Nursery World - Nathan Archer on Montessori for all?

Leeds Beckett University's newly appointed director of the International Montessori Institute, Nathan Archer, explains the significance behind his new research looking into the impact of the Montessori teaching method in socially disadvantaged areas.

Nathan Archer: 'It is something of an accident of history that in the UK, Montessori education has been offered primarily in the private sector of early childhood education and care'

In my new role, I’ve been reflecting on a busy first few months. Our team has been working hard offering our BA in Montessori education and we have been designing a new MA Montessori education programme for Autumn 2023. We have also hosted a conference on Montessori and social justice, and we are preparing to launch a research plan and professional development webinars in the Autumn.

But I’ve also been reflecting on the origins of this pedagogy and its reach today. It is well known that Maria Montessori, an Italian scientist, medical doctor, and educator, first founded an approach to education in the early twentieth century. However, it is perhaps less well known that Dr Montessori began her work with young children in a disadvantaged community, setting up a school in a newly built social housing estate in the San Lorenzo district of Rome.

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