Our Children’s House takes children from approximately
3- 7 years. Parents can also opt to stay on for a further
year if they are considering going on to one of the
independent schools at the age of seven. The children
in this group have their own large spacious room adjacent
to the Infant Community. In keeping with Montessori’s
own observations we do not split the age groups but
instead encourage a close co-operation and interaction
between the children. This free flowing learning environment
provides the children with a wonderful sense of real
community and we believe that there are numerous benefits
both in social and intellectual development.
Children can move freely according to their individual
interests and needs. By watching and caring for each
other, they also develop the key social qualities of
empathy and understanding.
The programme in this class therefore, provides the
crucial introduction to more diverse experiences as
the children begin to explore more advanced practical
life and sensorial materials, mathematics, language,
science, geography, history, music, creative movement
and art in greater depth and detail. Our afternoons
are designed to offer more in the way of group work
and time to refine basic skills or to explore areas
of individual interest more fully. The basic curriculum
is enriched with art appreciation, off site field trips,
physical education, and many other extra curricular
activities.
As the children advance, there is an intimate connection
between the child, the teacher and the work. It involves
a variety of approaches, but there is emphasis throughout
the curriculum on actually working with and handling
the carefully constructed Montessori materials that
allow the children to develop more abstract understanding.
In the Montessori Classrooms the child learns and then
makes use of what he has learned and in doing so internalises
the acquired knowledge. The Directress helps the child
to do things for and by himself/herself and assist the
child in their natural curiosity, following the line
of their own mental development. The mental development
of this age group thirsts for answers to many questions,
wanting to know the origins of all things.
Children from around the age of 5 –7 are encouraged
to carry out little projects requiring them to research
a bit more as a preparation for the skills of home study
in their next schools. Parents are also encouraged to
establish regular shared reading times at home.
The longer a child can continue at this stage where
they have an eagerness to learn and where the seeds
of everything can be sown, and their minds will expand
and grow, the better it is for the child.
At Living Spring, we would like to be able to provide
your child with this continuous development of their
potential until the age of seven.
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