M.E.A.B Accreditation

Philosophy:

The aim of Gulf Montessori Nursery is to create a favourable learning environment, where Montessori philosophy is respected and where children are offered excellent opportunities for learning and development by following their interest and needs. All staff members are eager to ensure that children attending have freedom of movement, choice and opportunities for spontaneous interaction within the group. The staff observe and respect children’s sensitive periods for their readiness for learning and development. They follow children’s progress in each curriculum area and prepare lesson plans according to children’s interest and readiness to explore. The activities also relate to the setting’s comprehensive curriculum plan.

These aims are included on an informative website and are shared with parents in monthly newsletters that always include a Montessori quotation. They are also explained at the parents’ initial visit to the setting and during the induction period when children are settling into the nursery,

Since the last accreditation the leadership team introduced peer sharing of reflections of practice which focus on the key principles of the school’s aims and philosophy.

Learning and Development:

Learning is organized and monitored following the Montessori Early Years Curriculum. The Blossoms classroom focuses on the children’s wellbeing and fosters a sense of security. The children’s language and physical skills and learning through the senses are at the forefront of the classroom’s daily work and are reflected in the activities on offer in the prepared environment. Whilst in the Lilies and Tulips classes the children are offered the full range of Montessori activities with strong emphasis on their freedom to problem-solve and be creative in their thinking. Effective learning takes place during the three hour work cycle, both inside and in the outdoor classrooms which are adjacent to both the Lilies and Tulips rooms.

Whilst detailed plans of learning are in place, the teachers are always guided by the children’s sensitive periods and individual interests when supporting the children’s learning. This approach provides for deep engagement, a calm and purposeful learning environment and respectful work with the children. The nursery organizes termly outings in support of the themes followed by the children, such as the local zoo, the beach or the science park.

Children’s progress is monitored through daily observations and shared with parents regularly. The richness of learning opportunities on offer supports their development well and is appreciated by parents. The teachers’ commitment to the children is reflected in their careful and respectful use of language and responsive attitude to their individual interests in the learning environment.

Prepared Environment: resources and materials

The children are offered a wide range of Montessori and other activities within the carefully prepared areas of learning which reflect children’s stages of development. The plentiful activities are prepared with care and attention to detail and effectively support the children’s spontaneous choices of what to do and with what to engage. The sizes of the classrooms offer choices of working at tables or on the floor, alone or with a group of friends.

The prepared environment supports the work cycle effectively and includes morning breakfast/snack as well as lunch prepared on the premises, which the children serve themselves and help to clear at the end.

The outdoor activities include sand and water play for the younger children, a range of creative and science activities for the older children, and care of plants and animals. Children rejoice in watering, sharing their planted seeds with adults and friends, as well as ensuring that the nursery animals are well looked after. The animals – including goats, chickens and pigeons – which arrive at the start of the academic year are returned to the farm from which they originally came at the end of the school year, enabling the children observe the animals’ transformations from babyhood to maturity during that time.

The staff pride themselves on the children’s engagement with the activities on offer and take great care in ensuring that they meet their individual needs and interests.

Montessori practice: independence, including independence at home, freedom, respect

The children’s independence is fostered from the moment they enter the nursery and all staff members are patient and respectful of their need “to do things for themselves”. Children’s choices of activities are supported effectively and their independence is best demonstrated during lunchtimes when even the youngest children serve their own food and feed themselves, helping themselves to more food when they are ready. The older children also take turns in preparing the lunch room for their friends and tidying up at the end of the meal.

The organization of the environment effectively supports the children’s freedom of choice as they learn to choose activities appropriate for their development. This approach promotes responsibility for their choices by returning the activities back to the shelf when they have finished with them.

The parents talk enthusiastically about their children’s need to do things for themselves at home and value this aspect of the nursery provision. The deputy principal and classroom teachers provide parents with ideas of how to contribute to this important principle of the Montessori approach in the home.

Montessori Practice: links with parents, including reports and records

Parents benefit from effective communication with the setting as they have opportunities to meet with staff members during daily drop off or pick up of their children. They benefit from effective information about the nursery which is available on the website and in regular newsletters and termly parent meetings. An annual report is prepared for all children attending.

The nursery also organises social opportunities for parents to meet each other during sports days and annual graduation, when the achievements of the children leaving the school are celebrated.

Staff: qualifications, deployment, and performance management

The Gulf Montessori nursery benefits from an experienced, fully Montessori qualified staff teaching team supported effectively by nurses and other staff. The strong leadership by the principal and her deputy ensure a cohesive approach to the delivery of the Montessori values as reflected in their daily work.

Comprehensive policies and procedures are in practice supporting the effective delivery of the Montessori approach. The staff members are deployed effectively to support the children’s learning both inside and outside. Staff members benefit from ongoing professional development training focused on Montessori practice that is led by the deputy principal, who is also a Montessori trainer.

Recently introduced peer observations have made a significant contribution to reflective sharing of practice and outstanding communications within the classroom teams, which contributes to the excellent Montessori practice observed during this third accreditation visit to the nursery.