Welcome to Elmwood Montessori School
We believe that the first few years of your child’s development are crucial to prepare them to live their lives to the fullest. At Elmwood, we’ve created a relaxed, happy and rich environment to stimulate every child’s natural love of learning and discovery. We want to allow all children to develop at their own pace to their own social, academic and personal potential. We are open in the mornings and afternoons during term-times and are registered to care for children aged between two and five years old.
Elmwood opened in 1980, and our Principal Sarah Herbert has been at the heart of our independent nursery for over 37 years. For Sarah, it has been so rewarding to welcome children who later become Elmwood parents themselves, creating a heartwarming cycle that contributes to our home-away-from-home feeling. In September 2022, we merged Elmwood and its sister school, the Meadows Montessori School, and welcomed Meadows teachers, parents and children to Elmwood in one big happy family!
We embrace the Montessori approach in all we do, and provide a broad range of individual and group activities which encourage independence and creativity, foster self-confidence, build self-esteem, extend knowledge and nurture friendships in a supportive, attractive and fun environment. Our team of outstanding early years educators are here to guide each child’s journey, offering one-to-one teaching to ensure every child gets the support they need. Children leave Elmwood with strong personal, social and emotional skills, as well as a wide range of physical and practical abilities, an enhanced experience and understanding of the world, and a fabulous academic foundation as they move to their next schools, both in the maintained and independent sectors.
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WHY IS ELMWOOD SPECIAL?
Long-term dedicated staff
Our longstanding staff are dedicated to your child's individual progress and development. They are role models as well as teachers, take the time to get to know your child, and quickly become trusted adults the children know they can turn to for help, guidance, comfort (and fun!).
Happy, confident children
All children are welcome in our inclusive environment. Children are treated with respect and are guided and supported as individuals so they can be confident in what they do and are eager to learn more. Friendships blossom and children help one another.
Friendly learning environment
Classrooms are attractive and rich with resources. Daily free-choice times encourage independence, and positive relationships form between children. Activities are wide-ranging, engaging and fun, spanning all areas of learning and development.
Carefully planned curriculum and activities
Our curriculum, classrooms, and outdoor areas are designed to encourage independent learning, creativity, exploration, imagination and discovery. And lots of social play! We promote healthy lifestyles and enjoy learning about the natural world around us.
Term dates and session hours
Autumn Term 2023
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Tuesday 5 September - Tuesday 12 December
Half-term: Monday 23 October - Friday 27 October
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Spring Term 2024
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Tuesday 9 January - Tuesday 26 March
Half-term: Monday 12 February - Friday 16 February
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Summer Term 2024
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Wednesday 17 April - Thursday 11 July
Half-term: Monday 27 May - Friday 31 May
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Breakfast club runs from 8:00AM to 8:40AM
Morning sessions run from 8:40AM to 12:15PM
Afternoon sessions run from 12.15PM to 3:45PM
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Children can start on between three and five mornings a week, and can combine mornings and afternoons, and build up their sessions over the following terms. In addition to their morning sessions, they are welcome to stay for three to four afternoons a week and have a packed lunch at school with their teachers with afternoon activities which may include PE/gym, Experiments, Nature Studies, Street Dance and Allotment gardening.
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