We welcome children from all sections of the local community and place notices in local shops, community centres, schools and other places where families with young children are likely to see them. Children are accepted from the age of 2 to 6 years. Younger children may be placed on the waiting list.

• Places at Overton Montessori are offered on a first come first served basis. Children with Additional Needs follow the same admissions procedure as any other child.
• A non-refundable deposit of £50 and a completed registration form are required to guarantee a child a place.
• A place can be reserved for a child to start at the beginning of a specific term, if available.
• Children are invited to  introductory mornings to familiarise themselves with the environment. The parent is invited to stay for  as long as the child needs this support. On the final introductory morning a refundable deposit of £150 is then payable, it will be refunded provided that one terms written notice is given prior to the child leaving.

• We recommend all children attend for a minimum of three mornings rising to at least 4 mornings when they turn 4. We can however take 2 year olds for 2 mornings if this is deemed appropriate.
• Children may join Overton Montessori from the term after they turn 2 years old, if the child is ready, and stay until they are 6 years old.
• Before the child starts, parents are encouraged to visit our school.

• A home visit is offered. This is to help the child feel more comfortable with the staff and in particular their key person. It allows the staff to get a more relaxed view of the child in their own familiar surroundings as well as providing an insight into preferred activities and learning styles to help plan more specifically for the child, helping the settling in process. In addition it is an opportunity for the parents and key person to have informal time to get to know each other better. Usually two members of staff attend this visit including the family’s key person.

Term begins: Thursday 2nd September

Half term: Monday 25th October to Friday 29th October

Term ends: Friday 17th December

Term begins: Tuesday 4th January

Half term: Monday 21st February to Friday 25th February

Term ends: Friday 8th April

Term begins: Monday 25th April

Half term: Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June

Term ends: Friday 15th July

Monday: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
Tuesday: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
Wednesday: 9.00 am to 12.30 pm
Thursday: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
Friday: 9.00 am to 3.00 pm

For your convenience we offer flexible start and finish times:

9.00 am: For morning or full day sessions
12.00 noon: For 3 hour afternoon sessions, including lunch at school
12.30 pm: To allow for a child to stay for lunch and the afternoon session

12.00 pm: Early finish for younger children in particular
12.30 pm: The end of the morning session
1.30 pm*: Your child completes the morning sessions and stays for lunch
3.00 pm*: The end of the afternoon and/or full day session

* Full days only

Full days are introduced when the child is ready, usually around 3 years of age.
Full day sessions require a packed lunch.

At the Children’s House we are committed to providing high quality Montessori education at affordable rates to enable access for all. We do this in the following ways:

• We accept the ‘Early Years Education’ grant for 3 and 4 year olds.
• We accept the ‘Early Years Education’ grant for eligible 2 year olds
• We accept childcare vouchers of all types
• We offer flexible methods of payment. This can be monthly, termly or another agreed method

From April 2016 our rates will be as follows:

All children aged 2: £7.00 an hour / £24.50 for a morning session.
All children aged 3 to 6: £6.50 an hour / £22.75 for a morning session / £39 for a full day

Late collection fee: £10 will be charged for every 15 minutes after the due collection time.

There are no additional costs for My Montessori Child, sport sessions, French sessions, dance sessions, cooking sessions or organic fruit for snack.

A copy of the latest registration form and the latest terms and conditions can be found here: Registration Form and Terms and Conditions

We encourage parents to visit the setting to complete the registration process. All postal and contact information can be found on our contact page.

The ability to understand and use two or more languages. The dominant language can change in different situations and at different times throughout life.

Over two thirds of the world’s population have more than one language and even here in the UK, bilingualism is becoming the norm in many parts of the country. It is therefore vital that we know as much as possible about multilingualism in order to support children in the best possible way.

There are two types of bilingualism: simultaneous, where both languages are learnt at the same time and sequential when a second is learnt once the first language is already established.

• We celebrate and value all children’s language accomplishments.
• Our Montessori environment is relaxed and welcoming and all children are actively encouraged to share their culture and language. Everything is ordered and we have a predictable routine, vital qualities to a child learning another language.

• Each child is unique and is given opportunities to both play with activities at their intellectual level, and the time and space to just ‘stand and stare’.
• All staff are trained in how language is acquired.  We also offer weekly French sessions at no additional cost.

• It builds up an understanding about how language work
• It increases the ability to solve problems as thinking is more flexible
• It helps increase awareness and sensitivity in social situations
• Research has shown that bilingual children often out perform monolingual children at secondary school, as long as their first language is supported

• We make time to speak to all children and give them space to work things out in their own way and remain silent if they wish. All forms of spontaneous communication are encouraged and respectfully modelled back to them
• Adults talk through what they are doing to help provide meaningful contexts and model English, they ask open ended questions and use repetition to reinforce meaning
• We use a combination of pictures, body language, visual clues and gesture to communicate
• We prefer to have real objects for children to use rather than more abstract formats like pictures. Our Montessori activities often help give a clear representation of a concept

• We have a selection of dual language books and use aids like puppets to help with story telling
• We celebrate a variety of festivals
• Our assessment procedures ensure that all children’s intellectual development is reflected, not just their ability to use English
• We have some appropriate labels and signs in different languages

• We use music and movement to help bridge the gap and bring children closer
• We prefer small group activities and encourage collaboration between children whenever possible including games and activities such as block building and gardening
• We provide weekly French sessions taken by a native French speaker
• We have native French speaking staff in Steventon and native German speaking staff in Overton

Please download here, details of our Local offer for children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities