At a joint conference held by Montessori Schools Association and theDepartment for Children, Schools and Families, keynote speaker RuthPimentel, the national director for early years at National Strategies,emphasised parallels between the EYFS and Montessori practice. She saidthey both put 'the individual child at the centre of practice frombirth'.
The Joint Government and Montessori Conference on the Future, held atthe Institute of Education, attracted more than 200 delegates. Theguidance booklets were financed by the DCSF.
Barbara Isaacs, principal of the Montessori Centre Internationaltraining college, told the conference, 'I believe that (Maria)Montessori could have written the principles (of the EYFS) herself, in adifferent language'.
Ms Isaacs urged delegates to work in partnership. She said, 'It'sparamount that we use the EYFS document as a means of communication.Leave the Montessori jargon in your Montessori classrooms when you'rewith colleagues in other settings. It's about the importance of having ashared language. The guide has been made so it is accessible foreveryone, including Ofsted and local authorities.'
Practical resources to help adapt to the EYFS were introduced andexplained to conference delegates. Ms Isaacs described the EYFS CD-Romas 'a mine of information', and said that Montessori would launch a'one-stop e-shop' directing users to these resources.
However, delegates raised concerns about the EYFS during a question andanswer session. One said, 'I see a contradiction between the principleof the unique child and having a statutory framework that requireschildren to reach a certain level of development.'
In response, Ms Pimentel said that 'the Early Learning Goals are thereas an aspiration, as a goal, not as a requirement'.
Other issues raised by delegates included the 'unacceptable' gap betweengirls and boys, and the need for further guidance about supportingchildren learning English as an additional language.
- Further information
'Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage in Montessori Settings' isavailable free by e-mailing centre@montessori.org.uk. Queries about theEYFS are welcomed by Ruth Pimentel atearlyyears@nationalstrategies.co.uk.
