Our Philosophy.
At Liberty Montessori we nurture independent, joyful, confident learners. We value each child’s sense of wonder and curiosity within our specially prepared Montessori environment. Our dedicated team are committed to nurturing and inspiring your child’s independence, confidence and creativity as they open up to life and all it holds for them.
Montessori – The Way of Peace
We have dedicated ourselves to ensuring that every child has the best possible environment so that we can live out Montessori’s vision – one of living in unity and harmony, leading to a life of peace.
How does this develop with a child and within our community? This takes place as each child engages in real life and in real work, freely chosen within the specially prepared environment.
Participating within the community in a way that makes a difference to others, empowers a child to develop their sense of self. As an adult, we feel good when we complete what we have set our mind on, achieve a goal or reached out in our own way to contribute to society – even if it is just putting back the shopping trolley to the trolley bay! It is the same for the child. As they act on their own desire to contribute, they begin to recognise their own importance as an individual within the community. The key is providing opportunities for children to be immersed in an environment that provides the time and space to act on their own ideas and learn through trial and error and practice so they can grow confident in their own abilities to imagine, think and act.
Living in this way, children begin to discover Who Am I? they see themselves connected to others and vital to the life of the community. As they cultivate trust in their own decision making, they grow in respect for oneself, others and the world around them. In this way children begin to see the unique contribution they make to the world.
This is what Montessori referred to as each person fulfilling their ‘cosmic task’. Children begin to see the role only they can fill as they ‘act’ on their impulses within the environment and begin to create – this may be helping a friend, arranging flowers for the table or putting away their belongings. They see themselves as a treasured part of a whole. Paula Polk Lillard explains in her book, Montessori – A Modern Approach, “The child is dependent on their environment and their relationship with the physical space and the people within it. Only through interacting with this can a child come to understand himself, the world around him, its limits and so integrate his personality.”
Each step is sowing the seeds of peace; this is Love, this is the work of Montessori.
Maria Montessori – our inspiration & guide.
Dr Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was a pioneer for children, a leader and visionary in the field of early childhood education. Montessori saw children as the only hope for humanity with a vision of peace being realised through each child. Montessori’s perspective of the child still leads the way as her vision inspires educationalists worldwide (there are 22,000 Montessori schools across the globe) to continue upholding the essential qualities of a child’s life and environment during the first six years.
Montessori education responds to the individual needs and interests of every child, giving them pathways for growth in language, music, mathematics, science, physical coordination, and art. As well as a broad range of practical life skills from gardening, to cooking and caring for their environment and social skills based on grace and courtesy.
We Nurture Each Child
Nurturing a child’s spirit is and always has been the most important thrust of Montessori’s teachings. Montessori saw the spiritual as a basic human energy that gives meaning to our lives. Montessori is often known as the method with wonderful materials whereas Maria Montessori’s desire was to create a better world through nurturing each child’s spirit. This happens as each child knows that what they do makes a difference to the community, that their real value lies within them rather than in what they possess. Children’s spiritual growth comes from giving them the time and silence for reflection, enabling them to appreciate all things. At the same time the values of tolerance, compassion, peacefulness, kindness and service to others are all encouraged.
When a Montessori environment focuses on supporting the development of normalisation for each child, nurturing the spirit goes hand in hand. The Montessori philosophy of education believes that every child carries within them the person they will become. To develop their physical, intellectual and spiritual capacity at Liberty Montessori, we have a wonderfully quiet retreat as part of our preschool environment.
A traditional aspect of the Montessori experience, designed by Dr Montessori and developed by Sofia Cavaletti and Giovanna Gobbi in Rome, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is based on Maria Montessori’s self-teaching principles and the traditions of the Catholic church that appeals to the child’s spiritual awareness. In this photograph, one of our LSM children is in our Atrium, where he is attracted to the Good Shepherd and Jesus’ abiding love for his sheep in our Atrium. Children develop a special love the Good Shepherd even before they realise, they are the sheep, hearing the story, reflecting what they have heard and then re-enacting it themselves.
“Let us give the child a vision of the whole universe. . . The Universe is an imposing reality, and an answer to all questions. We shall walk together on this path of life; for all things are a part of the Universe, and we are connected with each other to form one whole unity”. Maria Montessori
Contact us or drop in for a visit.
Here at Liberty Montessori we know that choosing the right early childhood environment is a big decision. Contact us to learn more and meet our amazing teachers who will support your child’s learning journey.
