The Montessori Philosophy
Millbrook Montessori is built on the educational legacy of Dr Maria Montessori and her influential work. Dr Montessori participated in fields of medicine (as the first female Doctor in Italy), psychology, biology, anthropology and education/pedagogy. She used scientific observation to develop her child-centred method of teaching and learning.
Since 1907, the year of her first school in Italy, children and adults have engaged in an approach to learning that addresses all aspects of growth: cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual. In Montessori centres and schools worldwide, children develop the habits and skills of lifelong learning.
The Montessori Approach
The Montessori approach has four great qualities making it appealing to the Toowoomba community: the educational approach is replicable; it can be successfully adapted to new situations; it can include recent innovations based on recent understandings of learning; and it is sustainable.
Millbrook Montessori has incorporated the ten principles of Montessori Education into its values:
Respect for the child
Absorbent Mind
Sensitive Periods
Educating the Whole Child
Individualised Learning
Freedom of Movement and Choice
Prepared Environment
Intrinsic Motivation
Independence
Auto-Education
Montessori has stood the test of time. The methodology is prolific worldwide. The Montessori National Curriculum (MNC) is recognised by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) as an alternative national curriculum framework. For young children at Millbrook Montessori (birth to school age) the curriculum has been mapped to Belonging, Being, and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF), which is the approved learning structure under the National Quality Framework.
The Montessori methodology provides the children of Millbrook Montessori with an interactive approach to learning, one that focuses on independent problem-solving and self discovery through hands-on experience, as well as promoting respectful, inclusive relationships.
Montessori and Millbrook: Synchronicity
“A meaningful coincidence”
History has given us two enduring legacies – one a beautiful, homely building, rich in character and tradition, called Millbrook; the other an educational method respectfully guiding children towards a peaceful future, called Montessori. Both legacies have stood the test of time and have now come together in synchronicity.
Millbrook has graciously served the community of the past; the Montessori education promotes strong links to family and community as partners in the child’s journey. The children are our future.
Millbrook and Montessori are proud to have merged to provide an Early Learning Centre catering for the needs of the community today and serving and guiding the community of the future.