When people think about education, they now know that the most important years of learning happen long before a child ever steps foot on a university campus.

At Whetstone Montessori Nursery, we understand that the early years are the period of most rapid and radical change in the growing individual. With a rapidly developing young brain, this is the time when language, intelligence, and problem-solving skills develop. These shape who the child will become in the future as a human being and a learner.

Early childhood education isn’t simply a preparation for primary school, it is the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. The skills that allow children to thrive academically and socially are developed through meaningful work in the early years.

In our Montessori environment children learn through hands-on experiences that engage both the mind and the body. They learn by working with carefully designed materials that can be easily manipulated. Each activity strengthens the child's concentration, coordination, and confidence, that are all skills needed in life.

One of the greatest gifts a Montessori education gives the child is independence. In the Children’s House, children are entrusted with responsibility and given freedom within clear boundaries. As a result they learn to make independent choices and judgements for themselves, to care for their environment, and to take pride in their accomplishments. These experiences cultivate a deep sense of confidence in their own abilities that do not depend on others.

By the time our children leave for primary school, they carry with them not only academic readiness, but the attitude of a lifelong learner — organised, curious, and resilient.