What is a Montessori nursery?

A Montessori day care centre differs from a conventional day care centre firstly in the way it supports the natural development of the child. In a Montessori day care centre, groups of children are divided according to their age and, above all, their level of development. This promotes mutual support among the children, the development of self-confidence and the learning of independence.

Our Montessori by Rockids nurseries are inspired by the pedagogy developed at the beginning of the 20th century by Maria Montessori, which allows the child to evolve more freely. Education is proposed not as a transmission of knowledge, but as the accompaniment of the natural development of the child, through an environment prepared and adapted to the characteristics and needs of the child’s age. The values of our Montessori by Rockids nurseries include caring, learning to be independent and living together.

The positive education of an alternative daycare following the precepts of Montessori pedagogy is also characterized by its furniture and facilities. Everything is structured and designed to create a child-sized environment that encourages free motor skills according to the concept developed by Emmi Pikler. Furniture, workshops, games, the child can choose himself the activity he wants to do.

Our Montessori by Rockids daycare centres are located in new or completely renovated facilities and offer modern and dedicated facilities, as well as professional Mathou furniture made of certified natural wood.

The gardens and outdoor areas of the Montessori by Rockids nurseries offer, in addition to the other facilities, motor structures with slides and water games.

We offer children professional didactic materials that are strictly in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Montessori philosophy. The material is arranged in trays or baskets and organised in such a way as to respect the progression of learning. Each activity is presented individually by the educator to the child so that he or she can then use, practice and practise independently and check his or her own mistakes.

The aim here is to lead the child towards autonomy with the principle: “I want what I do” and not “I do what I want”.

The educational staff of the Montessori by Rockids nurseries receive regular training in Montessori pedagogy and principles.

In addition to the personal care of the children, we offer home-cooked meals with fresh, local, seasonal produce. Our own central kitchen, run by our cook in collaboration with a nutritionist, allows us to offer the children culinary workshops, food-related activities, creation of aromatic vegetable gardens, etc., in order to make them aware of the importance of “eating well” and “anti-waste”.

More support for parents

In order to offer more flexibility to families, the Montessori by Rockids crèches offer, in addition to full and part-time care, the possibility of entrusting their child on a part-time basis at 80% or 20%.

The transmission between teachers and parents will be done on the basis of a secure digital support with the indication of the essential points and events of the child’s day, and the sharing of photos and videos.

The parents also benefit from a formalised support for monitoring the child’s development and major acquisitions. A list of the didactic material presented and mastered, and the acquisition of the child’s learning is formalised in addition.

Organisation of Montessori by Rockids crèches

The Montessori by Rockids daycare centres are organised into different living units, depending on the age and development of the child. Throughout the child’s autonomy and potty training, our structures provide healthy Oeko-Tex® nappies and use Eco-Label cleaning products.

0-2 years “Nido” unit

Unit 0-2 years “Nido”: a large and secure floor space encourages the youngest to move and explore freely. The equipment provided encourages free motor skills through suspended mobiles or Snoezelen rooms. Fine motor skills are also promoted through the first table activities or psychomotor activities. Areas for discovery and exploration encourage independent learning for the little ones.

2-4 years “Children’s community”

In total coherence with the Montessori pedagogy, socialisation, management of emotions, psychomotor development, learning of autonomy and cleanliness are encouraged through practical and sensory activities. Thanks to the specific didactic material and the Montessori method, our children absorb their first learnings, whether they are sensory, cultural, scientific or even linguistic at their own pace!

Bilingual reception and plurilingualism

All our Montessori by Rockids nurseries are multilingual and offer bilingual care in French and English, with an introduction to English for non-English speaking children as a complement to the multilingual care programme.

We also offer sign language with the “sign with baby” project to support the expression of toddlers who do not yet speak, with the principle of associating speech with certain specific words/gestures of sign language.