Our Rooms
Infant and Toddler Class
The infant class caters for twelve babies aged from 3 months-18 months. We have three nursery nurses and one assistant working full-time in this class. We also have additional help during 4-6pm.
Our toddler room is run by two qualified teachers and one assistant, and caters for eleven children aged between 18 months and 2 1/2 years, Entry is not limited to chronological age but rather readiness for this group. Toddlers wanting to enter this class should be sturdy on their feet. With the emphasis on fun, we aim to nurture and encourage a child's all round development.
A typical day for example may include; finger painting, stencilling, socialising at the Teddy bears picnic, feeding the ducks, music and movement in our free play area, and all before lunch time! For our young individuals the toddler room also acts as an introduction to the basic principles and freedom of the Montessori environment. Hence ensuring a smooth transition when promotion to the pre-primary class beckons.
Nursery Classes
Green Gables Nursery offers a warm, bright and loving environment that challenges and supports your child. The classroom consists of 24 children aged between 2 1/2 and 5 years. They are guided and nurtured by a team of enthusiastic, dedicated and experienced Montessori qualified teachers. The children are given the freedom to develop their personality and to continue to grow in independence and concentration whilst being introduced to new learning experiences. Practical life activities and systematic education of the senses are seen as the foundation for reading, writing and arithmetic. Through topic work the children are introduced to the cultural area. The children's day is designed to encourage individual and small group learning within a structured environment. The children have the freedom of choice within the classroom to expand on their life skills and social interaction in all areas of education (i.e. maths, language, geography, science, history, music and art appreciation). The children can learn French and swimming and have a daily opportunity to go outside and learn about plants, work in their own garden and develop their physical needs. Most of our work with the children is on a one to one basis, and this gives the teachers a unique insight into the nature and abilities of individual children. The child flourishes under this caring guidance.
Primary Class
Many parents choose to continue their child's education in the Montessori environment, this gives the children continuity of learning and approach before they embark on new learning experiences in one of the excellent schools with the entry age of 7 and 8.
Once again we focus on individual progress of the children and support their learning by individual tuition within a small working group.
The Montessori Curriculum, so ensuring that progression of learning and attainment is safeguarded in the elementary group, the children are introduced to systematic learning of language skills including reading, writing, comprehension and grammar. Mathematics includes arithmetic, geometry and algebra.
The holistic approach to learning is retained through our topic work, which continues to provide framework for learning of geography, history, biology and science. Regular outings are planned to provide opportunities for exploration of the wider environment. Specialist French lessons are given once a week. Physical education is encouraged and the children benefit from opportunities for dance, music and movement and weekly swimming lessons.
The elementary class benefits from a teacher trained to work with children up to the age of 9.
The assessment is based on National Curriculum Attainment Targets. Close links with the home are encouraged and children are given small amounts of homework daily to ensure that the partnership between home and school continues.