Activities

We provide a carefully planned environment, which neither imposes on your child, nor does it abandon him in total free play. At the heart of College Fields are the Montessori materials, enticing pieces of equipment, which have been carefully designed to incorporate a teaching purpose.

Practical Life

Young children have a strong urge to become independent. Practical Life activities help them to perfect the skills they need in daily life. Whilst learning essential life skills, the children are also developing hand-eye co-ordination and the capacity to focus their attention for the entirety of an activity. Successful completion of such tasks gives children a real sense of their own achievement, and this builds their self-confidence.

Sensorial Exploration

Children are vividly aware of the world, constantly exploring and taking in impressions through all their senses. The sensorial materials encourage children to order and classify the physical properties of the world in which they live. These activities stimulate and develop the senses, refining children’s powers of observation, perception, exploration and communication.

Mathematics

Montessori mathematics materials enable even a very young child to achieve a natural appreciation of mathematical concepts through his or her own efforts. This avoids the mental blocks which so often occur in children faced with purely abstract concepts. Specially designed equipment helps children to grasp concrete ideas along with sensory experience of numbers, quantities and mathematical operations. Many Montessori educated children leave College Fields with a genuine love of numbers and mathematics.

Language

At College Fields children learn to express themselves. The freedom offered to the children creates many opportunities for them to communicate with their peers and the adults. We emphasize the development of vocabulary based on real experiences and the early preparation required for reading and writing. Advanced activities take the child well beyond the basic skills into reading and writing for interpretation, creativity and pleasure. Phonics, which shows your child the connection between sounds and letters, are also introduced.

Cultural Exploration of the World Around

The Montessori approach covers a wide range of subjects which reflect the broad interests of young children. The Montessori environment stimulates these interests and extends knowledge and understanding of art and crafts, geography, history, music and science and the natural world. Cultures from around the world are explored and celebrated. We plan activities using music and movement, drama, art, simple science, pottery and cookery.

Outdoor Learning and Play

We have a lovely big garden at College Fields which we make extensive use of come rain or shine. Children come to nursery prepared for all weathers as our activities are never simply confined to indoors. We enjoy creating activities and opportunities using the space, natural materials and low level physical equipment.