AMI Montessori Diploma 0-3

Overview
What Students Say
What can I do with this qualification?
Fees and Scholarships

Overview

The sought-after AMI Diploma – developed from Maria Montessori’s collaboration with Adele Costa Gnocchi. With AMI training, you could work anywhere in the world, set up your own Montessori environment or use your training in the approach with your own children.

Training to be an “Assistant to Infancy” with this fascinating course will put you at the forefront of understanding early child development and could help you to change the face of education for babies and toddlers. The course prepares adults to help children develop their individual human potential working in environments specifically designed for the young child’s needs. Learn about child development and psychology and neuroscience, and how to deliver the Montessori educational approach with lectures, child observations, hands-on work with Montessori materials and practice placements.

The course incorporates the Early Years Educator [EYE] qualification, awarded by Innovate Awarding, which entitles the holder to be included in the ratios of staff to children for delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage [EYFS] in an Early Years setting in the UK.

Details

course Part time

Location Blended

Course format options The 2026 - 2027 intake has now closed

Next course Dates for 2028 - 2029 are currently TBA and will be posted in due course

Entry requirements Over 18 and ‘A’ levels or equivalent qualifications/ work experience

Incorporates the Early Years Educator (EYE) Be counted as a qualified member of staff in UK Early Years settings

Open to international students International students will not need a student visa for the in-person modules but may need a visitor visa - see FAQs for more information. Practice placements can be completed outside of the UK.

Ellie Kempley Scholarship Full scholarship place available for one UK-based student aged under 30 - apply as part of your course application

Course fees Fees for 2028 - 2029 are currently TBA and will be posted in due course

The Ellie Kempley Scholarship for UK Students

The Ellie Kempley Scholarship Fund was set up by the family of Ellie, a former AMI Diploma student, in her memory. The scholarship is awarded every year to a UK student on our AMI Diploma 3-6 or AMI Diploma 0-3 course who is aged under 30 at the start of the course. You must live in the UK and intend to work as a Montessori teacher in the UK and be able to demonstrate a commitment to Montessori. Apply for the scholarship as part of your course application. You will be asked to provide an additional personal statement to apply for the scholarship. Please note the scholarship is not open to non UK students.

Apply for AMI 0-3 and Ellie Kempley Scholarship Application Required Documents and Scholarship Personal Statement

"All that we ourselves are has been made by the child we were in the first two years of our lives."

Montessori recognised that the first three years of life are the most fundamental in the development of human beings as it is when the core of personality, social skills, and human values are developed. Montessori 0-3 environments including the home, Montessori Nido (2-14 months) and Infant Communities (14 months - 3 years) foster a sense of belonging and nurture independence, movement and language acquisition.

Our trainers

The AMI Diploma O-3 Leads to Many Career Opportunities

Rochelle Cutler
AMI Diploma 0-3 Graduate

“After the completing the course I set up toddler groups, baby groups and parenting workshops to share my new knowledge. Parents consistently express their gratitude and astonishment at how we can easily solve their challenges using simple Montessori principles! If you’re wondering whether it’s better than any other teacher training my answer is yes, go for it!”

Read Rochelle's story

Katalin Lovassy
AMI Diploma 0-3 Graduate

“Studying the 0-3 AMI diploma was one of the best decisions of my life. I became the lead Montessori directress of an Infant Community and went on to be involved with charities and training. I am currently on maternity leave and I can’t wait to give the best start in life to my own little one following the Montessori philosophy.”

Read Katalin's story

Sarah Emerson
AMI Diploma 0-3 Graduate

“Whether you are working in education, psychology, social work, play therapy, or are a parent, or are simply interested in human development, this really is a once in a lifetime experience. Among the students on the 0-3 Diploma, we would often say “How has nobody told us this before?!”

Read Sarah's story

What can I do with this qualification?

Work in Montessori Infant Guide anywhere in the world
Set up your own Montessori setting for children from birth to three years
Use your qualification for social work, research in child development, midwifery, health visiting, nannying or childminding
Run ground-breaking parent-infant programmes
Enhance and inform the your role as a parent
Work in a UK early years setting and be counted in staff-to-children ratios (by gaining the Early Years Educator qualification as part of your study)

Montessori careers

Course Content

This course runs with two in-person modules in school summer holidays at our central London training centre plus online sessions and independent study.

The course includes lectures, seminars and guided observations with our trainers – experienced Montessorians with the AMI trainer of trainers qualification. You will undertake 250 hours observation of children aged 0-3 years and practice with Montessori materials designed for those aged from birth to three years. You will undertake practice placements in a Montessori 0-3 environment. As part of the course you will be asked to write essays and submit albums and materials. You will do written and oral exams and your practice will be assessed.

Montessori Educational Theory

Learn in-depth Montessori philosophy, psychology and child development with a focus on children from conception up to three years of age. You will also discover other educational theories of child development, as well as learning about the impact of parent/child issues on the development of babies and infants.

