Our Learning Approach
At Littlehampton Early Learning Centre we use a combination of the Early Years Learning Framework and Montessori inspired method of teaching to provide children with a holistic curriculum, unique to our centre. The Montessori method is a world-wide educational approach proven extremely successful.
The Montessori approach promotes the development of such learning factors as concentration, independence, self-direction, self-confidence, self-discipline, self-esteem, persistence and orderly work habits. At Littlehampton ELC, the ‘prepared’ classroom environment is designed to foster the development of these capabilities as part of the child’s growing intellectual and social competence.
The Montessori method of teaching is child-centred but adult guided. Rather than “teaching” a child concepts the Montessori environment is designed to stimulate the child’s interest and facilitate their learning capacity. Montessori education is more concerned with the process of learning than with the product and offers an educational environment where children’s natural desires to learn are encouraged and extended.
The materials and resources at our centres are designed to attract the children to pursue the need to educate themselves through stimulating activities. Dr Maria Montessori maintained that ‘progressive interest’ should characterise the young child’s world. The materials and activities permit the child to follow a sequence of difficulty, that provides a continuing challenge, which is especially suited to the child’s intellectual, emotional, physical and social needs at each stage of development.
To compliment the Montessori approach, the Montessori method of teaching uses exclusively designed resources that are exclusive to the Montessori theory of learning. The materials and resources at our centres are designed to attract the children to pursue the need to educate themselves through stimulating activities. Montessori maintained that ‘progressive interest’ should characterise the young child’s world. The materials and activities permit the child to follow a sequence of difficulty, thus providing continuing challenge, which are especially suited to the child’s intellectual, emotional, physical and social needs at each stage of development.
Dr Maria Montessori
At Littlehampton Early Learning Centre our practice is to place the child as the central focus for all our planning, actions and reviews. We believe that each child is a unique individual and that all children possess rights and responsibilities. Our daily interactions, programs, policies and procedures are founded upon our knowledge of current Early Childhood development research and an understanding of the socio-economic, educational and cultural fabric of our families and local community and its influences on the children in our care.