Montessori First Steps
It is a mixed age group designed for children who are just walking to those who are two and a half - to help them develop at their own pace.
Alongside the parent or carer, children will work on hands-on activities which are designed to help them develop physically, socially and intellectually.
Laying the foundations for perseverance, achieving manageable goals and correcting their own mistakes in an environment that invites activity, offers the child the means and the adult the techniques that cultivate independence.
The focus of the sessions will be to explore the theory and the practice of Montessori from 0 to 3 years inviting parents and carers to collaborate with the child in learning how to apply the Montessori principles in the home environment.
“The greatest help you can give your children is the freedom to go about their own work in their own way, for in this matter your child knows better than you.”Maria Montessori
To follow the child as Montessori says, means not to follow all children, but to follow the child who stands before us, unique in their interests, and abilities. This requires love of course, but it also requires knowledge. In this way, the focus, of the sessions will be to explore the theory and the practice of Montessori from 0 to 3 years inviting parents and carers to collaborate with the child in learning how to apply the Montessori Principles in the home environment.
Montessori First Steps will be held in a 5-week format on Wednesday or Friday mornings starting 4th November.
There will be 6 places available on each 5 week block programme.
Where will it be held?:
at the Maria Montessori School – Notting Hill: Powis Gardens, Notting Hill, W11 1JG
Session Dates and Times:
November/December 2026 Sessions:
Wednesday mornings, 9.30am – 11.30am (FULLY BOOKED):
Session one: Wednesday 4th November
Session two: Wednesday 11th November
NO SESSION ON WEDNESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER
Session three: Wednesday 25th November
Session four: Wednesday 2nd December
Session five: Wednesday 9th December
Friday mornings, 9.30am to 11.30am (FULLY BOOKED):
Session one: Friday 6th November
Session two: Friday 13th November
NO SESSION ON FRIDAY 20TH NOVEMBER
Session three: Friday 27th November
Session four: Friday 4th December
Session five: Friday 11th December
January/February 2027 Sessions
Wednesday mornings, 9.30am – 11.30am
Session one: Wednesday 13th January
Session two: Wednesday 20th January
Session three: Wednesday 27th January
Session four: Wednesday 3rd February
Session five: Wednesday 10th February
Friday mornings, 9.30am to 11.30am
Session one: Friday 15th January
Session two: Friday 22nd January
Session three: Friday 29th January
Session four: Friday 5th February
Session five: Friday 12th February
February/March 2027 Sessions
Wednesday mornings, 9.30am – 11.30am
Session one: Wednesday 24th February
Session two: Wednesday 3rd March
Session three: Wednesday 10th March
Session four: Wednesday 17th March
Friday mornings, 9.30am to 11.30am
Session one: Friday 26th February
Session two: Friday 5th March
Session three: Friday 12th March
Session four: Friday 19th March
Please Note: We cannot accept drop-ins. These sessions are only available to those who have been contacted by our admissions team following their application
A typical session looks like this:
- Right from the moment that you and your child step across the threshold you will be shown how to help your child spend the time to take off their coat and hang it up, remove their outdoor shoes and put on slippers ready to engage in the environment.
- Your child will work alongside their parent or carer, using hands-on purposeful activities designed to help them develop physically, socially and intellectually.
- A range of activities will be available from lacing beads onto a length of thread, moulding bread-dough for baking, watering plants, washing used cloths and hanging them up to drip-dry to arranging flowers in a vase, all enveloped in a language-rich environment. Activities such as these invite joyful expression and collaborative exploration, through purposeful activity.
- All the while the trainer will be on hand, helping you to observe your own child amid the dynamics of the group, guiding you to support their engagement and independent learning.
- You will be shown how to guide your child towards managing achievable goals. This means knowing when to help and when to wait that bit longer, before stepping in to help, so that your child is allowed opportunities to make and correct their own mistakes and grow in perseverance and independence.
- During the session there will be time for a community snack-time, where children will be invited to share in eating the food together that has been prepared earlier during the morning followed by helping to clear away what has been used.
- The morning will close with music and songs.
Cost:
The sessions are bought as a 5-week block for our introductory offer of £175.
Trainer:
Emma Wong
Course Assistant and Tutor, AMI 3-6 Courses, Montessori in the Home Courses and Montessori First Steps (Parent-Toddler Group)
Emma Wong
Course Assistant and Tutor, AMI 3-6 Courses, Montessori in the Home Courses and Montessori First Steps (Parent-Toddler Group)
Emma assists the Training Team in the training of the students across all the AMI 3-6 Diploma Courses. She also assists in giving lectures on the AMI 3-6 Orientation Courses and runs the 0-3 and 3-6 Montessori in the Home series of outreach workshops for parents and carers.
Emma has an AMI 0-3 and 3-6 Diploma and the Observation Post Diploma Certificate Course. She also holds the AMI 3-6 and 6-12 Assistants Certificate Courses and the AMI Montessori 12-18 Introductory Workshop.
Emma has an AMI 0-3 and 3-6 Diploma and the Observation Post Diploma Certificate Course. She also holds the AMI 3-6 and 6-12 Assistants Certificate Courses and the AMI Montessori 12-18 Introductory Workshop.
Apply For Montessori First Steps
If you would be interested in attending this with your toddler, please apply below. Montessori First Steps is for children who are just walking to two and a half years old. If your child is younger, you can still apply and be put on a waiting list for future 5-week blocks. Due to only being able to have 6 places in any 5-week block, if we cannot accomodate you, we can keep you on the waiting list for future blocks.