When I was studying for my A Levels, I had no clear idea about what I wanted to do next. Several members of my family were teachers but none of them worked in early years education and until I heard about the Montessori approach, I hadn’t even considered entering the profession. Then a family friend who knew about the Maria Montessori Institute suggested that I should find out more about the training they offered and I was intrigued.
I visited the Maria Montessori School in Hampstead and my passion was sparked. I fell in love with the Montessori approach and knew I wanted to train. My vivid memories of seeing the equipment for the first time, particularly the Golden Beads, have never left me! I was struck by the difference with other educational settings.
As I would go on to learn, in Montessori the children follow their own interests at their own pace, selecting materials, mastering challenges and building on their achievements and skills. On this first visit I was also impressed by the role the children played in caring for their community and their classroom environment and that they were sympathetic to the needs of others. As I would later discover, this is what makes teaching in such a setting so rewarding for everyone involved.