Daily Routine
Kingfisher Montessori is run in welcoming, recently refurbished premises in Gaddesden Row. The Main Room consists of a light and airy space, divided into separate areas including a quiet book corner, painting easel and art & craft area, sand and water play and nature table, as well as accommodating the special Montessori equipment on low shelves which are designed to be easily accessible to the children.
Baby Room (up to two years of age)
The Baby Room is in a separate but adjoining annexe. It contains specially-chosen activities and materials and quiet, homely rest area. The younger children are not completely segregated from the over-twos, but are often free to move into the main room under our watchful eye. The older children are encouraged to help and nurture the younger ones which builds their self-esteem, and the younger ones in turn become familiar with the environment they will move into later on.A morning in the Baby Room
9.00 School opens: children are helped to take off their coats and change into their slippers.
9.15 Routine in the Baby Room is structured enough to give little ones the security they need, but suitably flexible to cater for the specific needs of this very young age group. The children may take part in a very informal ‘circle time’ consisting of a story book to share, or musical fun and games.
9.30 Children play with toys and activities. They are encouraged to take turns, share and be kind at all times. They are supported in activities such as finger painting, mark making, investigation of sand and water, playing in our ball pool and using a selection of educational toys.
10.45 Snack time: toast, fruit and water/milk. This may be given earlier depending on children’s needs.
11.15 Outside play/nature walk
11.45 Getting ready to go home: children put on their coats and shoes and gather for story time
12.00 Home time/lunch session begins
1.00 Home time for lunch session children
N.B. We do not have a set nappy changing time but change a nappy as soon as it is needed. Our high staff:child ratio enables us to cater for individual needs respectfully and effectively.
9.15 Routine in the Baby Room is structured enough to give little ones the security they need, but suitably flexible to cater for the specific needs of this very young age group. The children may take part in a very informal ‘circle time’ consisting of a story book to share, or musical fun and games.
9.30 Children play with toys and activities. They are encouraged to take turns, share and be kind at all times. They are supported in activities such as finger painting, mark making, investigation of sand and water, playing in our ball pool and using a selection of educational toys.
10.45 Snack time: toast, fruit and water/milk. This may be given earlier depending on children’s needs.
11.15 Outside play/nature walk
11.45 Getting ready to go home: children put on their coats and shoes and gather for story time
12.00 Home time/lunch session begins
1.00 Home time for lunch session children
N.B. We do not have a set nappy changing time but change a nappy as soon as it is needed. Our high staff:child ratio enables us to cater for individual needs respectfully and effectively.
Main Room (two to five years of age)
9.00 School opens: children hang up coats and change into plimsolls/slippers9.10 Registration and circle time
9.30 Work cycle – includes access to outside, choice of activities and snack
11.45 Getting ready to go home: children put on their coats and shoes
and gather for story time
12.00 Home time/lunch session begins
1.00 Home time for lunch session children
An Afternoon at Kingfisher Montessori
12.30 Registration & lunch1.15 Circle time
1.30 Work cycle
2.30 Outdoor play/gardening/nature walk
2.45 Getting ready to go home: children put on their coats and shoes and gather for story time
3.00 Home timeWhat is the Work Cycle?
After gathering as a group for registration and circle time, where we may have a group discussion or listen to children’s special news, the children carefully carry their chairs back to a table and then look for some work from the shelves. We guide and support them in their choice of purposeful activity.
There is a wide range of activities available to all the children which cater for their particular learning requirements at any given time. Once concentration sets in, the child enters a period of real learning and we are careful not to interrupt him or her at this time. A child’s work cycle begins when he or she freely chooses an activity and starts to work meaningfully with it. The child may engage in several activities during the work cycle, returning each piece of equipment to its place on the shelf for the next child to use. Extended periods of concentration are more likely to occur in a child over the age of about 2½ years, and the equipment in the main room is specially arranged and chosen for this purpose; however, we never interrupt a little one in the smaller room if he or she is intent on a particular task.
As Montessori teachers we guide each child to work with equipment appropriate to his or her particular learning needs, constantly observing and recording progress. We anticipate each child’s next level of progress, so that we are ready to introduce the subsequent level of work at exactly the right time for them. This keeps the child constantly motivated.
