Montessori Quality Assurance

Our History

Understanding Montessori Education

Montessori is an educational approach supporting the full development of the human being. It offers a broad vision of education as an ‘aid to life’. Montessori education provides specially prepared learning environments, equipped with scientific, purposeful activities suited to the child’s developmental needs and tendencies. The trained educators guide the children to facilitate learning, concentration and social development.

The Montessori approach to education inspires children toward a lifelong love of learning, by following their natural developmental stages and tendencies. Children become confident, responsible, independent learners, who trust in their own abilities. The prepared nature of the environment allows children to act independently and respond to their natural tendency to work. Children have a spontaneous desire to learn and the Montessori classroom encourages this by giving them opportunities to engage in self-directed, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult. Through their work, the children develop concentration and joyful self-discipline. Children progress at their own pace and rhythm according to their individual capabilities and interests.

Choosing

Choosing a Montessori School

When you are looking for a quality Montessori school it is important to keep in mind that the name “Montessori” is not copyrighted or trademarked in any way.

So anyone can open a school and call it Montessori and any school can claim that it is offering an authentic Montessori program. Schools are operated independently and are either privately owned or run by a non-profit association. The vast majority of schools calling themselves “Montessori” do offer a high quality and authentic Montessori program but a little research on your part can ensure you are making an informed choice for you and your child. It is usually the case that a Montessori school administrator will encourage parents to observe at the school before enrolling their child. This is an excellent way to assess if the school will be an environment that will suit the developmental needs of your child. You will be invited to observe in a classroom setting while the children are in attendance. Typically you will be offered a brief history of the school, program offerings and school policies. It is important to enquire about the training and experience level of the teachers and whether parent education evenings are offered. You might also consider asking if the school has an affiliation with a recognized Montessori organization.

Choosing

Choosing a Montessori School

When you are looking for a quality Montessori school it is important to keep in mind that the name “Montessori” is not copyrighted or trademarked in any way.

So anyone can open a school and call it Montessori and any school can claim that it is offering an authentic Montessori program. Schools are operated independently and are either privately owned or run by a non-profit association. The vast majority of schools calling themselves “Montessori” do offer a high quality and authentic Montessori program but a little research on your part can ensure you are making an informed choice for you and your child. It is usually the case that a Montessori school administrator will encourage parents to observe at the school before enrolling their child. This is an excellent way to assess if the school will be an environment that will suit the developmental needs of your child. You will be invited to observe in a classroom setting while the children are in attendance. Typically you will be offered a brief history of the school, program offerings and school policies. It is important to enquire about the training and experience level of the teachers and whether parent education evenings are offered. You might also consider asking if the school has an affiliation with a recognized Montessori organization.

What to ask During Your Visit

It is advised that parents arrange a visit to the Montessori schools they are interested in to determine if they are a suitable fit for your child and family. When visiting prospective schools, here are some questions to keep in mind which will help indicate a quality Montessori programme:

Z

Is the physical environment beautiful

Z

Is there a feeling of peace?

Z

Is there a variety of different kinds of work being done?

Z

Is there an absence of worksheets and workbooks?

Z

Are the children in primary appearing to work seriously even while some are casually carrying on conversations with others?

Z

Do the children seem to be relaxed and happy?

Z

Do the children seem to have a sense of purpose?

Z

Are the children kind and courteous with each other?

Z

Are the children concentrating very hard on their work?

Z

Does the teacher appear to be constantly aware of the whole room, intervening only when children seem aimless or non-constructive, or are bothering others?

APPLY TO GET ON OUR WAITING LIST

Quality Assurance

Ensuring Montessori Quality

Since the name “Montessori” is not protected, Maria Montessori and her son founded the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) in 1929 to safeguard the integrity of her life’s work.

To help parents identify high-quality programs following Dr. Montessori’s international standards, AMI established the AMI Recognition program for schools (in the US starting in 1973, and Canada in the early 1980s).

In Canada, this quality assurance is known as the Montessori Quality Assurance (MQA) program, administered by AMI Canada. This voluntary program allows schools committed to AMI principles to distinguish themselves.

MQA Participating Member schools commit to:

  • Working toward the Essential Characteristics of AMI Environments, which are the core criteria for authentic, quality programs.

  • Engaging in annual consultation with Trained AMI Consultants.

  • Committing to ongoing staff development (workshops, conferences).

Schools that fully meet all Essential Characteristics may apply for an AMI Certificate of Recognition and advertise as an AMI Recognized school. Recognized schools engage in consultation every three years.

You can find a list of AMI Montessori Schools by province in Canada here.