12
Who is in charge?Head of school is Michel Capobianco
How much does it cost? Fees vary according to the location and are around £4470 for a full term in preschool to £4840 in elementary.
Link: https://www.mariamontessori.org/schools
Apple Montessori school:
Apple Montessori School London opened their doors in January 2014, and through word of mouth in the Pitshanger and Ealing area, they quickly became loved and highly recommended by parents.
I met Helena Patterson, the owner and really appreciated her commitment to Montessori. She started with a small setting in her house and moved to a purpose-built building in order to welcome more children.
Where is it? Apple Montessori School London, Mini Pavilion, Trailfinders Sports Club, West Ealing, W13 0DD
Who is it for? Children aged 2 to 5
Who is in charge? Helena Patterson
How much does it cost?Not disclaimed on their website
Are you based in the UK?
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Playhood
Something original, Playhood is a nursery, a co-working space and a community space. Playhood helps reunite the most important things in your life. A micro Montessori nursery school sits alongside a calm co-working space and a friendly community of parents. It's a micro-nursery so they have a maximum of 6 children per day. It's very flexible and linked to the co-working space.
It might be a great solution for you if you are self-employed.
Link: https://www.playhood.club/
Little People's Montessori
Little People's Montessori is based in Charlton, South East London. They are a small, term time only, Montessori preschool, caring and guiding children aged from 2 years to 5 years, often having children stay with them for their reception year. They have been established for eight years now and most of our families find us through word of mouth.
Including the owner, Charlotte Day, there are six directresses. Four are qualified Montesssori guides, and one has almost completed her course.
This academic year they have been working alongside a wonderful forest school leader and now offer weekly forest school sessions for the children in nearby woodlands.
Charlotte says " I knew at the age of 10 that I wanted to open my own Montessori nursery when I grew up. I attended a Toad Hall Montessori in Kennigington when I was little and still remember the wonderful guides who looked after me, Vivien and Caroline. At the age of 27 I took a massive leap and went for it, starting with two children! Eight years on I have two little people of my own, the oldest of whom attends now. With the help of my amazing colleagues, particularly Renata and Dekyi, who have been with me from the start, I have been able to build my vision and create an environment where children flourish, and build foundations for life not just for school. Also we hold reunions every year, and it is simply amazing when the children return at 8/9 years old and still go straight to practical life, take an activity and sit down quietly at the table with it - my heart!"
Where is it?Victoria Way, Charlton, SE7 7NQ
Who is it for?For children aged 2 to 5 years old
Who is in charge?Charlotte Day
How much does it cost? Full-time fees per term are £2500
Link: https://lpmontessori.wixsite.com/littlepeoples/Contact
Montessori secondary school in London:
The River house:
Sarah Greenwood founded the school in 1994. It now caters from preschool to key stage 3. The secondary school opened in 2011 and remains small.
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AMI has a list of Montessori schools in the UK. Where there is their logo next to the listing, it means that the setting went through the AMI accreditation.
Montessori group, previously known as Montessori Centre International, has also a list and offers an accreditation.
I hope this article will help you to choose a Montessori school for your child. If you want to personally recommend a setting, please leave a comment!
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About the AuthorCarine Robin
Carine Robin has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, specialising in child psychology. She worked for various social services in her home country of Belgium, before moving to Ireland in 2006.It was there that she started working in a nursery and discovered Montessori education. After having her first child, her passion for the philosophy grew and she qualified as a Montessori teacher and managed a preschool.Carine has been running a Montessori based parents and toddler group and coaching families for 9 years. She now also runs an online group for over 14000 parents, sharing her knowledge and passion with people from around the world.In 2018, Carine realised families needed more support and launched her popular online parenting courses and monthly subscription boxes, full of personally designed Montessori materials.
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FAQs
What is the highest grade in Montessori school? ›
In Montessori schools, “grade-levels” are flexible and determined by the child's developmental range, i.e., 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-15, and 15-18 years of age. In traditional schools, grade levels are not flexible and strictly defined by chronological age within a twelve-month period.