There is a wide range of activities available to all the children which cater for their particular learning requirements at any given time. Once concentration sets in, the child enters a period of real learning and we are careful not to interrupt him or her at this time. A child’s work cycle begins when he or she freely chooses an activity and starts to work meaningfully with it. The child may engage in several activities during the work cycle, returning each piece of equipment to its place on the shelf for the next child to use. Extended periods of concentration are more likely to occur in a child over the age of about 2½ years, and the equipment in the main room is specially arranged and chosen for this purpose; however, we never interrupt a little one in the smaller room if he or she is intent on a particular task.
As Montessori teachers we guide each child to work with equipment appropriate to his or her particular learning needs, constantly observing and recording progress. We anticipate each child’s next level of progress, so that we are ready to introduce the subsequent level of work at exactly the right time for them. This keeps the child constantly motivated.
What is the Planned Activity each day?
Alongside the free choice opportunity for the Work Cycle, the following activities are there for the children:
Monday: Music & Movement / Nature Walk
Tuesday: Baking / Music & Movement
Thursday: French / Art & Craft*
Friday: Music & Movement
*Art & Craft materials are available in the classroom every day, but on Thursdays we introduce the children to a new technique. Musical instruments are also freely available throughout the sessions.
The Planned Activity enables children to be introduced to a new activity within a small group. Children are never forced to participate if they do not wish to, but we gently encourage them to join in when we feel the time is right. Yoga, baking and art & craft usually take place in small groups whilst other children are engaged in their own chosen work in the prepared environment. Once the first group havefinished the activity, they return to their self-chosen work and the next group can begin the activity. This way, we can cater flexibly for children wishing to complete a self-chosen activity before participating in a planned group activity when it feels right for them.
The Planned Activity enables children to be introduced to a new activity within a small group. Children are never forced to participate if they do not wish to, but we gently encourage them to join in when we feel the time is right. Yoga, baking and art & craft usually take place in small groups whilst other children are engaged in their own chosen work in the prepared environment. Once the first group havefinished the activity, they return to their self-chosen work and the next group can begin the activity. This way, we can cater flexibly for children wishing to complete a self-chosen activity before participating in a planned group activity when it feels right for them.
Are there any specialist teachers?
Yes. Our experienced, native speaking French teacher from Le Club Français joins us for French on a Thursday morning. Lessons include fun and games with puppets, toys and music and are designed to stimulate children's natural enthusiasm for language and communication. It is quite amazing how well even the very youngest children concentrate and absorb vocabulary!
On Monday afternoons and Friday mornings our Music teacher joins us for a hugely enjoyable session of music and movement. Music, singing and nursery rhymes are used in a carefully structured programme, which introduces different educational themes each time. These are related to any particular topic we may be looking at. On a Tuesday afternoon the children enjoy dance. Our Dance teacher comes in to take a session involving stretching, yoga poses and a lot of other energetic moves and exercises for co-ordination and balance.
On Monday afternoons and Friday mornings our Music teacher joins us for a hugely enjoyable session of music and movement. Music, singing and nursery rhymes are used in a carefully structured programme, which introduces different educational themes each time. These are related to any particular topic we may be looking at. On a Tuesday afternoon the children enjoy dance. Our Dance teacher comes in to take a session involving stretching, yoga poses and a lot of other energetic moves and exercises for co-ordination and balance.
Snack time happens when the children feel ready. It consists of toast, seasonal fruit, and water / milk. Plates, cups, food and water are available on the snack shelf for the children to take when they wish. We encourage them to find their name card and display it on the snack board, before setting their place, so that everyone knows they are having snack. At all times good table manners are promoted, in order to encourage sensitivity towards each other’s needs and feelings.
Lunch
Children may leave at 12.00, or they may prefer to stay for our hour-long lunch session. For this, each child brings their own packed lunch which is refrigerated or stored from the beginning of the morning session. The children are encouraged and helped to set the table together, and their packed lunches are unpacked and eaten with proper crockery, knives, forks and spoons. Lots of happy chatter and interaction is encouraged, along with nice table manners! This is designed to be a pleasant, enjoyable occasion for the children. During colder months, we can heat food supplied by you for your child in the kitchen using our microwave. On warmer days, we have picnic lunches in the garden.
Once everyone has finished their meal and tidied away, the children participate in games and singing or an outdoor activity until it is time to go home at 1.00pm. This is a relaxed, spontaneous session with plenty of laughter and movement.
Once everyone has finished their meal and tidied away, the children participate in games and singing or an outdoor activity until it is time to go home at 1.00pm. This is a relaxed, spontaneous session with plenty of laughter and movement.