The Mosman Montessori Under 3's Program

The Under 3's Montessori Program is for children from 18 months of age, who attend with a parent/carer. It runs for two hours, and although most children attend one session per week, it may be attended up to two times a week, depending on available places. Children complete the program either just before they turn 3 or at the end of the term they turn 3 depending on when in the term their birthday falls.

There are currently three sessions:

  • Monday 9:30 - 11:30 am
  • Tuesday 9:30 - 11:30 am
  • Wednesday 9:30 - 11:30 am

Each session is taught by a qualified and experienced Montessori teacher. All sessions are held at the Mosman Baptist Church, Melrose Street, Mosman NSW.

MMU3 has an agreement with Cameragal Montessori School to ensure that children who have completed at least 14 months at MMU3 be given priority to the waitlist at Cameragal Montessori School (after North Sydney Municipality residents and siblings of Cameragal students). This will enable your child to continue their Montessori education beyond the 0 - 3, MMU3 is currently offering. Cameragal Montessori School is a pre-school for three to six year old boys and girls located on Sydney's Lower North Shore. It aims to provide an authentic Montessori environment and is staffed by fully-qualified and experienced Montessori directresses and assistants. Cameragal Montessori School is registered with the NSW Board of Studies and adheres to the regulations of the NSW Department of Community and Services (DoCS). For more information, www.cameragal.nsw.edu.au

The Montessori environment

The prepared Montessori environment is specifically set up to facilitate the child’s growing need for independence. It contains child-sized furniture and activities that cater to the child's interests.

The range of activities includes language enrichment materials, activities to refine eye-hand co-ordination and visual discrimination (manipulatives), practical life exercises including food preparation activities, and art and music (expressives).

All work is set out in such a way that children can use the materials with a minimum of adult assistance. Parents are made aware of the importance of allowing their child to complete and repeat tasks without interruption or interference. This helps children build up their competency and attention span (concentration).

These, and other principles of every Montessori environment, provide parents with hands-on experience of the practical application of the Montessori philosophy of education.

Parent education

A further objective of the Under 3's Program is to increase the parent's awareness of the child's capabilities and need for independence. This is done by attendance of the program with their child and through parent information sessions. The parent is then able to transfer their understanding of the child’s stage of development to the home environment and to subsequent Montessori environments, e.g. 3-6 year program.

Montessori Under 3's differs from a 'playgroup' because the emphasis is on catering for the child's urge towards independence and on having faith in the child's capabilities.

Parent observation session

Parents are welcome to make an appointment to observe. Observations are for adults only, and last for at least half an hour. Contact our Enrolments Officer to organise the observation, via email at enrolments@mmu3.org.au or by phone on 0438 499 124.