FAQs
About Montessori
Montessori is a child-led approach where children are able to choose activities from a carefully prepared environment, developing independence, concentration, and a love of learning, at their own pace.
In a Montessori environment there is a strong sense of community, where children are supported and encouraged to make positive contributions to the environment, and to develop their social skills and self-confidence. The role of the adult is to offer guidance, introducing Montessori materials and activities that follow the child's interests and needs during this critical period of development.
This is why Montessori teachers are often referred to as guides. The Montessori classroom is a home-from-home space, offering freedom within simple and consistent limits of respect for others and for the environment.
Maria Montessori referred to the nursery environment as a ‘Casa dei Bambini’ (a Children’s House) to reflect the homely, warm and nurturing space that welcomes the children every day. Learn more
A Montessori environment meets each child where they are developmentally, so it works across a wide range of ages, abilities and interests. The age difference within each age group provides opportunities for the younger children to learn and be inspired by their older peers, whilst the older children consolidate their own learning by offering help to those who need it. Learn more
Absolutely. Clapham & Clapham Park Montessori is registered with Ofsted and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which is a statutory requirement for early years providers in England. We are proud to hold Outstanding Ofsted ratings for our infant community and nurseries, reflecting the quality of care and education we provide. Learn more
What We Offer
We offer four separate environments designed to support children and families from two months through to school age:
- Parent & Baby Group — for babies and their parent or carer
- Montessori Infant Community — for children aged 15 months to 3 years
- Montessori Nurseries — Clapham Montessori and Clapham Park Montessori, our Children’s Houses, for children aged 2½ to 6. Our nurseries are located in the Clapham and Clapham Park areas of South West London.
Our Parent & Baby group is a welcoming space for babies and their carers to explore Montessori-inspired activities together. Parents are introduced to a series of topics to support them through the first few months of their baby’s life. This group offers a wonderful introduction to Montessori principles and a great way to connect with other local families. Learn more
Our Infant Community welcomes children from 15 months to around 3 years. At this stage, children are developing their movement, language, independence, and practical life skills.
The Infant Community environment is carefully prepared to support these areas, with child-sized furniture, purposeful real-world activities, and adults who guide and nurture the children’s development. For many children, this is the first step from home into the wider world — and we take that responsibility to heart.
Our calm, ordered environment and the warm, consistent relationships children build with our guides mean that this first transition is often a more positive and joyful experience than families dare to hope for. Learn more
Yes, and this continuity is one of the great strengths of our environments. A consistent approach, familiar adults and a known community make the transition smooth and confident.
Our nurseries welcome children from 2½ to 6 years old. Although children typically join Reception classes from around 4½ to 5, in line with their school’s calendar, our Montessori environments are fully equipped to enable children to remain with us through their Reception year.
Yes, and often exceptionally so. Montessori children typically enter Reception equipped with tools for learning, such as the ability to persevere and to concentrate, as well as highly developed social skills, and an attitude of curiosity towards learning.
We support the transition to school in many ways, including:
- liaising with teachers in the schools and welcoming them to meet the children in our environments
- sharing any relevant information (subject to parental consent) to facilitate a smooth transition,
In addition, each year we give a talk for parents on ‘Supporting the transition to School’.
Over the years we have had positive feedback from schools, including comments about the children’s independence, social skills and joy of learning.
Children leaving our nurseries typically move on to local state and private schools, including:
Belleville, Bonneville, Broomwood, Clapham Manor, Dolphin School, Eaton House, Heathbrook, Macaulay, Newton Prep, Parkgate House, St Mary’s, The White House and Thomas’s Clapham, to name a few.
Fees, Funding & Practicalities
We are open during term-time.
- The Parent & Baby group offers weekly sessions on Tuesdays
- The Infant Community is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings
- Our nurseries offer a range of morning, afternoon, and extended sessions to suit different family needs. Some extended hours are available.
You can find term times and session times on our individual pages. Please get in touch to discuss what would work best for your family. Contact Us
Yes, we accept the government’s funded childcare hours for eligible children. Our fees reflect the quality of our environment, materials, and highly trained and experienced staff teams. Government funding can significantly reduce costs for eligible families. For information on our fee structure and fees, please see the Fees and Funding section for each environment.
Our environments are located in the Clapham and Clapham Park areas, South West London. Full addresses can be found on each of our pages, and on our Contact page.
We strongly recommend registering your interest as early as possible. Please get in touch to register for an Open Session and to find out about availability. Contact Us
Starting With Us
The first step is to get in touch to arrange a visit. From there, we can talk through availability, sessions, and next steps. Please see our Admissions page.
Absolutely. We warmly encourage prospective families to attend an Introductory Session (Parents and Babies Group) or an Open Session (Infant Community and Children’s Houses), to meet our teams, visit the space, ask any questions you may have, and to get a feel for whether our environments are the right fit for your family. Get in touch
We use a gentle, gradual settling-in process tailored to each individual child. Your child will never be rushed, and we work closely with you throughout. Many children settle more quickly than parents expect, as the Montessori environment is calm, ordered, and designed to feel safe and purposeful. Our settling-in policies for each environment can be found on each of our pages
Yes. Every child has a key person who plays an important role in supporting their settling-in — particularly for our youngest children — and who monitors their progress and plans their next steps. In true Montessori spirit though, children are free to engage with all the adults in their environment, and naturally gravitate towards those they feel drawn to. The warmth and consistency of our whole team is something families often remark on.
Our Philosophy & Environment
Our environments are calm, uncluttered, and beautiful. Materials are displayed on low, accessible shelves so children can choose independently. The environments are designed to invite exploration and concentration.
Outdoor exploration is a core part of our programme, not an afterthought. Children have daily access to outdoor space. Fresh air, nature, and physical movement are considered essential to children’s development and wellbeing.
We do not use sticker charts, reward systems, or punishments. Instead, we support children to develop self-regulation through respectful communication, consistent limits, and a prepared environment that encourages positive, purposeful behaviour. Our guides lead by example, modelling the calm and respectful manner they seek to foster. Children also practise social skills and ways of being together through gentle, practical role-play as part of everyday life.
Yes. Like all registered early years providers in England, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The Montessori curriculum amply fulfils all requirements across the Prime and Specific areas outlined by the EYFS.
Why Choose Us
Since first opening our doors in 1991, we are one of very few settings in South West London to offer an authentic Montessori experience, from babyhood through to school age.
Our Outstanding Ofsted rating reflects the quality and consistency of our provision. Several teachers within our staff teams first came to us as parents, and their experience of Montessori through their children's development inspired them to become Montessori teachers and to remain with us.
Many of our team have been with us for between 7 and 20 years, a continuity that matters deeply to the children and families in our care, and which we believe speaks for itself. But more than anything, it is the children themselves: their calm confidence, their curiosity, their kindness, who tell the real story of what a Montessori education offers. Learn more About Us