What is Montessori?

Dr. Maria Montessori, a physician, anthropologist, and pedagogue, developed this unique method of educating children over a professional career that spanned over fifty years. The Montessori approach was developed through intense scientific observation of children from many ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds from birth to maturity. It is based on a deep understanding of child development.

"There is a strange emptiness in us: there is a blindness in our spirit and in our civilization that we have created: something that is similar to the blind spot in the depths of the eye: a blind spot in the depths of life. We must come to a full understanding of the state of the newborn child, and only then will we understand the absolute necessity of helping him to have a pleasant beginning being so new to life. The newborn child must be cared for in an intelligent way." Dr Maria Montessori 

Montessori recognised the importance of protecting the newborn and providing them with a calm, supportive and loving environment. She believed that the child would reflect their environment and express emotions related to that feeling. She identified the child will be responding negatively only to that of their environment. Montessori believed that education begins at birth.

In Australia, Montessori education is available for children of all ages, from 8 weeks old to age 18, through early childhood education and care services, preschools and kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools. The number of Montessori programs in Australia is steadily increasing, with more than 360 schools and centers across the country educating more than 26,000 children. The majority of these programs are operated by not-for-profit, community-based associations, with an increasing number of privately-owned programs and also programs within the public school system.