Since 2014 Plantpots Preschool and Playgroup has been providing a quality childcare and education service to families and their children of Great Park, Gosforth and surrounding areas. 

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Based at the Great Park Community Centre, we are a Montessori-inspired nursery for 2-5 year olds where the children are encouraged to learn through play, both indoors and outdoors. 

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Our sessions are fun, informative and nurturing and will enable your child to be ready for the next stage of their learning journey - school. This is echoed in the Government's Early Years Framework, which all staff follow. 

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Plantpots has two individual playrooms, which are organised according to age and stage of development. This enables the staff to keep a close eye on your child’s development and monitor their progression while they are with us. Each child is assigned a key worker who will encourage their learning on a one-to-one basis, helping to ensure that they reach their potential and progress successfully while in our care.

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We are Ofsted registered and all our staff have, or are working towards a childcare qualification.

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Our Vision

 

At Plantpots we are committed to the enrichment of each child as an individual and believe that everyone has the right to the best possible opportunities to grow and fulfil their journey.

 

In line with this aim, we:

 

·      Recognise the uniqueness and potential of every individual

·      Provide a calm, safe, nurturing and stimulating environment where children and staff feel happy and welcomed

·      Follow the Maria Montessori ethos with a strong emphasis on learning through play to develop independence

·      Operate a culture of respect, treating others how we would like to be treated ourselves

·      Seek to develop children’s social, moral, spiritual and cultural understanding of the world.

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Our Montessori approach

 

Plantpots Preschool and Playgroup follows the Montessori ethos and curriculum, with a strong emphasise on learning through play, both indoors and outdoors. We encourage children to develop their independence skills, allowing them to make their own choices about where they choose to play, what activities they'd like to do and to self-serve their own lunch, for example.

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Here's what a Montessori approach looks like and its benefits: 

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1. Respect 

We operate a culture of respect in how we speak to

the children, how we expect them to treat others and

the environment in which they play and learn.

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2. Encouragement of co-operative play

Children guide the activities that they wish to explore

throughout the day. This encourages children to share

and work together.

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3. Learning is child-centred

The classroom and curriculum is designed around the

children's particular needs and abilities so that they

can learn at their own pace.

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4. Children learn self discipline

As the children choose the activities they'd like to

work on, this environment naturally teaches self

discipline. It also encourages a 'help me to do it by

myself approach'. Children gain independence from

the realisation that they can do things successfully

by themselves.

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5. The classroom environment teaches order 

All objects and activities have a precise location where they are kept. The children learn to return these items to their 'home' thus creating an orderly environment where they can unleash their creativity and focus on their learning. It also allows them to know what to expect, enabling them to feel more secure, calmer and grow in confidence.

 

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6. Teachers facilitate learning through a 'guiding' role

Teachers take the lead from the children about which direction they want their learning to take.

They are there to ensure the ground rules are followed and encourage children to complete tasks

at their own pace.

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7. The Montessori method ensures an individual learning approach for each child

We achieve this through observation, allowing us to understand their different needs and interests

and to adapt our environment as they change.

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8. Motivation

Children learn to take pride in their own accomplishments rather than only doing something to

seek an adult's praise or rewards. This helps them to seek out challenges more often and attempt

tasks because they feel good.

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9. The curriculum is focused on hands-on learning

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