About Dawmouse
Dawmouse Montessori Nursery School is a term time only aiming to provide a safe, child lead learning environment for children ages 2 to 5 years.
We have three classes: Puffins, Hedgehogs and Otters. Each class has a Montessori Qualified teacher looking up to 9 children. We use vertical grouping to sort our class, meaning that the classes contain children of all ages. Giving the older children the responsibility of helping with the younger children, promoting confidence and independence as well as the younger children the chance to learn from the older children.
Our day consists of two sessions, 9.00 – 1.00 and 1.00-3.30 with the option of flexible drop off from 8.30 and flexible pick up for the afternoon sessions. Children are advised to attend a minimum if four morning sessions, to allow the child to settle and create the routine. The option for the afternoon sessions is flexible to suit the needs of the family.
Daily Life at Dawmouse
Children come into the classroom independently, hanging their coats and getting themselves ready for the day. From 9-11 the children have free play in the classroom, giving them time to work with the Montessori materials as well as participate in messy play, role play, art activities and other activities set out by the teachers. During this time the children have the option to choose if they would like to have some snack, some fruit or vegetables to support a healthy and varied diet.
Around 11.00 the children are invited to participate in an active learning session, this takes place in our large private playground. Activities set up by the teachers focus on refining gross motor skills. These activities can include balancing, negotiating objects, throwing and catching objects. At the same time the children have opportunities to use their imagination while using the various equipment, promoting freedom of thought, role play skills and feeding off each other’s imagination.
At 12.00 the children sit with their groups to have lunch, promoting grace and curtesy, table manners and opportunity for the children to sit and talk at the table. Children are encouraged to bring in a healthy lunch and use the correct crockery at the table, waiting for their peers to all be ready, so the children can eat together. The teacher is there not only to supervise the children but also to stimulate conversation with the group.
Children going home at 1.00 sitting at the table waiting for parents/carers to come in to collect them, giving the adult a quick time to talk with the teacher. Children staying for the afternoon session are taken to a separate area with a teacher to start the afternoon session.
The afternoon sessions are a play based session, with a smaller number of children, having the time to further look into the topic of the term and work with specific planned activities for each session.
Each day brings a different focused activity. On Monday the children participate in show and share, as well as a letter based art activity. Tuesday we have an external music teacher to teach the children a 30 minute music lesson. Wednesday we have an external French teacher. Thursday we have a visit from our sports coach and Friday we focus on a cooking lesson or science experiment.
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think”
~ Maria Montessori ~