Mulberry Montessori Preschool

• The Manager, Mella Finn, is a fully qualified Montessori Teacher and has experience of working in similar schools in Ireland and the UK.
• All staff in Mulberry Montessori Pre-School have, or are undertaking appropriate training towards, a recognised childcare qualification.
• The pre-school is affiliated to the St. Nicholas Montessori association, and will be subject to regular inspections by this organisation

What is Montessori?

Mulberry Montessori Pre-School aims to assist in the entire development of your child. Montessori is much more than a method; it is a whole attitude of care and respect for young children. It is based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s observations of children. She developed a system of education whereby your child will develop their capabilities at their own pace and without being compared to others. It is based on the idea of freedom, within limits, so that your child will gain concentration, self-confidence and independence.

 

The main areas of learning are:

 

• Practical Life: (e.g. polishing, pouring, threading, pegging & dressing frames) These are the very first Montessori activities the children take part in, developing their ability to look after themselves and their surroundings. Many of these exercises are designed to strengthen your child’s finger muscles, refine fine/gross motor skills and develop hand-eye co-ordination.

• Sensorial: (e.g. touch boards & sound boxes)

The materials in this area are designed to encourage development and refinement of the senses.

•   Language (e.g. insets for design & sandpaper letters)

Initially your child will be exposed to language through songs, rhymes and stories. Your child’s writing skills will be developed, by tracing around templates, eg square, circle etc. Introduction to letters will be through phonetics. (Phonetic means by the sound of the letter rather than by its name.)

• Maths (e.g. sandpaper numbers & number rods)

Number rhymes, songs and stories will help your child to become aware of numbers. Gradually your child will be introduced to quantities 1 to 10. Once a concrete knowledge of quantities is gained then the symbols will be introduced. Following this larger numbers and quantities can be learned.

• Cultural/Creative (e.g. the seasons, Christmas and other festivals & the continents)

Throughout each term we cover various themes, which will help with your child’s knowledge and understanding of the world around them, near and far. From time to time we may visit places, or invite people in to talk to the children, that may be related to the theme e.g fire station, doctor.

As well as taking part in an art/craft activity relating to our theme your child will also benefit from our free art where he/ she can create his/her own little “masterpiece”.