Montessori – The Challenges
Montessori St. Nicholas (Montessori Schools Association) national conference 2010
Attendance at the Montessori St. Nicholas charity’s (MSA) National Conference has grown significantly year on year.
Previous conferences were held in conjunction with the TES show, but on Saturday 27 November 2010, Montessori practitioners came together for their first independent MSA conference. It was held at the Institute of Education, in London.
The theme of the day was not to celebrate Montessori in isolation, but to look outward at research and exemplary practice right across the education sector. It was a conference designed to encourage reflection and debate to ensure Montessori continues to provide the best in current thinking on Early Childhood.
Over 550 participants enjoyed the keynote speakers:
Penny Holland, Academic Leader for Early Childhood studies at London Metropolitan University, challenged the audience’s normal response to super hero, war and gun play. She asked delegates to recall their own childhood games and gave a clear view on how to interpret and develop practice to support children's expression in this contentious area. This issue sparked much discussion afterwards.
Alice Sharp, Associate Tutor for the University of Glasgow's BA in Childhood Practice gave a lively presentation on active learning. She focused on ways to enhance an early years' environment to maximize children's natural curiosity and delighted the audience with tales of young hands in spaghetti, treacle and glycerine!
During the break delegates had the opportunity to speak to their regional representatives and visit the conference sponsors' stands.
After lunch, the programme included tips on how to market a nursery in today's difficult economic climate, and a presentation by Jackie Hyde from Dot 2 Dot Insurance.
Some of the challenges that schools currently face were also discussed, including an update by Martin Bradley (Chair of the MSA National Council) on the charity's governmental lobbying over issues that remain close to the hearts of many Montessorians at the moment, most notably the challenges resulting from the implementation of the EYSFF.
Delegate feedback included:
‘Thoroughly enjoyed this conference – my first in the UK (came from South Africa and even missed the rugby for it)!’
‘The speakers were very inspiring and thought provoking.’
The Montessori St. Nicholas charity (whose Board is predominently made up of non-Montessori educational experts) works to bring the Montessori approach into the mainframe of early years and continues to support the development of Montessori primary schools.
Part of its focus is to recognize what makes the Montessori approach unique and outstanding. Its associated accreditation scheme has a major part to play in this analysis. Launched in 2008, the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation Board (MEAB) scheme has been adopted by almost 100 schools, and is attracting growing international interest.
The scheme was established in conjunction with the British Accreditation Council and the Independent Schools Inspectorate and ensures a rigorous assessment of Montessori practice, focusing on the quality of provision for the individual child.
This scheme ensures that Montessori continues to be associated with high quality provision and also remains informed by current thinking.
Montessori looks forward to standing alongside other exemplary practice – to inform and be informed.
Visit www.montessori.org.uk
Michele Dows-Miller November 2010
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