Between the ages of 3-6, children have an extraordinary learning capacity.
Dr Maria Montessori called this stage ‘The Absorbent Mind.’ It’s a time of remarkable learning, self-discovery and growth.
Your child will develop an understanding of the world through exploration, curiosity, and hands-on experiences. Pre-primary at FMS provides a carefully prepared environment and opportunities for fulfilling learning to take place. Your child will be inspired every day, by degree qualified teachers who also hold Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Diplomas. The program will give your child an academic foundation to excel, growing their intellectual curiosity. The third year of pre-primary at FMS extends to the NESA registered “kindergarten program” – where the seeds of learning come to fruition.
Your child will be nurtured into a confident, capable and compassionate individual by engaging in purposeful learning across the following areas:
Practical Life
Our rooms are set up to provide your child with a connection between their home life and school, giving them the chance to practice activities they have likely seen you do many times before – such as sweeping a floor or watering plants. These activities help the child learn to care for themselves and others leading to responsibility, self-respect, respect for others and for the environment.
Language
A suite of Montessori materials introduce literacy and letter recognition to help build phonological awareness in our youngest learners. Using touch, sound and sight, your child will learn to spell simple words and create basic sentences as they develop writing, listening and verbal communication skills.
Sensorial
The sensorial area of the classroom appeals to the child’s five senses, stimulating them to explore the environment using their senses to develop discrimination, order, refinement of movement and concentration. Tracing a sandpaper letter m with a finger, a child not only sounds out the symbol m but also feels it! Later, their muscles will remember the tracing motion as they write the letter. These and other materials allow for repetition and control of error. Sensorial materials form the basis for mathematics, language, and the arts.
Mathematics
Is your child intensely aware of numbers? Do you find that they are constantly counting their steps or little items that they play with during their day? Our traditional Montessori materials will help your child discover and understand mathematical and geometrical concepts. They will be encouraged and supported in further understanding higher mathematical skills, problem solving and reasoning.
Cultural Studies
During their day, your child will enjoy activities in biology, history, geography, science, art, music and drama, broadening their understanding of the world around them. We offer a culturally diverse education, and incorporate wellbeing, environmental care, and community practices across all age levels. See our Extra Curricular page for more details.
Session Times:
5 full days (3-6 year olds - 8:30am-3pm)
3 full days (3 & 4 year olds - 8:30am-5:30pm, can collect at 3pm if needed)
Before and after school care available.
Kindergarten
Montessori is a continuum of education that allows your child to build upon experiences each year. Your child will stay in the Primary classroom for 3 years, which can include the traditional “kindergarten year” – when the seeds of learning come to fruition. Reading and writing come to life from sounds and symbols. Your child is introduced to numbers and the decimal system. They learn about geometric figures and the political countries of our world. Your child leaves the program with a strong set of academic skills; but, far more importantly, with the attitude that learning is fun, exciting and boundless. At this point, your child is ready to move up to the Lower Primary program, for children from the ages of 6 to 9.
Please speak to your child’s classroom teacher or contact the Admissions Manager if you wish to enrol your child into the Kindergarten year.
