European Research Fund

The Fund hopes to support innovative and inspirational research activity to explore the potential for the Montessori Approach in practice for the 21st century. It is of vital importance to the Montessori Group, who will fund the projects, that the voices of practitioners, researchers, educational leaders and of course, children and students are nurtured and supported to guide and influence the shape of educational practice and the application of the Montessori philosophy for our modern world.

It is hoped that the Fund will be of interest to Montessori practitioners who are keen to lend their voice and experience to provide first-hand insight into the many, many different scenarios faced within the real-life application of Montessori practice in 2021 and beyond. We are particularly keen to hear from early-career and experienced researchers seeking to work collaboratively within a like-minded community.

We are keen to support projects that aim to directly improve lives and opportunities for those in areas of socio-economic deprivation, or address challenges faced by developing countries, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and any successful projects will be required to work collaboratively with colleagues from within the Montessori Group and Leeds Beckett University’s International Montessori Institute.

The projects will be considered and selected on the basis of an alignment with the collaborative research approach central to our delivery of research activity within our International Montessori Institute. At this initial stage, our Advisory Panel would be very pleased to receive your application and seek to understand more about your proposal for research activity and your case for financial support.

It is our intention that this European Research Fund will harness the voices and experiences of practitioners, researchers, educational leaders, students, and children to guide and influence education for all ages and stages of practice. We ask all applicants to remain mindful of this aim and ensure that you convey the potential for impact, scale and collaborative working, within your project outline.

To reiterate, applications are open to seasoned researchers, as well as practitioners who are keen to provide their first-hand insight into the Montessori approach in practice. Each application will be reviewed by our Advisory Panel at either our Summer or Winter panel event with successful applications moving onto academic and ethical consideration phase managed directly by the International Montessori Institute (Carnegie School of Education, Leeds Beckett University). Centre Director, James Archer will remain your point of contact from that stage onwards.

In 2021-22, the closing dates for the submission of your research focus summary document will be: 31st January 2022.

Next steps:

In order to proceed with your application, please email a short (maximum 2 x A4 pages) overview summary of your research ideas and focus to research@montessori.org.uk. Please indicate the potential benefits and impact of any financial investment in your activities. It would be helpful to understand the planned timeline of any associated project work or completion intentions at this time.

Please note: it may be helpful to include an indicative outline of the costs involved in your project work where possible.

Should you have any further questions at all, please email research@montessori.org.uk or karen.chetwynd@montessori.org.uk.