Moving from pre-school to montesorri

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My ds3.9 and my dd20m both attend the best nursery in our area. Ds started at 9m but since moving into preschool room I have had serious doubts about whether it's the right place for him.
Took him a while to settle in but everyday I was picking him up and being given bad reports. Your ds dd this that type thing. Then recently his keyworker moved to different room so he has been quite upset. He thought she moved because he had been naughty

anyway we've had meeting with nursery and they are following the learning through play. But ds seems to spend all time playing in garden and not taking part in circle time or activities.

I've looked around as feel he needs more structure and local montessori look brill and seem to follow the ethos of learning and discipline that I feel ds needs. He has a whole other year at pre school and I worry if he stays where he is he will not progress as well and his behaviour will get worse.

But the Montessori is so far from what he does now
will he struggle with the structure. Will the change be too much and should we just let him stay where he is?

Aaaarrrraaagghhh if he was younger not so knowing and not so confident and not have so many friend attachments then I don't think i would be hesitating!!

I'm confused and would love someone with experience to tell me advise me.

Help!

DD2 went to a montessori nursery for nearly four years (she only started school at 6 - not in the UK) and it was fab. However, it did take kids a few months to get used to the system as it is so different to other nurseries, if the ideas are carried out properly. What stands out about montessori is less the daily structure - although there was one - as the idea that toys/games/learning activities are dotted around the room and the kids are free to pick them up, play with them, and put them back again. If they need help to understand it, the nursery worker will show them once (without commenting) and then let them get on with it. Montessori is also big on shapes (eg picking out shapes with needles) and they're generally happy to encourage learning as long as the kids want to do it, and at a pace the children want. So if your DS is not interested in a 'count to 100' toy, he might not learn to count to 100 because there is no group activity compelling him to do this. However, most of the kids who'd been there a while were very motivated to try everything out.

It teaches kids a great deal about independence and thought processes, but to be honest, I don't know how much can be achieved in this respect if your DC is only there for a year. On the other hand, I don't think it will damage or confuse him - our nursery had a fairly high turnover - serving a highly-mobile international community - and only being there a year was common.

blauer thanks very much.

When I visited Monday. The children were sitting round at tables in particular age groups doing activites helped by a member of staff per table. The owner said that they do circle time and they all have to join in and listen.

A year there might make a bit of a difference rather than an extra year where he is.

My DD (2.9) is at a Montessori nursery and is thriving. I would echo all that Blauer has said above. Our nursery doesn't have a high turnover of pupils or staff although the staff do rotate through the age groups.

It's worth finding out how closely the nursery sticks to the Montessori principles because many nurseries claim to follow these but then don't.

The thing I noticed most about my DD's nursery was the calm atmosphere. The children are not at all subdued but there is none of the screaming/crying that I heard at other nurseries. Hard to explain it really. That said, you know when they're outside!!!

belle thanks I did notice it was very quiet and I like the fact they were engaged in activities. They have a forest school there too.

I'm trying to convince myself that it is the right decision but I came out of my visit very excited.

Just been back for second visit with DH and we are gonna go for it!

Just need to work out how to tell my son when i've prepared him so well for him not going to big school. Amd how to tell the nursery.

ooo i hope its the right decision

I know how you feel. I'm agonising about whether I leave DD at Montessori until she's 8 or if I take her out at 5 to go to our local (very good) primary school. It's hard making these decisions. I don't envy you!

Thanks belle yes that's the word agonising that's why I'm wide awake worrying about it!

DS current nurserys facilities cannot be rivalled!! If I could change the curriculum so it's more learning based than free play I would be happy.