Is Montessori proven to be better? ›Analysing their progress at age five, Lillard found that the children who went to the Montessori school tended to have better literacy, numeracy, executive function and social skills, compared to those who had attended the other schools. And at age 12, they showed better story-telling abilities.
Are Montessori students more successful? ›Two lottery-control studies in public Montessori schools showed that Montessori 5-year-olds had better math and reading performance, better social skills and knowledge, more advanced moral reasoning and higher executive function. Findings with lower-income 5-year-olds are particularly impressive.
How does Reggio Emilia compare to Montessori? ›Reggio Emilia focuses more on collaborative learning whereas Montessori focuses on independent learning. Reggio Emilia classrooms are more flexible and open-ended whereas Montessori areas are more structured. Reggio Emilia teachers are seen as partners and guides whereas Montessori teachers are seen as directors.
What is the best age for Montessori? ›The best time to enroll your child into a Montessori school is between the ages of 2.5 and 6 years old, when they are most sensitive to the world around them.
What type of child does best in Montessori? ›Kids with special needs, such as learning or physical disabilities, often thrive in a Montessori setting. 3 Materials used in Montessori settings engage all the senses. Students are free to move about the classroom, which is an advantage for those children who require a lot of physical activity.
Are Montessori children successful later in life? ›4. Are Montessori children successful later in life? Research studies show that Montessori children are well prepared for later life academically, socially, and emotionally.
Why is Montessori so expensive? ›There are a few reasons why Montessori schools are more expensive: Montessori schools use high quality materials. The materials last many years, but an investment is required to ensure the materials can hold up to everyday wear and tear by eager children.
Did Bill Gates attend Montessori school? ›Bill Gates attended Montessori in his early years. Gates is the former chief executive and chairman of Microsoft, the world's largest personal-computer software company.
Did Taylor Swift attend Montessori school? ›Taylor Swift, country music's youngest-ever Entertainer of the Year, attended Alvernia Montessori School in Berks County Pa.
What is the downside of Montessori method? ›
The Montessori method has some drawbacks including the lack of consistent quality implementation, difficulty in transitioning to higher education, and high tuition. However, the Montessori method itself is not bad as this development-focused education fosters independence and a love for learning in children.
What are the disadvantages of the Reggio Emilia approach? ›The Cons of Reggio Emilia
As learning is child-directed and project based, it is very difficult to show parents that their children are actually learning. There are no worksheets sent home, as an example, to show that their child has learnt their letters of the alphabet.
Criticisms of Reggio Emilia Schooling
The main criticism of the Reggio approach is that it is not a formal model, with defined methods, and teacher certification. Without teacher certification it is sometimes difficult for teachers to truly know how to implement this model, and classrooms can sometimes be chaotic.
Unlike traditional elementary schools where the curriculum is extremely structured, a Reggio Emilia curriculum is flexible, hands-on, and largely interest-based. This approach allows children to guide their own learning experiences, based on their passions, interests, thoughts, and observations.
Is Montessori school good for ADHD? ›Not every child fits into a traditional classroom. Some with ADHD may not fit into a Montessori program. However, many students with moderate and even severe ADHD symptoms may find that the Montessori method is more effective and provides more opportunities.
Is 5 too late to start Montessori? ›It's never too late.
Dr. Montessori gave us a window into the child's developing brain and what the universal milestones and needs of children from the time of conception thru early adulthood were.
Nido (0 to 18 months) Toddler (18 months to 3 years) Children's House (3 to 6 years) Elementary (6 to 12 years)
Are kids happy in Montessori? ›Louise Livingston, our Director of Training, welcomes long-awaited academic research which shows a clear link between the Montessori educational approach and greater long-term well-being. The new study has found that children who attend Montessori schools often have greater well-being and happiness in adulthood.
Are Montessori kids happier? ›Children who spent as little as two years in Montessori schools had higher levels of well-being–defined as the self-perception of health, happiness, and flourishing–as an adult. This held true even when race, age, gender, and socio-economic status were accounted for.
Why Montessori is better than daycare? ›Montessori education takes a holistic approach: social, emotional, and physical development alongside academic success. Daycare centers, on the other hand, may prioritize a certain area of development, such as academic advancement, while disregarding other areas entirely.
