Children join Casa Bambini from 12 months old.  We have 6 children in a session with two qualified staff who specialise in this age group.  The children go for a walk most mornings around the grounds or to see the cows in Yattendon.  They enjoy a morning snack and home cooked lunch prepared by our school chef.  The children have a sleep after lunch if they are staying for a full day, in our beautiful corracles.  All nappies are provided.  We never underestimate the trust you place in us to look after your child so communication between the school and home is vital to make sure we provide the very best environment and care for them.

The move to The Little House from Casa Bambini happens seamlessly as the rooms are adjacent.

Your child will have an assigned key worker to introduce them to the Montessori ethos and materials alongside the sensory activities that are so important at this stage.

Our approach in The Little House is to build confidence and aid independence through positive language and reinforcement.  They benefit from indoor/outdoor school to allow for every child to find activities they can engage in.

The children enjoy a weekly Forest School session as well as music all taught by specialist teachers.  They can also sign up to dance classes.

Nursery 3-4 years old

Children are introduced to the Nursery gradually through a series of visits, where will meet their keyworker who will introduce them to the Nursery environment.
During morning sessions the children are able to choose which area of the classrooms they wish to work in and whatever materials they would like to use within our structured Montessori classroom. As each activity is introduced the children build up a bank of knowledge across all areas of learning. Children tend to learn through their own interests so through teacher observation and assessment, activities can then be extended to ensure that sensitive periods for learning are fully stimulated.

We encourage independence through learning to change into indoor shoes, using the “Montessori flip” to put on a coat, pushing a chair under the table and putting activities and mats away after using them. Each child will have a turn as a “helper” assisting in snack preparation, taking position at the head of the line and running errands.

Weekly Forest School and music sessions are included in the curriculum alongside either French or Spanish.

Enrichment activities may include cookery, gardening, yoga, rugbytots, ballet, tennis, swimming, drama, Forest school and PE.

The Montessori ethos continues into Reception whilst adopting a Project Learning approach. The children are able to reach their full potential through expressing their own interests and planning focussed activities on topics of their own choice. This allows more in-depth study of interests and independent gathering of information through a range of media, including individual iPads.

We use the Read, Write Inc phonics programme to introduce the sound and shape of letters forming the foundation of reading and writing. Forest school takes place each week to learn about our environment and the wider world. The children benefit from enrichment activities which may include topic related outings, cookery, yoga, rugbytots, ballet, tennis, swimming, French, drama, music, Forest school, and PE.

Mrs Harriet Hathaway, Headmistress Mont Dip, First Aid
Mrs Tracey Coakeley, Deputy Head/Head of Nursery, Mont Dip (Distinction), CACHE NVQ Level 3, First Aid
Mrs Franziska van Zalk, Deputy Head of Nursery/Head of EYFS, BA (Hons), First Aid
Mrs Lucinda Smith, Keyworker in Nursery, B Ed (Hons)
Mrs Fiona Sparkes, Keyworker in Nursery, CACHE NVQ Level 3
Mrs Florence Andrews, Keyworker in Nursery, BA (Hons), PGCE with QTS (Maternity Leave)
Mrs Clare Ebner, Keyworker in Little House, CACHE NVQ Level 3, First Aid
Mrs Emma Powell, Keyworker in Little House, NNEB Level 3, First Aid
Mrs Karen Raisey, Keyworker in Case Bambini, CACHE NVQ Level 3, First Aid
Ms Emma Harvey, Keyworker in Casa Bambini, CACHE NVQ Level 3, First Aid
Mrs Sally Leach, Forest School Leader, CACHE NVQ Level 3, First Aid
Ms Amanda Hankin, Classroom Assistant, (started NVQ Level 3 Nov 2022)
Ms Natasha Bailey, Classroom Assistant
Ms Vicki Ould, Classroom Assistant

PERIPATETIC STAFF
Miss Gemma White, Ballet Teacher
Danielle Ballentine-Drake, Music Teacher

SUPPORT STAFF
Mrs Sacha Powell, School Secretary
Mrs Clare Haslam, School Chef
Mrs Julie Few, Housekeeping
Mrs Cat Eustace, After School Care Assistant, First Aid

Breakfast Club: 7.50am – 8.30am
The Morning Session: 8.30am – 12.30pm
The Afternoon Session: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
Lunch Club: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
After School Care: 3.30pm – 5.30pm/6.00pm
(Monday – Thursday)

In After School Care we provide a hot tea and supervised play outside and inside.
Places in After School Care are available to book in advance for the term or on an ad hoc basis.