have I made a terrible mistake choosing a montessori nursery?!

[purplecloudsgreyrain]

We are moving to another part of the UK soon and I was desperate for my four year to join a nursery as soon as we moved. This is because he is very shy and nursery said he has recently become more confident socially so I wanted to build on this by continuing in a nursery environment. I couldn't get to our new location to visit nurseries but wasn't keen on the other private ones based on their websites so chose Montessori as people I like have spoke well of them.
However, having looked a bit more into it, it does seem very structured and based on early education. DS1's nursery has a strong philosophy of self-determination and choice and respecting children's choices and voices and being led by children. I love that. He can spend all day (except food time obv) outside in imaginative play if he wants to. I am worried that Montessori will be very constraining in comparison.
Any experiences?

Actually, as a PP said, maybe structure will be good for him in a new place, especially as he is shy.
I am quite shy and prefer structure in a new environment.
I'm stressing a lot as I don't really want to move from our current home at all, so guess that is aggrandising all my fears and worries!
Thanks again everyone

Yes they are. Not all children will be working at the same time. Some will be in the book corner together, some will be doing a group with an adult, some may be in the garden playing. While the work cycle is three hours, obviously young children do not sit and work for three hours. Most Montessoris that I know of won't be full day nurseries, as that is not in the interest of the child, just morning or school hours.

Thats interesting.
The ones round here had full on blazers, hats, the lot.

Op, why don't you ask to go in and observe a class. I've had 4 dc at Montessori and rate it very highly. 3 hour work cycles are just uninterrupted working time. Children work purposefully on different activities and progress through the activities. There are 7 areas of learning also for a child to participate in.

Re ASD, two of my children have ASD, if anything I 'credit' Montessori for taking so long to get them diagnosed as it is child-led, so (within reason) they are in control of what they are doing (e.g., get a snack when they want by themselves, they cut and prepare snacks for themselves and friends).

I really do rate a Montessori pre-school education. I do not rate it past 7yo though!

Oh, no uniform here either. mrsdv I think you're local to me, are you referring to a private Montessori in Islington? They do have uniform, but it's unusual.

My children attended a Montessori preschool and a standard village hall one at different times. I loved the Montessori, it was so calm and taught them loads of life skills. The village preschool was great too but a lot more manic. I liked the principal of tidying up after an activity and not having to share what you're playing with unless you want to. I also liked the activities like pouring and threading. DD2 did a lot of pouring water... A Montessori nursery still has to follow EYFS so they won't be missing out on social interaction or outdoor play, the main differences are some of the types of toys and the self-tidying thing.

I really wouldn't choose a nursery I hadn't visited. Websites often bear little relation to what they're actually like.

I looked at one Montessori nursery and there is no way I would have left my child there. It had only just opened and I'm sure there are great ones but they vary a lot.

Purple if the nursery is not accredited by MEUK look at Montessori Schools Association. It will explain a lot about the philosophy and if you put your postcode in it will give you a list of accredited schools in your area. Are you in London? If so I would be happy to answer your questions if you message me.

Lowdoor I am sorry that your sons experience was not good. He was 3 and Ime doing exactly what a 3 year old should be doing! You can't put a 3 year old into an unfamiliar environment and expect them to be independent and well behaved, they need to be shown how to do so over time. I would say that either the teachers were inexperienced or not really following the philosophy or the child.

Imip, No bit further East.
The one next to me has been turned into another private nursery but there were deffo uniforms before. They had two sites and I think there is another on in the posher part of town but I just assumed they had uniform. After reading this thread I am thinking they probably don't.
It put me off tbh. Glad to hear its not compulsory.

Maybe the ones near me were not 'proper'.

I made a mistake putting my little one in a Montessori nursery. I read the ofsted report, we went to visit it as it was rated "oustanding". We applied for it and she is still there, but not keen on going in, i suppose her friends there seem to redeem the situation. I have learnt these "outstanding" establishments are NOT necessarily the best at all. My child is a anglo-indian funded part-timer of the basic 15 hours one, so regardless of anyone's income, we should be treated equally.. I drop her off and we are very often left standing there and ignored by the young member of staff who seems to be in charge. She hardly ever acknowledges us. Is this normal? There's also mumbling going on among each other and I've not seen her learning journey profile at all after a year and no proper feedback when i go to pick her up. Just that "she was good as gold" ....I mean I want to know more, what she enjoyed doing, what didn't she enjoy doing etc etc. And they hand out sweets without parents permission which is not good practice especially when the government are ramming healthy eating advice down our throats! It is very apparent that the full-time rich kids parent seem to get the best treatment and acknowledgement at the end of every session. I am not the type to think "is it because we are of a different colour", yet ofsted did mention about there not displaying any diversity of society and culture and lack of communication and relationship with parents. Is very true to say also that this ignorance is likely with the staff that are getting younger and younger until there is no real care in such a field of work! So how can we choose a nursery without getting any real feel for the place or even the staff!? Isn't there a way that we parents can really look into the staff profile before we decide to leave our kids in their hands all day! I'm fed up and just hope that when i carefully choose her school with scrutiny there should be no problems teachers. it is very sad for any parent to encounter any problems in the awful system we have to live through. You can never get a "feel" for any such place. To the "guides" and teachers if you're not happy in your job, then leave it instead of winding other people up with your misery and ignorance. Regardless of anything, what does a smile, a little communication and respect cost?????? Best thing to do is ask if the staff are happy working there, ask to see the complaints book and parents should be able to sit with the child for a few sessions so that all get to know each other. I also think that they should add "respect to family" to the curriculum, because they tend to be "good as gold" at nursery/school because they need to behave a certain way and yet they can an absolute horror at home and behave a certain way surely! We the family are the ones who love our kids unconditionally! the nursery staff etc are pretending to love because they get paid for it. Teach kids to respect their own family. Power to the Parents.