About Montessori Education
A Global Movement
The Montessori method of education, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is a child-centred educational approach based on scientific observations of children from birth to adulthood. It is proven to be effective and today, there are over 20,000 Montessori schools worldwide.
St Nicholas Montessori Society is also a founding member of Montessori Europe, an organisation created ‘to enable and encourage Montessori pedagogy at political, social and educational levels throughout Europe’.
21st Century Learning
21st Century learning skills are those skills, abilities and dispositions deemed to be necessary for success in an increasingly complex 21st Century society and workplace. 21st Century skills are Montessori skills! Creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and communication, initiative and self-direction, leadership and responsibility, flexibility and adaptability are all core skills promoted by the Montessori method.
Individuality and Creativity
In a Montessori prepared environment, children (and adults!) work at their own pace to fulfil their unique potential. Montessori sees everyone as an individual with specific and personal needs. Montessori nurtures and encourages creativity, not only in the creative arts but in problem solving, teamwork and academic work. Montessori prepares children for the present and future.
We are proud to announce that as the love for Montessori philosophy continues to grow in Ireland, we have opened a new St Nicholas Montessori School in Merrion.
Optimal Whole Child Development
The goal of Montessori education is to allow the child’s optimal intellectual, linguistic, physical, emotional, social and spiritual development to unfold. This is a very different goal to that of most education systems today, where the focus is on academic attainment. By working with scientifically based manipulative materials and by interacting with concepts and ideas, children self-discover and are empowered with the tools of life-long learning.