An inspirational lady, Maria Montessori became the first female doctor in Italy and from her experiences of teaching in one of Rome's most underprivileged areas, she developed a new approach to teaching young children. She discovered that by letting children develop and learn at their own pace without the restrictions of structured group activities, they flourished with a sense of self-confidence, responsibility and independence.

Dr. Montessori identified that from a small child's perspective the adult world was a frustrating place, predominately due to their lack of responsibility. Children within a limited and closely supervised environment, who had the freedom to be responsible for their own mistakes, were able to discover more about themselves and the world around them.

The Montessori emphasis is on respecting the child and their individual needs. Children at a Montessori School often choose their own activities that are made available to them. With plenty of encouragement and gentle guidance they have the freedom to learn and grow in confidence and gain that imperative self-belief.

When looking at Montessori Nursery Schools it is very important to know the name Montessori is not legally protected and can be used by anyone, so be sure that they have the appropriate Montessori teaching certificates.

There are many Montessori Nursery Schools within the local area and some follow the method and philosophy more than others, so make sure you visit a few before making your final decision.