Montessori Training Centre (W.M.T.C)

The Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy – Birth to Seven (EYE) recognises that a training in Montessori Education requires a breadth of understanding and varied set of skills as well as specific attitudes to children. It is with the aim of simultaneously cultivating all of these that MCI, Crossfields Institute & CACHE have developed this new qualification.  The Diploma has been mapped by the National College for Teaching and Leadership Policy as meeting the full and relevant criteria required for those wishing to enter the workforce as Early Years Educators.

Please click here to learn more about Montessori Centre International

The course will provide an overview of important educational philosophies together with a detailed study of the Montessori philosophy and approach. Our aim is to provide our students with a knowledge and understanding of the Montessori educational philosophy and inspiration to educate our future children.

The interior of our college is specifically designed to provide our students with the ideal Montessori environment. All our classrooms are spacious and abide to the traditional Montessori layout, allowing our students to engage in the full range of educational activities expected in a Montessori classroom.

Attendance and Course Dates
We offer a part-time course, especially designed for anyone unable to attend a full time course, attendance of one night a week, plus 1 or 2 Saturdays per month. Each course runs over four terms with all annual holidays and half terms being recognized. At both the Level 3 & 4 an additional 6 -10 hours study per week will be required, plus further independent study.

Additional Course Details
Our Diploma takes both a theoretical and practical approach to all the core subjects necessary to achieve the Montessori qualification.

Our theoretical subjects introduce you to the foundation of working with early years, focusing on Maria Montessori’s philosophy. We explore her understanding of how children develop and how to focus of building the child’s learning as well as helping you to understand the elements of being a reflective practitioner.

We also study the key to educational observation. This skill is paramount to being a successful Montessori teacher, enabling you to really understand and develop each individual child, their interests, their personalities and their needs. Skilled observations enable the practitioner to continue to prepare the stimulating and rich environment that makes up a Montessori classroom and that suits the ever developing child.

Child Development knowledge is essential when working with children. Within this module we take a look at renowned theorists that have studied children’s development, whether: physical, intellectual, language and/or emotional and social.

Practical, hands on, we explore: Activities of Everyday Living, Education of the Senses, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Numeracy and Arithmetic and Literacy.

These areas are all explored by reference to the developing child and with extensive use of the Montessori teaching materials and creative activities that thread through all of the subjects.

Throughout the course students have extensive opportunities to examine and use all of the Montessori materials, allowing them to truly understand their purpose in the Montessori classroom.

Professional Placement
It is essential that all students undertake a professional placement of at least 400 hours, once they have completed and successfully passed all elements of the academic course.The placement forms a central point of practical intergration for the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes developed over the course of the training and aims to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their progress as a practitioner.

Students will be observed by a Placement Mentor from the setting as well as Placement Tutor allocated by MCI.

Students can apply for this to be taken at one of our four lovely preschools situated in Essex or alternatively, students can, independently, make their own arrangements with other MEAB approved Montessori schools or nurseries.

Students are required to create a portfolio, which aims to provide them with opportunities to become self-reflective. This aspect is key to the students developing into flexible, child focused practitioner.

Course work
Completion of Professional Placement File- this is a record of your developing practice and professionalism.
Completion of Child Profile File- this is an essential, assessed part of your teaching practice. It gives you an opportunity to draw various strands of your developing knowledge, skills and understanding together through writing a detailed study of an individual child.

Assessments

• 3 Assessments with your Placement Mentor on your progress in the Montessori Environment
• 2 Assessments with your Placement Tutor on your progress in the Montessori Environment
• Placement Practice File
• Child Profile File

The full MCI Advanced Diploma and the Early Childhood International Diploma are awarded to students who have successfully completed the course which comprises college lectures, assessed written course work, final written and practical examinations and assessed teaching practice in a Montessori Setting.

How to Apply
If you would to apply for the part time course and require further information or guidance please contact Michelle Wisbey, training provider, via email michelle@montessorigroup.org or telephone07811441615.

For course administration and queries please email Rachel Smith at admin@montessorigroup.org

Application Form – download here

Once you have been accepted on the course a registration fee of £100 is due. This fee is non refundable

At your Introduction Meeting your enrolment will be finalised and you will be issued with your student card. You will be introduced to the online virtual learning environment that contains all the modules and assessment details. Alternatively you can buy books directly from MCI. Please click here to access the book shop.

Your Student handbook is accessible via the online virtual learning environment.

Total course fees are payable upon commencement of study. For all fee queries and payments please contact WMTC finance administrator, Emma Briggs, via email atbursar@montessorigroup.org.