The Program

Your child's early years are a very important and special time. Dr. Maria Montessori observed that the first 6 years of life were a period where a child has an extraordinary capacity to learn.

Experiences in these years lay the foundation for future development and learning. Barrenjoey Montessori School aims to make the most of the unique period from 3–6 years in your child's development.

Montessori pre-school program aids the development of confidence, independence, concentration, self-discipline, motivation, respect for others and the environment and importantly, a love of learning.

Barrenjoey Montessori School offers a three year Montessori program for 3–6 year olds staffed by qualified directresses.

All children attend Monday to Friday, with the three and four year olds attending a three hour session daily.

Five year olds, in the extended day program, attend all day. This is the equivalent of the kindergarten year, with the curriculum being recognised and accredited by the NSW Board of Studies. Working in a smaller group at this time enables the five year olds to focus on extension activities preparing them for primary school.

Afternoon care, for children aged 3-4, is also available.

In the Montessori classroom, children are grouped together in mixed ages, much as a natural family would be. This provides a good range of social interplay and the opportunity to learn from experience, and through observation of others.

As in a home environment, the older children help the younger ones, providing role modelling and enhancing their own self-esteem

• Practical Life: activities which aid the child's adaptation to their environment, refine their movement, and promote concentration.
  
  
• Sensorial: activities which enable the child to order and classify their many sensorial experiences such as, colour, sound, dimension and shape.
  
  
• Language: activities which develop oral, writing and reading skills, as well as introducing the child to geography, history, science, music and art.
  
  
• Maths: number concepts using mathematical tools to introduce mathematical processes (adding, multiplying, dividing and subtracting) and help the child to understand mathematical abstractions.