Montessori nursery

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This morning we went to visit the local nursery that we are planing to send DD (2.1)to in September. They told us that although they are not a pure Montessori nursery they do use Montessori equipment and teaching styles there.
I know a little bit about it and she did explain some things but I was wondring f anyoe had any experience of sending their DC to a nursery like this and how it difers from a 'normal' nursery

DS1 is 3.5 and started at a Montessori nursery in January.
He was originally going to go to another nursery but I had concerns about their use of worksheets and lots of sitting at desks, group classroom activities. It seemed to very into 'teaching' the children. I don't think this nursery is even representative of a 'normal' nursery tbh as I think a good, 'normal' nursery uses many of the same principles of the montessori method.
When the first nursery told me to potty train him immediately then my concerns were strong enough for me to start looking around.
DS1 is very strong willed and independant. I know him, and the way to get him to do something is not to push too hard.
At his montessori nursery (i'm not sure if it's 'pure') he is free to chose his own activities. He is allowed as much time as he wants to do each activity and is not expected to stop on account of whatever lesson plan a teacher might have in mind. They do lots of group activities too, but if he doesn't want to join in it's no big deal, they just direct him to something else so he isn't disruptive.
The learning is very self directed but the kids all seem very engaged in what they are doing because it is interesting.
It's also about learning through the senses. i.e if they can feel it, smell it, taste it etc they will learn more. I think the word is heuristic learning?
I love that the children use real objects such as glass vases, ceramic jugs and bowl, chopsticks, pipettes, date stamps, staplers, candle snuffers etc
When DS was settling into nursery i loved that a little boy carrying a jug of water had spilled some. One of the assistants let him know and he went and got the mop and mopped up. I think the children gain a lot of confidence from doing these activities that are useful.
They do literacy and numeracy when the child shows an interest. So i was a bit concerned that DS1 might never show an interest, but he has, and because it's never forced he seems to enjoy it and have a genuine interest in learning to read now.
I'd say that the montessori method suits my son. But i never did send him to a 'normal' nursery so am not sure i could make comparisons. I'm fairly sure there are other mumsnetters that think it's a lot of nonsense. (They'll be along soon)
Negatives tend to be that lots of montessori nurseries are private and expensive so there's a bit of a 'middle class' element i think. We get ours covered by our early years education vouchers though. Also i've heard some parents calling it 'montessori' rather than 'nursery' and i think that's a bit poncey and gets peoples backs up.

I could go on about it all night so will stop now. It works for us.

Did you like it? What was your first impression? What are your concerns?

I haven't seen any differences between the regular preschool that dd1 attended and the montessori that dd2 currently attends - both places allow children to make their own choices for activities, they never force a child to finish or start or join in with an activity. There certainly weren't any worksheets to complete in the regular preschool nor sitting down at desks! I double that this would be the case for many preschool settings, montessori or not. I think it's just a poncey name and they are probably trying to capitalize on that name.

My friend's DS goes to nursery that was my alternative. She says they do use worksheets but that he loves it, so I'm guessing it depends on the child.
The other one is run by an old matronly bag and I strongly suspect that OFSTED would have issues with their methods.
(again, not a normal nursery by any means)

I think a lot comes down the the management and staff of the setting. I much much much prefer the preschool that dd1 attended (and dd2 will go there is Sept) but for other reasons, mostly location(!) that is why dd2 is at the montessori. the woman that runs it is terribly rude, not a lot of people skills there.

i loved ds montessori and wish i could have afforded to keep him there

he was 4th child and we had experienced many pre schools with first three

montessori in a different league

dream childhood experience imo

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Both my dds go to a montessori nursery.

dd1 loves it. She is her fathers child, and I could be all flowery and prosaic, but she is a nerd, a beautiful nerd, but she loves all the little activities, blocks, letters, pouring shite, buttons etc.

dd2 is another sort of creature. She mostly likes playing with her tiny pony and running around and hiding under and in things. she does not like nursery.

dd2 will be going to pre-school from sept instead. dd1 would live in a montessori nursery for the rest of her life given half a chance I suspect.

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Montessori is child lead and all of mine went and loved it, their teacher won montessori teacher of the year. There's no interuption and lots of freedom to do work. They baked, did topic around the world... just check out montessori equpiment online to get an idea about the things they do. Lots of achievment with the wooden steps and pink tower, early writing with a sand tray. Truly wonderful, I would pay through the nose to send dcs to a montessori primary if there was one near me.

