Meadowbrook Montessori School operates on the three term academic year starting in September and concluding in July.

The age range of the children catered for currently is 18 months (or from the time the child walks independently and is considered 'ready') to the time the child is two and a half or three years of age and considered ready to enter the Pre-Primary Department.

One parent or carer, attends with the child for 2 hours, once a week (sessions will increase gradually depending on demand), in an environment especially set up to facilitate the child's growing need for independence. The room contains only child sized furniture and specially designed Montessori activities and materials that cater for the children's physical proportions and their stage of development thus laying the foundations of future learning.

The focus is on five key areas of development:

• Sensory/perceptual development
• Practical life/self help skills
• Physical/motor development
• Social/emotional development
• Language development

• language enrichment exercises
• exercises to refine eye-hand co-ordination and visual discrimination
• practical life exercises
• music & instrumental opportunities
• individual snack time (refreshments brought in and prepared by the children themselves)
• group time

The overall objective of the Montessori Mother and Toddler Session, is to increase the parent's awareness of the child's capabilities and need for independence, with a view to transferring the understanding of the child's stage of development from the Mother/Toddler Group onto many applications in the home environment, both the physical and psychological aspects of the environment (i.e. the actual materials in the environment as well as our attitude to the child.). It is also hoped that by having this special time each week with their child in a specially prepared environment, without the interruptions experienced at home, the relationship between parent and child also stands to benefit.

Maria Montessori believed that the first three years of life form the foundation for the rest of our lives and indeed says in her own words: "Our work as adults does not consist in teaching, but in helping the infant mind in its work of development." The provision therefore for the 0-3 age group is a natural growth of this already well-established school. Plans are already underway to create a purpose build Infant Toddler Department in the grounds of the existing Pre-Primary School.

Our Pre-Primary children attend five morning or afternoon sessions each week (sessional places are also available) from 9.00am - 12pm and 1.00pm - 4.00pm respectively. Children who turn 4 years old between 1 September and 31 of August are eligible for the Reception Class in the September term. Reception classes start at 9.00am and end at 3.15pm with the exception of Mondays where the children attend the Primary School and have the option of participating in after school clubs.

 

Children who turn 5 within the academic year can join our Primary School in the autumn term although entry is not automatic and follows an informal selection process. Each child will normally stay in the Lower Primary Class for three years, moving up to Upper Primary at the end of Year 3 until year 6.

Children in the Primary School and Reception children may join after school clubs which run from 3.40pm to 4.40pm.

At Meadowbrook we believe that the foundation of a good education fosters a love of learning and the ability to adapt to change. Our broad based curriculum encompasses the very best of the National Curriculum and Foundation Stage as well as the highly successful Montessori Programme. The result is a rigorous yet innovative hybrid curriculum that goes beyond traditional programmes of study. Our course of study is organised over a one to six year cycle, with children graduating at Year 6 having completed the full cycle. Meadowbrook adopts a highly thematic approach that ties the separate disciplines of both curricula together.

Lessons are introduced simply and concretely in the early years and are reintroduced several times during the following years at increasing degrees of abstraction and complexity. Although we offer a warm and supportive academic atmosphere, we set a high level of expectation for the quality of thought, work, and the mastery of content and skills.

At both Pre-Primary and Primary levels the children are actively involved in discussion and investigation. From an early age, they are encouraged to develop a positive work ethos, the ability to evaluate the quality of their work and effort, the importance of time managements and organizational skills that help them to manage their assignments effectively.

Visitors to the school and regular outings to places of educational interest are used to support the schools varied curriculum.

 

Sports (inc; Football, Cricket, Rounders, Basketball, Short Tennis, Hockey, Badminton and *Non-Contact Rugby)
Country Living, Gardening and Environmental Studies
Regular Dance Workshops
Instrumental Music including recorder and piano and brass
Field Work (Week Long Activity Trip for years 4, 5 and 6 only)
Good Citizenship (Personal and Social Development)
Common Entrance Practice and Interview technique (Years 4, 5 and 6 only)

After School Clubs rotate Termly to include a wide range of subjects such as; soccer, drama, chess, art and craft, needlecraft, ICT, Netball, hockey, martial fitness, dance, tennis, homework study, origami, sign language and bike club .
The school's hybrid curriculum also takes into account various elements and strands of work from the National Curriculum at Key Stage 1 and 2 and the Foundation Stage.

   

The school has its own Learning Support Unit and provides, assessment, individualised tuition or in class support for children if neccessary.

For the purposes of ensuring high standards of education, consistent with other approaches, regular standardised assessments are employed by staff throughout the academic year.

18 months - 2.5 years (fee payable on registration each term)

£14.00 per child per session

		Termly
Reception class	(4 - 5 years old 9.00am to 3.15pm)	£2080.00
Morning Class	(2.5 -5 years old - 9.00am to 12.00pm)	£1165.00
Morning Class Sessional	3 mornings per week 4 mornings per week	£22.00/session £22.00/session
Afternoon class	(2.5 -5 years old - 1.00pm to 4.00pm)	£965.00
Extended Day Session (Pre-Primary)	(12 noon - 3.15pm)	£18.00 (per session)
Extended Lunch Session (Pre-Primary)	(12 noon - 1pm)	£7.50 per hour

		Termly
All Classes	(5-12 years old - 9.00am - 3.30pm)	£2325.00
After School Clubs	(3.40-pm - 4.40pm)	£50 - £75
	A wide variety of clubs are offered, such as Art, Chess, Drama, Football, Netball, Cycling, Media etc.
Learning Support Unit	Approximate cost £220.00
	It is the school's intention that the above fees will apply for the three terms commencing September 2006. All curricular costs and the cost of school trips undertaken throughout the term are also included in the fees with the exception of the annual Senior Field Trip.

MUSIC LESSONS
Individual music lessons can be arranged for a variety of instruments, such as piano, brass and wind instruments and guitar. The termly charge for these lessons is between £90 - £140.

REGISTRATION FEE
This is an administrative charge of £50 for the first child attending the school and £25 for subsequent children. It is refundable in the event that the school is unable to provide a place in the term of your choice.

NURSERY GRANT
Three and four year olds currently receive a Nursery Grant which will be deducted from the fees payable.

NOTICE
A full two terms' notice is required of your child leaving the Primary School or the Reception Class relating to a Primary School place at Year 1. One term's notice is required at the Pre-Primary. In the event of notice being received after noon on the first day of term, full fees in lieu will be charged.

PAYMENT
Fees must be paid in full within the first three days of term. A surcharge of 20% will be applied for late payment. It is possible to pay fees on a monthly basis by prior arrangement, subject to a surcharge of 3%. If a full year's fees are paid in advance, a 5% discount will be given.

We believe that Meadowbrook offers an alternative to the traditional approach of education, in that it recognises and nurtures the individual development of each child and provides a safe and secure environment much akin to a second home. Meadowbrook welcomes all children that it feels will benefit from the approach and views diversity and variety as an advantage. We aim to work closely with each family and acknowledge the need for Montessori's philosophy and the school's approach to Positive Discipline to be embraced by our parents so that each child may develop within a consistent framework supported by both teacher and parent.

We aim to fulfill our mission by:

Following the philosophy and principles of Dr. Maria Montessori and the highly specialised approach known as Positive Discipline.

Employing full-time Montessori or State trained teachers (educated in Montessori philosophy and methodology) who have a sound knowledge of the National Curriculum at each relevant Key Stage.

Employing part-time teachers with specialist knowledge and experience in their field. Developing a partnership with each family and providing opportunities for them to learn more about Montessori Education and Positive Discipline.

Having multi-aged classes with mixed ability and developing each child's thirst for knowledge, love of work and ability to set high expectations for personal learning and achievement.

Providing an environment where a diverse set of Montessori materials and activities is offered to foster physical intellectual, creative and social independence.

Establishing a classroom atmosphere that encourages social interaction, co-operation, motivation to learn, peer teaching and emotional support.

Employing staff who have the utmost regard to our Child Protection policy and who have undergone basic training in Child Protection.

Dr. Maria Montessori was one of the most important educators of the twentieth century. The fundamental idea behind her philosophy is that all children carry within them the person they will become. The child is not merely considered a student but is seen as a unique human being who should be helped to build himself and his life accordingly. Montessori believed that in order to fully develop their physical, intellectual, emotional and social capabilities, children require freedom, which is achieved through order and self-discipline. She acknowledged that the only valid impulse to learn was self-motivation and discovered that children possessed a natural impulse to learn and absorb knowledge without effort if given the right kind of activities, at the right time of their development. At Meadowbrook we provide children with a safe yet disciplined, carefully planned and structured environment where they can work and learn using specially designed didactic materials. Following the guidance of Montessori's philosophy, we do not only expose our students to academic work but also nurture their emotional, social and moral aspects of growth and development. It is for this reason that Montessori education is often defined as 'education for life'.

For Montessori Education to really work, it relies not only on the skill and dedication of the teacher but also the commitment to its philosophy from you the parent. This is why we require our parents to actively participate in our community and support the work that we do through attending Parent forums and contributing to school events. We would like Parents who choose Meadowbrook to commit to its approach with belief and enthusiasm in the knowledge that together, we can help the child reach his or her full potential.

Meadowbrook Montessori School was founded in 1989 by Helen and Paul Watkins out of dedication to the principles and philosophy of Maria Montessori. The school is run by long standing Head Mistress Serena Gunn and her Deputy, whom along with Paul Watkins, form the management structure of the school.

Meadowbrook has grown from 6 students to over 120, supported by approximately 28 members of teaching, administrative and specialist staff. The community began in a small village hall while the building at Warfield was being completed. In 1995 to create further space, the Pre-Primary Department was re-located to its own premises, a Victorian School building in Haley Green, within view of the original school. The Primary School facilities include seven and a half acres of land set in countryside, yet close to the towns of Bracknell, Windsor and Maidenhead