www.tinyblossomsmontessori.co.uk
WHAT I OFFER:
• good range of Montessori materials
• extensive availability of educational resources
• learning a second language
• interesting topics that follows children’s interests and underpin all the adult-led activities
• safe and positive environment that promotes learning
• well planned activities and plenty to discover about the world
• positive about difference and offering equality of opportunity for all children
• saturdays and bank holidays care available
•quality and passion assured
MONTESSORI METHOD: The learning journey every child
should experienceThe founder of this learning style is Dr Maria Montessori (Italy 1870- 1952) who observing children, defined a new educational method and materials that gave children the opportunity to look after their environment and themselves. She noticed how children were vividly interested in all the materials provided, expecially those related to real life. From these observation came the declaration that children are not helpless and inert beings, but have a inner guide and are eager to learn, and that is the “prepared” environment, one that can stimulate children and where they can make choices of what to learn, the most important aid for their whole development.
The Montessori methods is highly renowned for the emphasis it puts on educating the whole child as the man/woman of the future. The montessori education aims at helping the child’s natural process of development, so that he may realise the potential which he was born with.
The main principle of the method is that children learn directly from their environment by observing, copying adults and experiencing first hand.
This is why great importance is placed on “practical life activities” that teach children every day skills and prepare them for indipendence.
The method is a precoursor of the frame-work 0-5 years all nurseries now have to work on, but the ethos and the materials remain an original and only feature of Montessori education.
TYPICAL ROUTINE AT TINY BLOSSOMS MONTESSORI:
08:00: WELCOME CHILDREN AND BREAKFAST
08:15: FREE CHOICE OF MONTESSORI MATERIALS/PUZZLES/SORTING ETC (suitable for the age)
09:30 TYDY UP
09:40 CIRCLE TIME, STORY-TIME AND MUSIC AND MOVEMENT TIME
10:10: SNACK TIME/ prepare to go to library on tuesdays
10:25: FREE PLAY AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
11:30: TYDY UP
11:45: LUNCH TIME (home cooked)
12:10: QUITE TIME AND STORY-TIME
12:30 NAP TIME or TV TIME (max 30 min and only of dvds available)/ FREE QUITE PLAY
14:00: WAKE UP AND CIRCLE TIME
14:30: MONTESSORI MATERIALS
15:15: SNACK TIME
15:30: FREE PLAY
16:20: TIDY UP
16:30: PARENTS ARRIVE
REGULAR OUTINGS:
1. Weather permiting, during the free play time, it will be possible to take the children to the communal garden or the near by park. This specific outing will be done at least once during the day, to allow children to get some fresh air and develop their movement skills such as climbing, running, jumping, balancing, riding a bike etc.
2. every tuesday I will take the children to Heathway Library to the toy library section from 10.30 to 11.30. We will be able to borrow new toys and books and socialize with other children.
3. From now and then I will plan visits to places of interest that are directly related to the topics we are looking at with the children during circle time. Most of them will be free of charge, and I will endure to make the visits possible of all the children in my care (in terms of affordability and number of children able to take part, for this reason I may need a CRB checked and first aid trained assistant to help me during outings)
All the outings will require a permission form to be signed by parent/carer.
WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN AND ACHIEVE AT TINY BLOSSOMS MONTESSORI CHILDMINDING:
1. PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: all children will be able to learn new skills (pouring, fastening, cutting, sorting) equilibrium, harmony of movements, and release energy through structured (music and movement, P.E.) and free choice physical activities (playing ball, skipping, climbing frames, riding bikes etc)
2. SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: children will learn to stay with other children, learn the rules of sharing, taking turns, and having some responsabilities according to their abilities and age. Children will learn to understand feelings and how to control them in a positive way, and be symphatetic to the feelings of others. They will learn to respect all people, the environment, boundaries and rules. They will become self-confident and with a high self-esteem. They will learn to be indipendent in certain every day tasks.
3. REASONING AND PROBLEM SOLVING: the activities and materials available in my setting have all an element of problem solving, and there are also Montessori materials for math and numeracy learning available. Children will be able to play with construction materials, puzzles, sorting games and use their thinking and immagination.
4. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: children will always be listened to and encouraged to talk about their experiences and discoveries. They will learn new words, hold small conversation, listen to stories and books, make up their own stories. They will be able to use Montessori materials to aid learning of letters and
sounds. Children will also have the possibility to learn Italian as a second language.
5. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD: children will learn through first hand experiences (gardening, insects hunting, experiments) and by using materials related to science, geography and multi-cultures.
6. CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT: children will learn to express themselves and their unique personality and ideas by using creative materials (paint, colouring, sticking, dressing up, role play)
Children will start by getting skilled at “the practical life activities” which teach children every day skills to become indipendent. For example pouring water into a glass, picking up small objects with tweezers, fastening, using a key and a locker, sorting objects.
After they have mastered all these skills, children will be introduced to the Montessori sensorial materials. For example the pink tower, the cylinders, the brown stair, the colour tablets, the smooth and raugh gradiation boards.
The last phase of a child’s learning journing in a Montessori nursery is learning about numbers and letters with a variety of materials (Sand paper letters and numbers, spindles boxes, sand marking etc)
Cultural, geographic and botaninc topics will be discussed with all children every day.
HEALTHY MEALS
Tiny Blossoms Montessori childminding takes pride in offering healthy and nutritious snacks and meals for all the children.
I aim to bring to the children an Italian style type of cooking taking into consideration British food culture and other dietary needs or allergies.(example of meals: pasta al pesto, carrots and peas, yougurt. fisherman pie, broccoli, custard and cake. There will be vegetarian options available on request).
Every parent’s request concerning food will be accomodate in the best manner possible.
Religious and cultural requests will be followed and respected when preparing and serving food.
Choccolate bars and crisps will be avoided, instead children will be able to taste healthy option treats instead.
SNACKS: a choice of fresh fruit, dried fruit, vegetable sticks, crackers, cheese, yougurts, milk, water.
Focaccia bread, cakes and puddings are home baked. Pasta souces are home made.
Meals that can be cooked ahead will be prepared the evening before and stored according to food hygiene regulation.
Once a week children will be able to bake their own pudding and eat it at meal or snack time.
EXAMPLE OF PLANNED DAYS
weekly topic: talking about me
AM proposed activities after the "Montessori work"
ART & CRAFT: masks making
PROBLEM SOLVING: free child's choice
LITTERACY: giant letters foam puzzle
IMMAGINATION/CREATIVITY: free child's choice
CIRCLE TIME: introduction to the concept of "continents".
PM proposed activities after the Montessori work:
KOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD:during circle time the children will be introduced to the concept of difference and similarity between children from around the world by looking at children's from different backgrounds flash cards; children will be able to talk about their physical appereance, similarities and differences with the other children.
MESSY PLAY: sand
FREE CHILD'S CHOICE
Tuesday
AM
ART & Craft: paiting my portrait
IMMAGINATION/CREATIVITY: dressing up
PROBLEM SOLVING: lego
NUMERACY/LITTERACY: child's free choice (magnetic letters, lap top, sorting, playdough with numbers cutters, books etc)
CIRCLE TIME: introduction to the continents and the globe
PM
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD: children's flah cards. Discussion about what is our favourite toy/colour what I like to do etc
MESSY PLAY: free child's choice (water, sand, rice, pasta, shaving foam, play dough etc)
FREE CHILD'S CHOICE
Wendsday
AM
ART&CRAFT: pasta mosaic
IMMAGINATION/CREATIVITY: home corner
PROBLEM SOLVING: free child's choice
CIRCLE TIME: continents puzzle. Child's show and tell about favourite toy brought from home
PM
NUMERACY and LITTERACY: Hop Scoch
MESSY PLAY: finger paint
FREE CHILD'S CHOICE
For the free child's choice, children will be able to choose anyone toy available in the setting. If the free choice is related to a specif area of learning I will ask the child to choose from a limited choice of toys suitable for learning in that area, when the free choice isn't related to any area of learning, the child will be able to choose from all the resources available in the setting.
The setting has a wide range of resources and toys for all areas of learning.
For more info: alicealfonso@googlemail.com