PS Most nurseries get some money from the early years grant.

Ds 2 is currently at a pure Montessori nursery and it's great for him. He is a very late talker and they are brilliant at finding things for him to do which help him communicate even though his speech is so behind. Plus all the specially designed Montessori activities - puzzles, pouring sand into bottles etc - give him things to be good at when it would be easy to label him as behind in general. Dd also attended it for a year before transferring to the nursery attached to her primary school, but ds2 is so happy we are keeping him at the Montessori until Reception. I like the fact that the atmosphere is so chilled, that there is very little in the way of distraction on the walls (this is a bit odd when you first see it, if you're used to a nursery with masses of stimulating stuff around the walls) and that the teachers are all so engaged in both interacting with and observing the children. We love it !

I still don't see the differences , honestly. maybe are lucky to have fab preschool as an option.
milliec - I'd say def not worth an extra 3k

I too am watching this thread with interest. I have read various books about the Montessori concept and ways of interacting with children and i really like a lot of the ideas. I have thought about sending my DS when i do eventually get another job and leave him in someone elses care in the daytime and i do think he would fit in, bit like your DD1 Farb.

We have a new one beside us but is it normal for the fees to be £640 a month paid in advance or does it just depend on that particular school? Obviously depends on salary i end up with but if i have the money i would probably send him if this isn't over the odds

Ds goes to the most heavenly Montessori
He wants to live there

Why are your montessori nurseries costing so much. Most of DS's time is covered by EYEF vouchers so we only pay £45 a term.

gulp
ds's is £700 a term after funding

Is that full time? DS does 2 days 9-3.30pm and one morning 9-11.30.

No,three mornings a week!

Ah, I see you are in Kent.

Do you think that it makes people think that Montessori is nonsense or not worth it or only for the middle class?
If we had to pay any more for it then he couldn't go. I feel very lucky.

Only read the OP, but why on earth do they call it a Montessori nursery then?

Have been dipping in and out of the Steiner Waldorf threads, not understanding much about it at all.

But I do remember when it was dds birthdays, they both walked round some leaves with a candle in the middle, the number of times equating to their age. At the time I remember referring to it as their 'pagan birthday ceremony', with my tongue firmly in my cheek. The staff didn't laugh.

'Twas a wonderful place though.

Ah well
I would eat cornflakes three times a day if it came to it
It's a financial struggle,but it's just a magical place & ds is thriving there.
I saw an awful lot of nurseries,but my heart lifted the minute I walked into this one.
The staff are gentle,fun,loving,enthusiastic & creative
The classroom beautiful,bright & sunny
equpment excellent
art/craft activities all day if wished
projects/french/music etc
big garden with summerhouse,wooden adventure playground,sand/water,may pole etc
organic lovely snacks

it's just super

Oh, and what hana says too. Took dd2 out of Montessori when she was three and a bit: most of the others had joined on their second birthday and she was one of the oldest there, and I felt she was ready to move on.

Put her in the local state nursery - what a mistake that was! She hated it, I hated it - took her out and waited till she started school proper. FFS 'all nursery children MUST wear the official school sweatshirt with the official school crest on it, not a generic green one'.

I've read up a bit but am no expert. Here is my understanding. Please no flaming if i've got it wrong.

Maria Montessori was the founder. She was the first female doctor in Italy I think.
She was catholic but things have moved on from there. I am humanist and the nursery are aware of this and are happy to accommodate this.

Montessori is not like steiner.
The only similarity that I can see is that Steiner do not do any literacy/numeracy until they get their adult teeth . Montessori do it when the children show signs of being ready. Which varies from child to child. (DS1 is interested now at 3.5)
Steiner is focussed on imagination, fantasy and creativity. Montessori is much more about practical life skills.

I've recently found out about the birthday thing with the candle in the middle representing the sun. The child whose birthday it is walks round the classroom spinning a globe to represent how many years. I'm not sure it's pagan, just a scientific explanation. DS is obsessed with space and planets so i think it's right up his street and a nice way to explain what a year actually is.

Oh, I'd forgotten about the globe! Didn't mean to mislead anyone, it's just that it amused me - and I didn't know of that explanation, DB!

Dragonbutter, think i might be missing something here - what are EYEF vouchers please?

And yes i have read about the birthday celebration, and i quite liked it. Walking round the circle once for every year. Like you said Dragonbutter, its a good way for the lo to understand the year's cycle.