NURSERY
Accompanying the
toddlers towards autonomy.
"The child performs specific actions on their own (feeding animals, watering a flower…), learns patience and trust in waiting (sowing a seed…)"
Maria Montessori
AMI
Association Montessori Internationale
OUR CERTIFICATION
The global benchmark
rare in French-speaking Switzerland.
AMI was founded by Maria Montessori herself. Only schools that respect the entirety of the pedagogy — teacher training, materials, environment, cycle duration — obtain recognition. We are fully committed to it.
MONTESSORI IN NURSERY
Supporting families .
The arrival of a new baby in Nursery is a major event at Great Hope Montessori.
The child and their family are welcomed in such a way that everyone can feel enveloped and well supported during this stage.
To achieve this, the Nursery section is organized according to the Montessori pedagogy. The educators are trained, caring, and attentive to the needs of each child.
Parents in the Nursery section can request parenting support workshops starting from the 7th month of pregnancy and receive assistance in creating a Montessori space at home.
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The welcome is personalized and organized according to the sensitivities of each family.
Exchanges with professionals are conducted in French or English.
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The Nursery section benefits from its application (to be downloaded) to transmit and communicate information about the child during the day (sleep time, activities, diaper change, etc.).
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Sign language, musical awakening, English, Montessori activities, motor skills courses, outings and nature discovery punctuate the daily life of the Nursery.
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Two "baby Maestro" musical awakening workshops are organized each week by the ArcaMusica music school.
ORGANISATION
The nursery is divided into two separate areas.
The child, families and teams develop serenely in this organized environment designed to support the child's development.
The child has their assigned educator who will be their first point of reference within the nursery.
The Nido is a small, welcoming space for 5 babies, supervised by 2 early childhood professionals trained in the Montessori method. Each child receives support tailored to their individual needs throughout the day, respecting their pace (help with falling asleep, babywearing, etc.).
The living space is divided according to Montessori areas: awakening of the very young, movement area, sensory area, hand-eye coordination aid, meal and grace and courtesy area, changing area, sleeping area and secure outdoor area.
3 à 18 months
The Nido .
Le Nido accueille les bébés dès la fin du congés maternité jusqu’à 18 months.
The Nido welcomes babies from the end of maternity leave until 18 months.
Following the adaptation phase, the child is welcomed into the Nido according to the attendance desired by the parents. This space is characterized by calm, gentleness, and kindness, in which the children are enveloped.
Maria Montessori envisioned this period as a cozy nest, where everything is done to soothe and support the child at their own pace, meeting all their needs.
18 - 36 months
Kindergartens
Children are welcomed after a more or less short adaptation phase (progressively if the child is already at the Nido of Great Hope Montessori).
The Children's Community is designed to meet the developmental needs of children from 18 months to 36 months.
The entire environment is designed to be child-sized, allowing children to safely participate in daily activities. The living space is divided according to the Montessori developmental areas (practical life, art, sensorial, hand-eye coordination, and language). Activities are presented to the child by a Montessori educator based on observations and the child's interests.
This age group is characterized, according to Maria Montessori, by a natural drive to act independently. The goal of the children's community is therefore to support the child in their movements and their desire to do and participate.
The atmosphere is bilingual (French/English). Group circles, language points, and activities provide opportunities to reinforce vocabulary. Songs, introductions of grace and courtesy, and expressing requests are all opportunities to develop language skills.
The Children's Community is a welcoming space for 7 children accompanied by 2 professionals. The children feel comfortable and able to participate in activities of their choice. They have a wide range of sensory and social experiences that help them build their character, under the caring and encouraging guidance of the educators.
The Children's Community is also the place where children learn how a Montessori environment works, thus facilitating the transition to school in the 3-6 year old section.
The nursery team
NATIVE BILINGUALISM
French • English
Not 'English lessons' — real immersion. Each environment has at least one native French-speaking and one native English-speaking educator, present all day. Children switch naturally.