The centre has been approved to deliver the degree in Montessori Early Childhood Practice, which is awarded by London Metropolitan University.
MCI says the move is to meet the increasing national and international demand for highly qualified early childhood specialists and Montessori graduate leaders.
MCI Diploma graduates will be able to fast track into the second year of the degree. The centre has been running Montessori teacher training since 1946, when it was opened by Maria Montessori on her last visit to London, originally under the name of the Montessori St Nicholas Training Centre.
MCI's new training college opened in St John’s Wood last year.
Director of Learning, Penny Johns, (pictured), said, ‘This achievement is testament to the outstanding quality of teacher training at MCI. It demonstrates the full confidence shown in our ability to maintain academic standards and a quality experience for students.
‘Montessori has always had that global-first outlook and we find MCI undergraduates come to study with us from around the world, developing their learning and then delivering Montessori best practice across the world.'
The BA (Hons) in Montessori Early Childhood Practice provides an in-depth study of Montessori, with theory applied to practice during professional placements in MCI-approved Montessori early years settings.
Undergraduates will learn the latest contemporary early childhood thinking and research, as well as reflective practice and action research. Consultancy has been provided by Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness in developing a new leadership module.
Students can choose from a range of flexible study pathways, including full-time, part-time and online.
More than 4,000 UK and International students have completed their training with MCI over the past 20 years.
2019 marks 100 years since Maria Montessori delivered the first Montessori teacher training course in London.
‘Being able to deliver a degree in MCI’s specialist training centre is a big step forward in providing Montessori leaders who can really make a difference to the provision of high-quality and inspirational Montessori education,' Ms Johns added. 'Our aim is to develop reflective practitioners who are forward thinking, responsive and ready to engage in contemporary early years discourse, bringing Montessori practice to a wider audience.’
Last year, the University of East London joined with the Maria Montessori Institute to offer the UK's first full degree in Montessori education.
