Message from Montessori Global Education

The holidays give rise to so many feelings. Whether this time of year makes you happy, sad, dizzy or stressed, one thing we can all feel is gratitude. Gratitude for everything that has come our way, and gratitude for what is yet to come. At Montessori Global Education, we have certainly stepped back and reflected on our experiences in 2023, and we now look ahead to all that will come in 2024.

HOST CENTRES:

2023 has been an exciting year for our current Host Centres. Many of them have completed one delivery of courses and have now started their second delivery, whilst others are planning start dates for 2024.

• The Montessori Training Academy (Leeds, UK) is offering the NCFE CACHE Level 4 Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy: Birth to Seven (Early Years Educator) and the Integrating Montessori Practice – Philosophy and Practice course starting from March 2024. Click here to contact them.

• Vincerola Training Academy (Cologne, Germany) will be offering the Integrating Montessori Practice – Philosophy and Practice course starting from September 2024. To register your interest contact Marvin Reyes – academy@vincerola.de

• Little Gems Training Academy (Larnaca, Cyrus) is ready to register interest from students wanting to start the Integrating Montessori Practice – Philosophy and Practice course in October 2024. For more information email – littlegems.tc@gmail.com

• Manchester Montessori Academy (Manchester, UK) is ready to register interest from students wanting to start the Integrating Montessori Practice – Philosophy and Practice course early 2024, Contact Kelsey Perry or Carla Heapy – carla@peartree.uk.com for more details.

• Rushbrook Montessori Training (Manchester, UK) is ready to register interest from students wanting to start the Integrating Montessori Practice – Philosophy and Practice course in Spring 2024. For more information email Clare Niederbuhl – montessori@rpa.bright-futures.co.uk for more details.

Look out for news and dates from our other Host Centres by checking our website.

THE CHARTERED COLLEGE OF TEACHING:

Montessori Global Education's partnership with the Chartered College of Teaching (CCT) continues to grow from strength to strength. The aim of this partnership was to empower Early Years educators with vital resources and recognition (so needed in our sector).

Our organisations worked together to launch the Early Childhood Hub (ECH) last year. The ECH is an online library packed with content both for and by Early Years practitioners – focussed on the pedagogy and practice of early childhood education. Network members can already access the entire ECH library by signing up through Montessori Global Education's free offer – OFFER ENDS AT THE END OF JANUARY 2024, so if you have not signed up make sure you don't miss out.

Moving forward CCT is extending a SPECIAL INVITATION to Montessori Global Education Network members an opportunity to submit their own articles and reflections for publication on the Hub.

To find out more about this opportunity, click here.

The View Series:

2023 also saw the launch of our "The View" series. "The View," is our series of events and articles, prepared just for you – whether you are a Parent, Carer, Professional, Educator, Researcher or simply have an interest in Montessori education, We have had really positive feedback around this – please let us know your thoughts in the survey you can find in our December edition of the Network In Focus.

• What do you find useful?
• What do you want to see more of?
• Would you like to be involved in some way?

In 2024, "The View" series will further evolve and bring you both topical and professional development webinars. We will share further details in the New Year.

Sector news

EYFS 2024 regulatory changes

Following the recent 'Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): Regulatory Changes' consultation the Department for Education has now set out its official response.

The Department for Education will be implementing several changes to the EYFS from January 2024. Please ensure that you are keeping yourself informed of these and other changes in 2024.

Find links to the EYFS Statutory Framework published on 8/12/23 and applicable from 4/1/24. Please note that there are now separate documents for childminders and group/school-based providers.

• EYFS statutory framework for childminders (applies from 4 January 2024)

• EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers (applies from 4 January 2024)

Guidance on Early years qualification requirements and standards has also been published on 8/12/23 – click on link below to access.

• Early years qualification requirements and standards

A gift from MGE for 2023 and beyond ……………

Interactive Glossary

At MGE we recognise that being a teacher in the 21st century is not an easy task. Educators need to embody the 21st century skills that future generation of learners will require going forward and retain confidence and ease within the study modes and initial teacher training programmes and models on offer – demonstrating a commitment and awareness to the developmental continuum throughout their career and as part of their Continuous Professional Development (CPD).  

Our Interactive Glossary has been developed and launched in 2023 with relevant 21st century skills in mind.  Montessori Global Education's Interactive Glossary is the first of its kind. Whilst the aim of most glossary interactions is to support learners in picking up vocabulary or providing context around specialised terms and demystifying industry acronyms; our Interactive Glossary aims to:   

• Provide access to visually engaging professional reference materials 
• Support contemporary examples of practical Montessori delivery and presentation 
• Facilitate exemplar material, with unlimited access for MCI learners/ graduates able to benefit from an authentic and professional suite of materials to augment their studies (MCI portfolio/ e-learning provision) 
• Offer high-quality imaginative, thought-provoking presentations using recognised Montessori (Approach) materials  

The resultant resource is suitable to enhance the interactive provision within our entire suite of qualifications and courses. In addition, selected items will serve to promote access for our graduates. Click here for an example.

MCI graduates can access this Interactive Glossary through the Graduate Contemporary Professionalization area. We will be adding new content each month so if you have not already submitted your application for access then click here to begin your CPD journey.

Here is what one Graduate who accessed the Interactive Glossary had to say regarding the videos they accessed:

"You have no idea how often I've thought about having access to material presentations over the years. This is wonderful – I have been in practice for many years and only now do I feel as though things are beginning to fall in place so it is great to be able to go back and see the materials "in action" again.

When I first started, things hardly ever went as I expected them, which initially made me feel disappointed. It took a long time before I realised that I had to let go of whatever preconceived ideas I had and really focus on the child and the objective of the activity. Now I view the presentations differently – Thank you."