We provide quality care for children from birth to the age of 8 years, as well as offering a holiday club for school holidays and inset days for children up to 8 years.
What is Montessori?
Montessori is an approach to early education that focuses on the immense capacity of children to absorb information when given the freedom and independence to learn at their own pace. What makes the Montessori approach different, and what makes it work so well, is that it is based on a deep understanding of the way children learn through choosing, trying and doing themselves. Specially developed materials in an environment prepared for the children, with close observation and guidance by Montessori teachers, leads to a powerful, confidence-building approach to learning.
Making a garden 
Looking for bugs 
Making bug houses
The ultimate aim of Montessori principals of practical life is to lead the child to physical and intellectual independence; this is specifically where we give the child what he or she needs to prepare himself/herself for life. There are 5 areas:
- Preliminary Exercises– Preliminary exercises isolate individual tasks that will later be combined into a larger task. For example, before a child can be expected to wear an apron while painting, they are first taught how to put on, take-off, and store the apron.
- Care of the Self-These activities prepare the child to meet the requirements of tending to his own bodily needs each day. They are critical for the development of self-confidence (which develops as a natural consequence of the child seeing himself/herself succeed repeatedly at the tasks before him/her).
- Care of the Environment– These activities connect the child with his/her surroundings and allow him/her to assume responsibility for her environment. Care of environment activities create a sense of joy, pride, and delight in not only cleanliness but the artistic and wholesome elements (e.g., plants, pets) of our human spaces.
- Control of Movement- It is through movement that the child is able to organize and build his intelligence. Movement cannot be set apart from higher cognitive skills—they are intrinsically related (as are the mind and body). These include activities that isolate the quality of bodily movement for its own purpose.
- Grace and Courtesy- The grace and courtesy exercises allow children to adapt in a beautiful fashion to the culture around them. These exercises help the children acquire self-confidence and independence because they prepare them to behave well in all likely social situations.
Curiosity Approach
The Curiosity Approach prioritises the development of curiosity, creativity and holistic development in children. We try to create comfortable, homely and inviting spaces for children to enjoy. The nursery is equipped with multi-purpose resources to develop their creativity, wonder and awe. By equipping the nursery with sustainable natural resources and recycling items we can begin to teach young children about a sustainable living and nature.
Exploring Winter 
Shape and animal exploration 
Mud Kitchen
Forest School Approach
Our Forest School approach is a big part of our philosophy and daily practice at Cherry Tree Montessori Nursery. The Forest school approach is a specialised approach to outdoor learning that complements our child-led approach inside. Anita, our Forest School Leader, who holds a Forest School Qualification, uses her knowledge and experience to implement sessions that build on the developmental needs of each individual child.
There are many benefits to the Forest School Approach; similar to Montessori it engages all of the child’s senses to foster a connection with nature. Being in nature can enhance emotional wellbeing by reducing stress and anxiety. It can increase a child’s fitness and development of good motor skills through movement and climbing. Children build independence through the practising of making decisions, problem solving, communicating and working with others. It also enhances creative thinking, where leaves and sticks bcome art supplies and stick become paint brushes!
Throughout these sessions, Anita promotes a unique way of building independence, self-esteem and a positive attitude towards learning as the children explore and experience the natural world for themselves. This approach empowers the connection between children and nature which is imperative as we strive towards a sustainable future for our children. The sessions and activities Anita implements each day, promotes a combination of freedom, responsibility and well-managed risk taking, which is all hugely beneficial to children’s wellbeing, confidence and resilience.
It is not just the physical environment but the way we implement it here, that enables children to forge life-long connections with nature through child-centred learning, exploration and play. The outcome of which is happy children that embrace learning opportunities with healthy minds that develop a ‘can do’ attitude.
What is Healthy Movers?
Healthy Movers helps children get a better start in life by developing their physical literacy, communication skills, wellbeing and school readiness. An adult will lead the activity by example, following the activity card and using the resources available. Throughout the activity we follow the children’s interests to ensure we are engaging them fully, making the most impact.
Evidence of Need
Children need to move from birth for good health and development. If they sit too long, we will see significant problems that continue with children’s health, development, and wellbeing throughout childhood into adulthood.
If children don’t develop the basic movements and physical attributes through early childhood they are at risk of delays in their physical, social and emotional development.
Children need a good a foundation of physical development skills and access to play to maintain good health, and be ready to learn as they transition into primary school.
Impact of Healthy Movers to date
The Healthy Movers approach has been effective at increasing children’s physical, emotional and social development as a foundation for improving language, communication and literacy. This was recently recognised in the Department for Education Opportunity Area Guide to Early Years with a case study on the programme in West Somerset and the Southwest.
• 40% improvement in physical development
• 10% improvement in communication and language skills
• 11% improvement in personal, social, emotional development
• 23% improvement in literacy skills
• 18% improvement in mathematics skills
(Based on Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole Healthy Movers Evaluation 2022.)