Are Montessori schools conservative or liberal? ›
While some Montessori schools try their best to remain faithful to what they perceive to be her method, in reality, even the most staunchly conservative has gradually been influenced by the evolution of our culture and technology.
Is Montessori good for autism? ›The Montessori Method is particularly helpful to children with ASD because of the interactive, calming, sensory, safe, and consistent environment it provides. Montessori teaching is centered on the idea that all children learn differently and at their own individual pace.
What are the long term effects of Montessori education? ›The research uncovered that those who attended more years of Montessori schooling were significantly more likely to have better psychological health — in particular, higher levels of emotional stability and life satisfaction.
Why is Montessori education so great? ›Choosing a Montessori environment for your child has many benefits. Known for individually paced learning and fostering independence, the Montessori Method also encourages empathy, a passion for social justice, and a joy in lifelong learning.
Is Montessori parenting effective? ›The Montessori method is a very effective parenting method. It gives children a sense of empowerment and ownership over themselves and their decisions. It helps them develop independence while exploring their surroundings and can help prevent behavior problems.
Is Montessori only for rich? ›Montessori is not only for rich families, it is for all income levels. However, most Montessori schools have high tuition costs. Montessori as a method of education cannot be exclusively reserved for any one group. Children can learn through the Montessori Method at home for free.
How much is excellent Montessori school? ›COVID-19 Update for Prospective Students and Families:
Excellent Montessori School is a private school located in LITHONIA, GA. It has 161 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 20 to 1. Tuition is $680 for the highest grade offered.
Montessori toys are perfect for helping in childhood sensory development because they are exciting, interactive, and encourage children to explore their curiosity through experimentation.
Did Mark Zuckerberg attend Montessori? ›5. Mark Zuckerberg – the co-founder of Facebook was apparently educated at a Montessori school.
Was Jeff Bezos at Montessori? ›Montessori Alum
Jeff Bezos attended a Montessori school in Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was young, and later graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in 1986.
What Montessori school did Jeff Bezos go to? ›
The name of the preschool is unknown. He only attended the Montessori school for a year and a half. After preschool, the Bezos family moved to Houston, Texas. Here he stopped attending Montessori school and was enrolled in River Oaks Elementary School.
Did George Clooney go to a Montessori school? ›Actor George Clooney is another recipient of a Montessori education, attending a Montessori pre-school.
How long did Bezos go to Montessori? ›Bezos was actually a Montessori child himself, attending a Montessori preschool in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the mid 1960s. “I went to Montessori school [for] about a year and a half, starting probably at age 2 1/2. ...
Did Diddy go to a Montessori school? ›Sean Combs (better known as P. Diddy or Diddy), was educated in a Montessori school in New York. He is now a Grammy-award winning musician and recording artist.
Why not to praise your child Montessori? ›Most of us in the Montessori world have been cautioned not to praise children. Too much praise can lead to patterns of codependency and inadvertently teach children that their self-worth should be based on the perceptions of others.
What is the difference between Waldorf and Montessori? ›While Montessori education encourages natural curiosity with a focus on independent learning, Waldorf schooling emphasizes holistic advancement through creativity and imagination.
Does Montessori hinder creativity? ›Nothing hinders creativity more than being told when and how to complete something. That is why in the Montessori classroom the children are free to create their own art when they feel inspired and ready to do so! All art materials are available for them throughout the day.
How do Waldorf and Reggio Emilia compare? ›Education level: The Reggio Emilia approach is mainly used for preschool (though sometimes it's used in early elementary school). The Waldorf approach, meanwhile, is used in preschool, elementary school, and even secondary school. Projects: Reggio schools are more project-focused than Waldorf schools.
Why is Reggio Emilia good for children? ›The Reggio Emilia approach prioritizes child-focused, self-led learning for students. Children are free to explore their environment, manipulating, engaging, and researching as they see fit. This idea helps children to learn at their own pace, discovering and pursuing their own interests.
What is Reggio Emilia unique idea? ›The Reggio Emilia philosophy values the child as central to their own learning, not simply an empty vessel waiting to be filled with knowledge. Children are able to pursue their own interests and revisit and build upon ideas at their own pace. You may have heard of something called the '100 languages of children'.
Does Reggio Emilia have a curriculum? ›
The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy and pedagogy focused on preschool and primary education. This approach is a student-centered and constructivist self-guided curriculum that uses self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments.
Is Reggio Emilia developmentally appropriate? ›Reggio Emilia program are grounded in developmentally appropriate practices; emer- gent, project-based learning; and an approach to learning that considers the whole child.
What is the main focus of Reggio Emilia? ›The Reggio Emilia philosophy is an approach to teaching, learning and advocacy for children. In its most basic form, it is a way of observing what children know, are curious about and what challenges them.
Is Reggio Emilia better than Montessori? ›Reggio Emilia focuses more on collaborative learning whereas Montessori focuses on independent learning. Reggio Emilia classrooms are more flexible and open-ended whereas Montessori areas are more structured. Reggio Emilia teachers are seen as partners and guides whereas Montessori teachers are seen as directors.
What age group is Reggio Emilia for? ›The Reggio Emilia approach, developed by Italian psychologist Loris Malaguzzi in the late 1970's, is an educational philosophy focused on preschool students aged 3 to 5 years.
What age is Reggio Emilia for? ›The Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education is a city-run and sponsored system designed for all children from birth through six years of age.
What are the class levels in Montessori? ›Currently, most Montessori programs begin at the Early Childhood level (for children ages 2.5 – 6 years). However there are also programs for infants and toddlers (birth – age 3), Elementary-aged children (ages 6 – 12), and Secondary students (ages 12 – 18).
How many grades are in a Montessori classroom? ›The Montessori Approach to Learning
Montessori classrooms are multi-age, usually with about three grades in each classroom.
Grading in Montessori schools does not consist of letter or number grades. Children who learn the Montessori way get encouragement and progress reports rather than letter grades.
How many stages does Montessori have? ›The First Plane: Birth to Age 6 (Early Childhood/Infancy) “The Absorbent Mind” The Second Plane: Ages 6–12 (Childhood) “Conscious Imagination” The Third Plane: Ages 12–18 (Adolescence) “New Identity” The Fourth Plane: Ages 18–24 (Maturity) “Maturity”
What are the 5 stages of Montessori? ›
The Montessori Curriculum offers children five key areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, and Culture. Each learning area is made up of a set of Montessori materials that each teach one key knowledge area or skill.
Is Montessori good for ADHD? ›One of the other key benefits of Montessori for ADHD is that it allows children to learn at their own pace. Often, children with ADHD thrive when they are able to focus their education on one thing or one concept at a time.
What comes after Montessori? ›In many ways, homeschooling is a great follow-up to a Montessori education. It allows your child to continue to work at their own pace, to explore the information that is of greatest interest to them, and to experience hands-on learning whenever you take the time to put those projects together.
Which country has the most Montessori schools? ›Countries with the largest number of Montessori schools are the United States, China, Thailand, Germany, Canada, and Tanzania; the United States, Thailand, the Netherlands, and India have the largest number of government-funded or public Montessori programs.
Do Montessori schools have homework? ›In an elementary Montessori program, there will be some homework but, as with the pre-school and kindergarten programs, the homework is intentionally designed. The overarching belief about homework in the Montessori philosophy is that schoolwork should be done at school.
What level is Montessori diploma? ›NCFE CACHE Level 4 Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy - Birth to Seven (Early Years Educator)
Do Montessori kids test higher? ›The 12-year-old Montessori and non-Montessori students had similar reading and math scores, but the Montessori children tended to score higher on tests measuring social and behavioral development.
Is 4 too late to start Montessori? ›It's never too late.
Dr. Montessori gave us a window into the child's developing brain and what the universal milestones and needs of children from the time of conception thru early adulthood were.
These include: critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication; otherwise known as 'The Four C's. '
What is 6 to 12 years in Montessori? ›Montessori for 6 to 12 year olds. The primary-aged student develops powers of reason, abstraction, and imagination and begins to think and wonder about ideas and concepts beyond her own personal experience. Lessons, in the form of stories and materials, inspire children in independent research and group projects.