The fact that the name ‘Montessori’ is not protected in the UK can make it difficult for parents looking for a Montessori school to know whether it is authentic or not.
Montessori Education (UK) runs a school accreditation scheme known as Recognition of Authentic Montessori Practice. It is a quality assurance process that is designed to help schools to continuously develop and enhance their Montessori practice. It consists of an ongoing programme of support, guidance and improvement for the school and all it’s staff members. This ensures that schools recognised by Montessori Education (UK) continue to embody the highest Montessori standards.
The Recognition of Authentic Montessori Practice process is an affirming one and the length of time it takes to attain varies according to the different needs of each school. It involves self-appraising current practice, with the support of a Mentor, to highlight areas to focus on and develop in preparation for the visit by the Montessori Recognition Assessor.
Recognition of Authentic Montessori Practice is not an inspection and will never replace the Ofsted inspection. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It aims to facilitate growth of the school by highlighting the good aspects of practice and offering new ideas and interpretations to ensure that the Montessori environment is achieving the very best it can for each and every one of its children.
To download an information pack and to find out more about Recognition of Authentic Montessori Practice please visit the Montessori Education(UK) website.
Schools Accreditation