Montessori Infant Guide Training and Practice Placements

You will be fully trained as a Montessori Infant Guide who can deliver the authentic Montessori educational approach for children aged 0-3 years. You'll learn how to prepare a Montessori Nido environment and Infant Community. You will undertake practice placements at AMI Montessori 0-3 years settings.

The child’s physical development from their earliest moments

You will learn about babies and infants’ physiology and anatomy including aspects of obstetrics and birth and prenatal and postnatal development. The course covers the young child’s nutrition and health, looking at maternal care, the digestive system and potential health issues, as well as food and toileting.

Nurturing the natural development of movement, language and independence

Discover how the child’s environment (either at home or in an infant community), their access to materials and simple routines of life can support their natural development. You will look at the development of movement, independence and language and communication. The course will also cover music, art and spiritual development.

Course Dates and Times

The 2028 – 2029 course dates and times are TBA and will be posted here in due course.

AMI Diploma 0-3 Course Co-Directors

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Sara Brady

AMI Diploma 0-3 Course Co-Director

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Heidi Philippart

AMI Diploma 0-3 Course Co-Director

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Fees and Scholarships

Course fees for 2028-2029:

Early Bird Fee – TBA
Discounted Course Fee available (paid in 1 instalment upon enrolment) – TBA
Standard Course Fee (paid in 2 instalments) – TBA
Ellie Kempley Scholarship – full course fees for one UK student aged under 30 – apply as part of your course application. You will also need to submit a scholarship application statement. Please note that the scholarship is only open to UK-based students.

Further information:

Non-refundable £99 application fee
£800 deposit on acceptance of course place (offset against your first fee payment)
AMI examination fee of £400 which includes student membership of AMI

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Who to contact

Course Advisors

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Kim Tan

Admissions and Qualifications Manager

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Jethryn Hall

Public Liaison

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What will I need to do to gain the qualification?

Minimum of 90% course attendance
Montessori material making and classroom practice
Submission of albums and materials
250 hours of child observation
Practicum evaluation –practice assessment by setting’s lead teacher
Written and oral examinations

Do you accept students from outside the UK? Do I need a Visa?

Our students come from all over the world and our fees are the same for everyone. You will not need a student visa for the in-person modules in London. However, depending which country you come from you may need a visitor visa. Please see https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa and contact us with any visa queries at course@mariamontessori.org

The practice placements can take place outside of the UK.

Where is the training located?

The two in-person summer holiday modules take place at our training centre at 41 Riding House Street, London, W1W 7BE.

Online sessions, study in your own time and practice placements can take place in the UK and/or outside of the UK.

What are the hours of the course?

The 2028 – 2029 course dates and times are TBA and will be posted here in due course.

Do you offer help in finding a job after completion of the Diploma course?

AMI Diploma holders are sought after for employment both in the UK and internationally. We advertise jobs at the Maria Montessori School on our Current Vacancies webpage where you can also find links to AMI and Montessori Society job listings. We share details of school vacancies and other external vacancies with our students.

What if English isn't my first language?

You need a good level of English to succeed on our courses. All applicants need to demonstrate their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English. If the highest qualification you hold was not studied in English, you may need to provide an English language qualification/test.

Do you provide student accommodation?

We do not provide accommodation but we can send you general information about finding student accommodation in London. We will also connect you to other students before the start of the course as students often organise living together.

What is the application process?

Applicants are asked to complete our online application form.

You will then be asked to email a number of supporting documents including a personal statement, a fitness to teach health form, references and education certificates.

You may also be asked to have an interview online or by phone with the Course Director. You will be notified during the application process if this is required.

Successful applicants will be offered a course place.

Does the Maria Montessori Institute arrange the teaching practice placement?

The teaching practice placement is arranged by the student and can take place in the UK or outside of the UK. The Maria Montessori Institute will advise on how to contact an appropriate school and provide support with this process if needed.

If I am paying for the course in more than one instalment, what course fees are paid when?

All applicants pay a non-refundable £99 application fee and a £800 deposit on acceptance of a course place which is offset against the first fee payment. The cost of the AMI Diploma Course examination is £400 (subject to an annual increase) and includes membership of AMI .

Students wishing to access the Early Bird Fee or the Discounted Fee must pay in one instalment.

Early bird fee – TBA

Discounted fee – TBA

Students who wish to pay instalments over the course make the following payments:

1st instalment – TBA
2nd instalment – TBA

How do I apply for an Ellie Kempley Scholarship?

Every year the Ellie Kempley Scholarship funds full course fees for one UK student aged under 30 on our AMI Diploma 3-6 or AMI Diploma 0-3 course.

To apply for the scholarship simply tick that you wish to apply as part of the main application for the course. You will also be asked to provide a personal statement for the scholarship which will need to cover: why you want to apply for the scholarship; a description of what makes you passionate about Montessori with examples from your life experience; a description of your experiences of working with children; and a summary of your short, medium and long-term plans for a career working with children using the Montessori approach.