Our Crouch End Nursery (Montessori Children’s House) for children aged 2½ - 6 years, offers a beautiful setting and a vibrant community with room for up to 24 children and a lovely, large garden.

Some Principles of the Montessori Approach

  • Every child is a unique person with creative potential, the drive to learn and the right to be treated with respect as an individual.
  • Children must be given the freedom to work and move around, within guidelines that enable them to see themselves as independent and part of a group.
  • Children are encouraged to work at their own pace, either individually or in co-operation with others.
  • Mixed-age groups provide opportunities for the children to develop their social abilities within a harmonious community.

Areas of Learning

Practical Life
Young children have a strong urge to become independent and Practical Life activities such as meal preparation, baking, dressing themselves, gardening, washing, polishing, cleaning and others help them perfect the skills they need in daily life. This also helps children develop hand-eye co-ordination and the capacity to focus their attention for the entirety of an activity.
Sensorial Exploration
Children are vividly aware of the world, constantly exploring it and taking in impressions through all their senses. The sensorial materials encourage children to order and classify the physical properties of the world they live in. These activities stimulate and develop the senses, refining children’s powers of observation, perception, exploration and communication.
Mathematics
Montessori mathematics materials enable children to achieve a natural appreciation of mathematical concepts in a concrete way. This avoids the mental blocks which so often occur in children faced with purely abstract concepts. Specially designed equipment helps children to grasp concrete ideas along with sensory experience of numbers, quantities and mathematical operations. Gradually children can move confidently to complete abstract mathematical problems.
Cultural Exploration
The Montessori approach covers a wide range of subjects which reflect the broad interests of young children. The Montessori environment stimulates these interests and extends knowledge and understanding of art and crafts, geography, history, music and science and the natural world. Cultures from around the world are explored and celebrated.
Language
In the Children’s House children learn to express themselves. The freedom offered to the children creates many opportunities for them to communicate with their peers and adults. We emphasise the development of vocabulary based on real experiences and the early preparation required for reading and writing.
Spanish
The Spanish Language Programme is led by trained AMI Montessori Teachers and is implemented with a Montessori approach, offering children the chance to engage in a second language through movement, games, music, drama, and practical life activities, such as cooking and outings, as well as numeracy, writing, and grammar. The Spanish lessons and activities are presented during the school day and in a way that naturally flows within the daily work cycle.
“Pupils get on very well with each other. Without being asked, they offer
encouragement to their classmates. The mixed-aged classes enable older pupils to
help the younger ones. They do this with pride. Pupils take impeccable care of their
environment. They routinely offer to tidy things away and sweep the floors. Pupils
are welcoming to visitors and enjoy offering them fruit and water.”
Ofsted

Our Crouch End Team

All our teachers hold the world-recognised 3-6 Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Diploma, as well as several other degrees, and have many years’ experience working with children.

Michel Capobianco

Head of School
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Karen Gelson

Safeguarding Lead
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Shallal Qureshi

Children's House Coordinator and SENCO
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Emma Wise

School Admissions Manager
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Sylwia Papior

School Admissions Coordinator
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Cordelia Dodson

Lead Teacher, Crouch End Children's House
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Barbara Brait

Montessori Teacher, Crouch End Children's House (On Maternity Leave)
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Denisa Kundekova

Montessori Teacher, Crouch End Children's House (Maternity Cover)
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Estefanía Oliver Leal

Children's House Montessori Spanish Teacher
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Paula Pérez-Martín

Children's House Montessori Spanish Teacher
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Practical Information

School session times

Morning drop off time 8.30 – 8.45am
Before lunch pick up time 12.00pm
After lunch pick up time 1.30pm
Afternoon session drop off 1.45pm
Afternoon pick up time 3.30pm
Extended Hours 3.30 – 5.30pm (collection time: 5.30pm)

School uniform

There is no uniform for our school. We do ask that children come to school in comfortable clothes and bring a change of shoes for indoor purposes and a coat for outside play. Please ensure that all of your children’s clothes have name labels so we can keep lost property to a minimum.  We also recommend that you provide a clean change of clothing.

Parents

Our Parent Representatives organise regular fund raising and social events.

“My older son attended the school and now my younger son does. I see independence and creativity flourish in both of them. They are both strong minded and have clear ideas about what they want and I credit this to the school.”
Crouch End Parent