CJAM is helping to raise awareness of a bid to create a state-funded Montessori school for primary school children in Colchester. The team is busy organising an ‘open day’ style event for parents of prospective pupils, which will be held on 10th July 2013 at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Launched by Essex-born teacher Daniel Kennedy together with a group of fellow teachers, the bid to open Kennedy Montessori School is currently being submitted to the Department of Education. If successful, the school would open its doors to its first pupils in 2015 and cater for more than 400 children. It would be located at the former Severalls Hospital site.
In order for the bid to be approved, the teachers must prove that a need exists for an additional primary school in the area. In particular, 60 children must be signed up for the first reception class in 2015, with another 60 committed to joining in 2016. The school would be the third Montessori school of in the UK.
CJAM will be helping the Kennedy Montessori School to communicate the benefits of Montessori education to parents, with a view to inspiring more local parents to register their children. The team is also producing a bright and colourful new leaflet to promote the benefits of the new school, with more exciting marketing plans in the pipeline.
“With the population of Colchester growing rapidly and new residential development going up at the rate of knots, this is a fantastic opportunity to provide much-need education to local children,” says Christine Joyce, Managing Director, CJAM. “There are lots of misconceptions surrounding Montessori schools, so the event we’re holding on 10th July will help to explain to parents what their children can really expect from a Montessori education.”
The Kennedy Montessori School would follow the national curriculum and be inspected by Ofsted. In contrast to the hour-long lessons practised at most primary schools, the school would adopt a less structured approach to learning. Children of mixed ages would learn in three-hour blocks, either individually or in groups, and follow their own ‘hands on’ learning plans based on their individual needs.
The main aim of Montessori education, which was founded by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori, is to inspire a love of learning among children.
Parents interested in attending the 10th July open day event or registering their child for the Kennedy Montessori School should visit http://www.kmscolchester.org.uk/.
