FAQs | The Cottage Montessori School

Has The Cottage Montessori School got any accreditation?

The Cottage Montessori School is accredited by The Irish Montessori Education Board. For more information, go to www.imebtrust.org.

It is also notified and registered with Tusla – The Child and Family Agency.

Are you participating in the ECCE Scheme?

YES! The Cottage Montessori is participating in the ECCE Scheme.

More information about the scheme is available from The Office for the Minister of Children and Youth Affairs

I can’t bear the thought of leaving my child! How can I prepare both myself and my son/daughter?

Ten Strategies for Parents to assist their child into Montessori painlessly:

If you the parent are happy that your child is ready to leave you for the morning, your child will know this, and be happy also. If you have doubts about their readiness, please do not discuss them in their company. They will sense your anxiety and worry about you.

Don’t be alarmed if your child enjoys the first few days of school and then announces that they have had enough. This phase will pass when they get used to the idea that this is the new routine and that you want them to enjoy spending the morning with their new friends.

Prepare your child by talking about going to Montessori school in September. Discuss the other children they will meet, friends, neighbours, cousins, that there will be lots of new things to do etc. Tell them that you will be doing some ordinary activities, i.e. working, shopping, tennis or golf. Try to make sure it is something you usually do without them, so that they won’t feel they is missing an activity you usually share.

Please do not over exaggerate the excitement of Montessori school either. School is not Disneyland, so be realistic when discussing school with your child. You might like to talk about how they will begin by doing puzzles, colouring, painting, playing with play-dough, singing, reading stories etc. These are simple activities they will be doing for the first few weeks. Simple tasks and familiar toys are re-assuring for children in the early days. Once the children have settled, Montessori materials will be introduced little by little.

Always reassure your child that you, or the person that you have nominated to collect them will be back at going home time (the children understand that this is after circle time). Please do not say “I’ll be back in a minute”, as even a very small child knows that a minute is a very short span of time, and they will feel very let down if you are not back ‘in a minute’.

Every young child strives towards independence. Please help them by choosing clothes that they can manage with as little help as possible. Velcro fastening shoes, tracksuits, leggings, trousers with elasticated waists, all make life less complicated for a little person. Warning – mini jeans may look cute but that button is impossible for a small child, especially if they are in a hurry! A child gets a great feeling of self-confidence when able to dress themselves.

Help and encourage (very gently) your child to use the bathroom by themselves. Many children have a natural shyness and prefer not to have to ask the teacher for help. In some rare cases a child may put off going to the toilet altogether until going home time, this can lead to embarrassing accidents, sometimes in the car on the way home. Personal hygiene is best taught at home, and will give your child the sense of confidence and security they need, now that it is time to leave home for a few hours every day.

Encourage your child to walk in to Montessori school. Please do not carry your child into school, and pass them over to a member of staff at the door. If you carry your child in it is much harder for them to part from you, and they may view the teacher as either taking them away or even stealing them from mum and dad. You might ask them to help you by carrying their lunch box.

Please leave your child at the front door, say goodbye, one kiss and leave very quickly. Prolonged farewells are just too hard on you and your child. Be assured no child will be left crying or unhappy for more than a few minutes, the staff are also trained and qualified to deal with these situations in the best interest of your child. Always remember you will be phoned if your child does not settle within 30 minutes.

Please, please return to collect your child promptly at the appointed time. Remember he/she will enjoy the time in Montessori, but once the first child is collected they may worry if they cannot see their mum/dad or minder.

What if my child is sick?

Please do not bring your child to the Montessori if he/she has any of the following symptoms: