About Jack in the Box
“To assist children we must provide them with an environment which will enable them to develop freely.” Maria Montessori
Jack in the Box
About the School
Jack in the Box Montessori School provides nursery education in a happy, safe and stimulating environment, where children can realise their full potential and develop life skills.
Jack in the Box is located on Ashchurch Grove, W12, conveniently situated for Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush, Acton and Chiswick. The school was established in 2005 and is housed in Kelmscott Community Hall.
Montessori
Teaching
Through her research in child development in the late 19th century, Dr Maria Montessori devised new teaching methods and materials. She found that children had an innate desire to learn and that between the ages of 0 to 6 years, they learned differently from any other time in their lives. She called this ‘the absorbent mind’; a child goes through ‘sensitive periods’ in which the mind is more receptive, making it easier to acquire certain skills and concepts.
Jack in the Box
The Curriculum
At Jack in the Box Montessori School we combine the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework with our Montessori teaching methods. We follow the individual child and plan suitable activities to help extend their learning. We aim for the children in our care to achieve their full potential in all areas of their development.
The Montessori teaching method encourages and develops a child’s interest and independence through a wide range of activities using specific materials, working individually and in groups. Children are encouraged to learn and develop at their own pace in a prepared environment in which equipment is easily accessible and available.
Our curriculum is well planned to encourage a varied and rich learning experience. We have visiting teachers weekly for music and drama classes. We include a weekly cooking activity and daily creative art activities. We welcome the support and involvement of parents, particularly with reading to the children. We have planned projects throughout the term and we also follow the interests of the children, planning in the moment in order to encourage and extend the children’s curiosity and interests.
The EYFS covers the following seven areas; communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.
