Nursery World - Primary becomes first state Montessori school

An Essex school is the first in the country to become a fully accredited Montessori state school.

Stebbing Primary School in Dunmow uses Montessori teaching methods alongside the national curriculum, from nursery through to year six.

The school is now in its fifth year of Montessori teaching, after initially introducing it in reception and Year 1.

The rural village school takes 117 children and was graded outstanding by Ofsted in June 2009.

Barbara Isaacs, senior accreditation officer of the Montessori Evaluation and Accreditation scheme, said awarding the MEAB to the school was 'an opportunity to see how they do it and recognise their commitment to the Montessori approach.'

Ms Isaacs said that the children follow the national curriculum but 'classroom management and teaching and learning have a different dynamic. All the teachers are very much behind it,' she said.

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