Did you know that there are different approaches to teaching Early Years throughout nurseries and pre-schools in the UK?

1. Introduction to
Montessori Nurseries

2. 1. This type of nursery
was developed by
Italian physician and
educator Maria
Montessori

3. 2. The first Montessori
school opened in Rome in
1907

4. 3. Mixed aged
classrooms are common,
as older children help the
younger ones learn

5. 4. Belief that children learn
best by doing –
“Help me to do it
by myself”

6. 5.Children should explore
the world for themselves
at their own pace

7. 6. Montessori teachers are
often called "directresses"
because they direct a child
towards learning
opportunities rather than
teach them

8. 7. Learning materials
are displayed in an
orderly way

9. 8. The learning
environment is simple,
beautiful and maintained
to a high standard

10. 9. Montessori schools tend
to offer the children
activities that are based
upon real activities in the
real world like washing and
cooking

11. 10. Belief that birth to six
years old is the period
when children have the
greatest capacity to learn

12. Introduction to
Steiner Nurseries

13. 1. Developed by Austrian
philosopher and scientist
Rudolf Steiner

14. 2. First Steiner school
opened in Stuttgart in 1919

15. 3. Steiner’s aim was to
create a school that didn’t
just teach academically but
which also helped nourish
children as a whole -
emotionally, socially and
spiritually

16. 4. Ethos that artistic activity
and the development of the
imagination are integral to
learning

17. 5. Belief that electronic
technology, such as TV and
computers, can be
detrimental to the
development of children’s
imagination

18. 6. Creativity is an important
value and time is put aside
for creative play every day

19. 7. Children (birth to rising 7)
are not formally taught
literacy or numeracy, nor
are ICT or electronic
gadgetry used

20. 8. Steiner schools hope to
instil children with a love of
learning

21. 9. All lessons include a
balance of artistic, practical
and intellectual content

22. 10. Steiner schools have
been granted exemption
from certain aspects of the
statutory requirements
Early Years Foundation
Stage (EYFS) which go
against Steiner teaching