Early years practitioners who wish to develop a specialism in Montessori practice can now use the Montessori Diploma to fast-track to the new Montessori foundation degree. Montessori Centre International's (MCI) foundation degree takes two years to complete, but those who have done the Diploma are exempt from the first year.
The Montessori Diploma is becoming increasingly popular with a wide range of practitioners and can be taken on a part-time basis over 12 to 18 months or on a distance learning basis for two to three years. It carries credits towards the foundation degree and ultimately leads to the BA in Early Childhood Studies with Montessori.
Barbara Isaacs, academic director of MCI, says that the foundation degree launched last year has the bonus of providing practitioners with a strong vocational component. 'One of the advantages is that we will train Montessori specialists with a strong knowledge of child development, as the foundation degree covers the Montessori philosophy and a pedagogy that goes with its teaching.'
She adds, 'The Montessori movement has been quite slow in recognising the need for practitioners to access its training as part of CPD. It is possible to be an excellent Montessorian with a strong foundation in child development. We want to be able to share a common language with other practitioners to open up the field of Montessori.'
The foundation degree has been developed in partnership with, and validated by, London Metropolitan University. The curriculum comprises: Observing and understanding child development; health promotion in early childhood; children's rights and entitlements in the context of United Nations Convention and current UK policy; problem solving and investigation across the curriculum; representation and symbolic behaviour; communication and language in a multilingual context; personal, social and emotional development in cultural context; multidisciplinary approaches to observing and assessing; early years curricula and Montessori pedagogy.
The foundation degree is also available on a full-time basis with study areas including Montessori philosophy, Montessori pedagogy from birth to five years and Supporting children's learning.
Study is at the Montessori International College in London.
FURTHER INFORMATION
montfoundationdegree@montessori.org.uk or call admissions on 020 7493 8300
