Albany Montessori School

Albany Montessori School
St Albans nursery school & preschool for boys & girls aged 2–5 years

Montessori children have a healthy sense of independence. They learn at their own pace and have freedom to explore in safe and structured environments. They make their own discoveries and learn to celebrate achievements with modesty and good humour. They begin to understand respect and thoughtfulness – how to take turns, to share, and to accept others.

More Confidence

Albany Montessori children typically have more confidence and a broader world-view than those attending conventional nurseries. They also tend to have a deeper understanding of the consequences of their behaviour, and are more likely to tolerate, respect and help others.

More Advantage

Albany Montessori children move on to all sorts of schools when they have finished at our nursery. Their new teachers often find them to be more articulate and open to more ideas. Evidence also suggests that Montessori children start at new schools with advantages in literacy and numeracy.

More Opportunity

Albany Montessori children have opportunities to grow as individuals with unique characters and aspirations. We support their ambitions and have absolute regard for their right to a secure, fun and happy childhood.

More Montessori

The Montessori method and philosophy are central to our routines and activities, and we do of course also follow the national curriculum. We use Montessori Materials in our sessions, as well as conventional materials, toys, games and books. Albany Montessori is the only Montessori Nursery school in St Albans.

The Montessori Method

The Montessori Method is an international philosophy of education based on the theory and practice of Dr Maria Montessori. She proposed that learning can be improved, and significantly enhanced, by appealing to a child's inherent attraction to structure, order and meaning in life. She combined this principle with her advanced understanding of child psychology and development to produce an innovative teaching method. Montessori is now an international movement evolving to meet the challenges of contemporary education.

Montessori Teaching

Montessori teaching is complex and elegant, but makes perfect sense to children. They find order and freedom in its method, and time to express themselves creatively in every aspect of play and learning. Proper Montessori teaching requires expertise and familiarity with fundamental principles of child psychology and development.

Our Curriculum

Our curriculum includes and reaches far beyond the national requirements for nursery schools. The Montessori method includes in-depth consideration of grace and courtesy, languages, community, environmental awareness, culture and the arts, enhanced science and maths, and sensorial life.

The Montessori Environment

The Montessori environment fascinates children of all ages. Albany Montessori School presents wonderful new challenges and opportunities for adventure, fun and confidence every day. We know and value each Montessori child as an individual with unique strengths, talents and needs.

Capturing Children's Imagination

The Montessori method captures children's imagination, ensures their attention and inspires their ambition. We use a variety of materials and teaching approaches specially designed to engage children's curiosity and instinct for exploration.

Maria Montessori (1870–1952)

Maria Montessori was a brilliant scholar and educational pioneer. The first Italian woman to qualify as a doctor, she developed new methods and approaches to education and child psychology. Dr Montessori opened her first school in Italy in 1907 to remarkable acclaim, and her legacy continues to inspire our practice today.