Montessori nurseries?

[elk4baby]

Has anyone had any experience with these? How did you find it? Did your DC enjoy it?
How was the transition to a regular school after?

Can't answer the question re school afterwards as she's not there yet...

My DD loves her nursery - adores it. My mum wanted me to choose Montessori but I wasn't fussed really. When I went to the nursery, it was so calm. The children were all so happy and working well together.

I knew where the nursery was already but you might want to have a look for a school/nursery that is actually Montessori Accredited as there are lots that claim to follow the principles but then don't.

It's not for everyone. One of the parents in my ante-natal group was a nursery carer previously and she didn't like the nursery that we use. Another couple from the group do like it and have their son there too. Just depends what you're looking for, I guess.

My DD's nursery does the whole "outside every day" thing (they have a three sided barn thing so that the children can go outside whatever the weather; have animals (including seeing chickens hatch etc); plus all the training materials for when they get a little older. The "maths materials" are supposed to be excellent.

I'm torn between leaving her where she is for her primary education and taking her out to go the local Primary. It's a toughy...

My DD went to a Montessori nursery. Elder DS didn't and went to a local pre-school.

The learning processes between the two were quite different - I found that the pre-school was more results orientated ie DS coming home with artwork that was obviously supposed to be something and had a far amount of adult input. The Montessori nursery was more geared towards the 'process of learning' whereby DD would come home with something that she had done entirely by herself but might have needed some interpretation to find out what it was! The Montessori was less regimented with children left more to discover and learn at their own pace, with appropriate guidance.

DD had no difficulty into settling into a reception class - it was more structured than she was used to, but still play orientated so the transition period was fine.

I would agree with Belle that there are different levels of Montessori - within the Montessori nurseries you will find that some are more Montessori than others. All true Montessori nursery should have an accreditation that you can ask to see if it is not displayed.

Otherwise I would say observe them in action and see how you and your DC respond.

DS was reading before he was three, not because they put pressure on him but because he enjoyed the games, he developed so fast in maths that at some point we thought he was gifted and talented which he is not. I noticed that the children in the Montessori where also more inquisitive and considerably more articulate than the children in his previous nursery or even in his current school.

Transition was fine, new teacher started complaining that DS couldn't sit still for long periods and blamed it immediately in the montessori education. It wasn't that, her montessori teacher complained of exactly the same.

If anything, he was far more advanced than the other children and it seems the new school is holding him back a bit, they are still giving him books to read in Year 2 that he managed well when he was in reception so I think sometimes he just gets bored. However, I don't regret it one bit.